Apple Fitters

A tantalizing close-up of apple fritters highlights their shiny, sugary glaze and textured surface, with visible pieces of apple and cinnamon. These apple fritters are piled together, offering a warm and inviting bakery treat that's impossible to resist.

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Craving something sweet? These crispy, cinnamon-spiced apple fritters with a homemade glaze are just what you need.

If you love apples, you’ll love our apple turnovers and spiced apple pie.

in this article:

There’s nothing like the smell of freshly fried apple fritters wafting through the kitchen on a crisp autumn morning. When I was a kid, my grandmother would make the best apple fritters on chilly weekends. I’ve taken her recipe and given it a modern twist, and now it’s one of my family’s favorite fall treats. Today, I’m going to show you how easy it is to make these soft, pillowy fritters with crisp, golden edges and a sweet glaze that melts in your mouth.

Close-up of delectable apple fritters stacked together. These golden brown delights boast a shiny glaze and visible chunks of apple, offering a textured and appetizing appearance.

A close-up of several glazed apple fritters stacked on a white plate. The top fritter is broken open, revealing pieces of apple inside the dough. These delectable apple fritters boast a shiny, sweet glaze that enhances the golden-brown delight.

Delicious By Design

Using both baking powder and baking soda in these fritters helps them achieve a perfectly fluffy texture on the inside and a crispy finish on the outside.
Adding apple juice to the batter, along with diced apples and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, deepens and enhances the apple flavor throughout.
Finally, an apple glaze applied to the crispy exterior intensifies the apple taste in every bite.

What You’ll Need

For these apple fritters, you’ll need basic pantry staples and fresh apples. The core ingredients include:

Apples: I recommend using firm apples like Granny Smith for a tart flavor or Honeycrisp for a sweeter taste.
All-purpose flour: This creates the structure of the fritter.
Cinnamon and nutmeg: Adds warmth and spice.
Buttermilk and apple juice: These liquids keep the fritters moist.
Eggs: For binding and fluffiness.
Canola or vegetable oil: For frying.

If you don’t have buttermilk, you can substitute it with regular milk mixed with a teaspoon of vinegar or lemon juice. Apple juice can be swapped with cider for a stronger apple flavor.

Ingredient Spotlight

Three red and yellow apples with speckled skin sit on a wooden surface, their shiny appearance suggesting they are fresh and ripe, perfect for creating a delightful apple dessert.

The key ingredient in this recipe is, of course, apples. For the best fritters, I recommend using a crisp, tart apple like Granny Smith. These hold up well when cooked and provide a nice contrast to the sweetness of the glaze. If you prefer sweeter apples, Honeycrisp or Fuji are great options. Avoid soft varieties like Red Delicious, as they can turn mushy when fried.

Buying Guide: Look for apples that are firm to the touch with no bruising or soft spots. They should have a bright, vibrant color and a fragrant apple smell.

JUMP TO RECIPE

How To Make

You can find the full, printable recipe at the bottom of this post (click the button above), but you can read a summary with step-by-step instructions and photos for each step below.
Making apple fritters is surprisingly simple, and the results are well worth it! Here’s a step-by-step guide:

Mix the dry ingredients: Combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. This ensures even distribution of the leavening agents and spices, which is crucial for light, flavorful fritters.

Whisk the wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, apple juice, vanilla, eggs, and melted butter. This forms the liquid base for the batter, adding moisture and flavor.

Combine the wet and dry: Slowly mix the wet ingredients into the dry, stirring just until combined. Overmixing can result in tough fritters, so stir gently.

Three images depict the baking process for apple cinnamon muffins: a bowl of dry ingredients, a bowl of wet ingredients, and a bowl of mixed batter with apple pieces. Whisks are visible next to each bowl, reminiscent of crafting delicious apple fritters.

Fold in the apples: Add the chopped apples and fold them into the batter. This ensures each fritter is packed with fruit.

The top image displays pieces of battered apple frying in oil. The bottom image showcases these same apple fritters, now golden brown, continuing to sizzle amid bubbles.

Fry the fritters: Heat oil in a large skillet to 350°F. Drop spoonfuls of batter into the oil and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side. Make sure not to overcrowd the pan, as this can lower the oil temperature and make the fritters soggy. (image 5)

A close-up of golden brown apple fritters piled in a white bowl. The fritters have a crispy, textured surface, hinting they might be freshly fried from a cherished fritter recipe.

Glaze the fritters: Once the fritters are golden and crispy, let them cool slightly and dip them in the glaze. The glaze adds sweetness and a beautiful shine to the fritters. Serve immediately.

FAQs

Can these apple fritters be baked?

I tried baking them to see how they would turn out and they turned out chewy and didn’t brown well, so I don’t recommend it.

Does baking soda make fritters crispy?

Yes, baking soda makes fritters crispy by creating air bubbles in the batter, which makes them light and helps the surface fry evenly for a crispy texture.

Can you make apple fritters in an air fryer?

This is a pretty common question! While you can bake or air fry, many recipes say it will change the texture, making it a lot less crispy than frying in oil.

Do apple fritters stay crispy once glazed?

No, apple fritters typically don’t stay crispy once glazed. The glaze adds moisture, which softens the outer layer over time.

Erren’s Top Tips

Mix the batter gently to keep the fritters light and fluffy. Avoid over-mixing, as this can make them tough.
Cut apple pieces evenly, and consider tossing them in cinnamon and sugar for extra flavor before mixing them into the batter.
When frying, avoid overcrowding the pan to maintain a steady oil temperature and ensure even cooking.
Use a candy thermometer to keep the oil at an ideal frying temperature of 375°F, adjusting the heat slightly as needed—raise it after adding batter and lower it when removing fritters.
Fry the fritters in a Dutch oven or heavy pot to help the oil retain its temperature.
Test the oil temperature with a small amount of batter to ensure it’s hot enough before frying the fritters.
Flip the fritters carefully and only once to prevent them from absorbing too much oil.
After frying, place fritters on paper towels to drain, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool and prevent sogginess.

Storage & Freezing Instructions ❄

Storing: To maintain freshness for up to 2 days, wrap cooled fritters loosely in paper towels and store them in a brown paper bag.

Freezing: For the best results, let them cool completely before freezing and avoid glazing until after they’re reheated.

To freeze, wrap each fritter individually in plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container. When ready to enjoy, reheat in an oven or air fryer to restore some of their crispiness, then add glaze if desired.

Make It Your Own

This apple fritter recipe is versatile! Here are some variations you can try:

Add nuts: Mix in chopped walnuts or pecans for a crunchy texture.
Different fruit: Try using pears, peaches, or even berries instead of apples.

Spice it up: Add a pinch of ground ginger or cardamom for an extra kick of flavor.