Apple Fritters
Apple fritters are a crispy and sweet treat made with fresh Granny Smith apples and a simple batter, perfect for breakfast or a snack. This easy recipe comes together quickly and offers a delightful homemade option that everyone will love.
Servings: 12
Calories: 253kcal
Ingredients
For the Apple Fritters
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup whole milk
- 1 large egg room temperature
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 3 cups granny smith apples peeled, cored and diced into ¼-½ inch pieces (from 2 large apples)
- Canola oil for frying
For the Glaze
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar sifted
- 1 tablespoon butter melted and cooled unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5-6 tablespoons whole milk
Instructions
- Heat the canola oil in an electric fryer or heavy-duty pot to 375*F. Line a large-rimmed baking tray with paper towels and a wire rack. Set aside.
- Whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon and salt in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl whisk together the whole milk, large egg, and unsweetened applesauce.
- Add the wet ingredients to the bowl of dry ingredients. Stir together with a rubber spatula just until combined and no lumps remain. The batter should resemble thick pancake batter.
- Fold the diced apples into the batter just until evenly distributed.
- Once the oil is hot, gently add ⅓ cup batter and spread it out to a slightly flatter shape. This will help the apple fritters fry up evenly and not in the shape of a round dough ball. Repeat with 2-3 more additions of batter. Do not overcrowd the oil. The apple fritters need to have space to move and fry evenly. Cook for 1-1 ½ minutes. Gently flip the apple fritters over to the second side and cook for another 1 - 1 ½ minutes or until the apple fritters are dark golden brown.
- Using a large slotted spoon, or metal spider, remove the apple fritters from the hot oil and place them onto the prepared baking tray. Allow the apple fritters to cool slightly before dipping them into the glaze. Repeat until all the apple fritters have been fried.
- To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, melted and cooled butter, vanilla extract and 5 tablespoons whole milk until the glaze is smooth. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon whole milk if needed to get the glaze to a consistency of warm maple syrup.
- Dip each fried apple fritter into the glaze, covering both sides, then place each fritter back onto the wire rack to allow the glaze to set and harden.
- Once the glaze has set the apple fritters can be plated, in a single layer, and served.
Notes
Oil Temperature: Keep the oil at a steady 375°F. If the temperature drops too low, the fritters will absorb more oil and become greasy. If it's too high, they might burn on the outside while remaining uncooked inside.
Uniform Apple Pieces: Dice the fresh apples into uniform ¼-½ inch pieces. This ensures they cook evenly within the fritter batter.
Room Temperature Ingredients: Use room-temperature eggs to help the batter mix more smoothly, resulting in a better texture.
Do Not Overmix: Stir the batter just until combined to avoid developing the gluten in the flour, which can make the fritters tough.
Carefully Use Your Fryer Basket: If you're using an electric fryer or a pot with a basket, be sure to remove or fully lower the basket before you add the apple fritter batter.
Serve Right Away: These fritters are best served warm and fresh.
Nutrition
Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.05g | Cholesterol: 19mg | Sodium: 120mg | Potassium: 164mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 103IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 65mg | Iron: 1mg