The Best Apple Fritters Recipe (2024)

by Jocelyn (Grandbaby Cakes) · Updated

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This is the BEST Easy Apple Fritters Recipe for reals!! Pieces of delicious Granny Smith apples wrapped and fried in sugary dough will send your taste buds into food heaven!

The Best Apple Fritters Recipe (1)

Y’all can’t tell me nothing about apple fritters. For several fall seasons, I would eat my weight in them from a local doughnut shop in Chicago. I also got my fill of them when we would go apple picking because they would sell them there as well. The fact of the matter is I couldn’t get enough so I had to do myself a favor and learn how to make them myself. These are pretty fantastic if I do say so myself.

Table of Contents

What Makes This Apple Fritter Recipe So Great

  • Easy to make recipe.
  • A great fall recipe everyone will love but believe me, this is bomb all year round.
  • A fun way to use up some apples.
  • Simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Here are the main ingredients you gotta have for this recipe. Be sure to see the full list and quantities in the recipe card.

The Best Apple Fritters Recipe (2)
  • Apples: This recipe calls forthe Granny Smith apple variety to be used because they are not very sweet and if you use asuper sweet apple, then the fritters will be too sweet.
  • Apple cider: Added to the fritters and the glaze to amp up the wonderful apple flavor in each and every bite.
  • Vanilla: Balances all the flavors together and adds warmth.
  • Fat: Use melted butter for the rich, buttery flavor it gives the fritters.
  • Spices: We’re adding cinnamon and nutmeg which always help apples shine!
  • Sugar: You will need granulated sugar for the fritters but use powdered sugar to make the glaze because it dissolves much more easily.
The Best Apple Fritters Recipe (3)

How to Make Apple Fritters

These fried fritters turn out with such a wonderful crunchy exterior and a tender doughy inside. The two textures are too legit together. Here’s how to make them yourself.

  1. Add all the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg to a large bowl and whisk to combine.
  2. Stir in the chopped apples.
The Best Apple Fritters Recipe (4)
The Best Apple Fritters Recipe (5)
  1. Mix together the cider, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract in a separate bowl with a whisk.
  2. Pour the wet mixture into dry ingredients and stir until combined.
  1. Heat vegetable oil in a dutch oven or other large pot over medium-high heat until it reaches 350 degrees F. Use a one-third cup measure to transfer heaping portions of the batter into the hot oil.
  2. Press each portion of batter lightly with the back of spoon to flatten it somewhat. Fry until golden brown this usually takes about 2 to 3 minutes on each side.
  3. Remove them from the hot oil and place on a wire rack set inside rimmed baking sheet or on top of a paper towel to dry. Let the fritters cool for five minutes.

PRO TIP: Don’t overcrowd the pan! I found that for a regular sized Dutch oven you can cook about five fritters at a time. If the diameter of your pot is smaller you may need to cook fewer at a time.

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The Best Apple Fritters Recipe (9)
  1. Whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, cider, cinnamon, and nutmeg in medium bowl until smooth.
  2. Spoon the glaze over the fritters and let set them for 10 minutes before serving.
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The Best Apple Fritters Recipe (11)
  1. Once the glaze sets and becomes wonderful, your fritters are ready to serve.
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How to Serve Fritters

Serve these up for a special brunch, holiday breakfast, or even for a simple weekend morning treat. They’re a great way to elevate this chorizo breakfast skillet or this easy breakfast casserole.

Skip the glaze and toss them in a paper bag with cinnamon sugar.

Expert Tips

  • Make sure the apple pieces are chopped small enough. The smaller size allows them to cook up tender when they are fried.
  • Bring the oil back to 350 degrees between batches. The temperature of the oil drops when food is added to the pot so it may need to reheat before you add more to the pot.
  • Use a heavy pot to help the oil maintain its temperature more easily.
  • Drain the apple fritters before adding the glaze. This ensures they aren’t overly greasy.
  • Store leftovers at room temperature for up to three days.
  • Maintain a uniform size of fritter so they cook evenly. I like to use a one-third measuring cup.

FAQs

What makes a fritter different from a donut?

‘The main difference is the shape. A donut is round with a hole in the middle while a fritter is more loosely shaped. Also, a fritter usually indicates fruit in a batter that is fried. In this case, the diced apples are coated in the batter before frying.

Why are my apple fritters not crispy?

The main cause of soggy fritters is that the oil isn’t hot enough. Use a candy thermometer to check the temperature of your oil before cooking and give the oil time to reheat between each batch. A heavy-bottomed pan can also help the oil maintain its temperature.

The Best Apple Fritters Recipe (13)

More Fried Dough, Fritter and Donut Recipes

  • Peach Fritters
  • Pumpkin Cider Donuts
  • Classic Funnel Cake Recipe
  • New Orlean Beignets
  • Pumpkin Fritters
  • Banana Fritters

The Best Apple Fritters Recipe (14)

Easy Apple Fritters Recipe

Apple Fritters with pieces of delicious Granny Smith apples wrapped and fried in sugary dough will send your taste buds into food heaven! The best apple fritters you'll ever eat.

4.87 from 30 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes minutes

Resting time: 10 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Servings: 12 servings

Calories: 230kcal

Author: Jocelyn Delk Adams

Ingredients

For the Fritters

  • 2 granny apples peeled, cored, and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • ¾ cup apple cider
  • 2 large eggs lightly beaten
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

For the Glaze

  • 2 cups confectioner’s sugar
  • ¼ cup apple cider
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Add all dry ingredients (flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg) in a large bowl and whisk to combine. Stir in apples.

  • Next add wet ingredients (cider, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract) to a separate bowl and whisk together then pour mixture into dry ingredients and whisk until combined.

  • Heat 3 cups of vegetable oil in dutch oven over medium-high heat to about 350 degrees. Use 1/3-cup measure to transfer 5 heaping portions of batter into the hot oil. Press batter lightly with the back of spoon to flatten somewhat. Fry until golden brown (about 2 to 3 minutes each side). Once all fritters are fried, remove fritters and transfer fritters to wire rack set inside rimmed baking sheet or to a paper towel to dry. Bring oil back to 350 degrees and repeat with remaining batter. Let fritters cool 5 minutes.

  • Whisk together confectioners’ sugar, cider, cinnamon, and nutmeg in medium bowl until smooth. Spoon over fritters and let set for 10 minutes then serve.

Notes

Make sure the apple pieces are chopped small enough. The smaller size allows them to cook up tender when they are fried.

Bring the oil back to 350 degrees between batches. The temperature of the oil drops when food is added to the pot so it may need to reheat before you add more to the pot.

Use a heavy pot to help the oil maintain its temperature more easily.

Drain the apple fritters before adding the glaze. This ensures they aren’t overly greasy.

Store leftovers at room temperature for up to three days.

Maintain a uniform size of fritter so they cook evenly. I like to use a one-third measuring cup.

Nutrition

Calories: 230kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 32mg | Sodium: 207mg | Potassium: 185mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 30g | Vitamin A: 115IU | Vitamin C: 1.6mg | Calcium: 57mg | Iron: 1.2mg

Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @GrandbabyCakes or tag #grandbabycakes!

This post was originally published October 2017. It has been updated with new content and images.

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The Best Apple Fritters Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is baking soda or powder better for fritters? ›

Baking soda (bi-carb) OR baking powder – just a touch, to aerate the batter every so slightly (without it, it's slightly denser); Parmesan – for a good hit of savoury flavour AND to make the fritters extra crispy!

Why are my apple fritters soggy? ›

Why are my apple fritters soggy? This is most likely the result of oil temperature. If your oil is too cool, your fritters will take a long time to fry and will end up greasy.

Why are my fritters not crispy? ›

You can test the oil by dropping a small piece of fritter batter into it. If it sizzles and starts cooking immediately, it's ready to go! Also make sure to use enough oil. If there isn't enough oil to fully submerge the fritters, they won't cook evenly and won't crisp up.

What is the best oil to cook fritters in? ›

Sunflower oil

With a slightly nutty flavor, sunflower is wonderful when frying doughnuts, fritters and rosettes, though it also works well with more savory foods like fried asparagus.

Does baking soda make fritters crispy? ›

Is baking soda or powder best for frying? A pinch of baking soda can help produce crispy fried foods. It reacts with the acid in the batter to create carbon dioxide bubbles. These lead to an airy batter and a crisper, fluffier result.

What makes batter fluffy baking soda or baking powder? ›

Baking soda changes the texture of baked goods by causing a batter or dough to spread, while baking powder produces light, fluffy texture. Some recipes may call for baking soda or baking powder on their own, while others may require both ingredients to create the ideal balance for great texture.

Why aren't my apple fritters crispy? ›

Make sure the oil is hot enough before you drop in the fritters and don't overcrowd the pan. If you overcrowd it, the fritters might not cook evenly. You also want to be sure you're cooking the fritters long enough. Fry them until they're golden brown and the batter is cooked through.

Why are apple fritters unhealthy? ›

Apple fritters are among the unhealthiest doughnuts. Just because a doughnut has fruit it it doesn't mean it is a good choice. Apple fritters are deep fried in fat. A medium sized apple fritter contains approximately 17 grams of fat (almost half the fat from saturated fat) and 450 calories.

Should fritter batter be thick? ›

Because fritters need to maintain their form and not run when they hit the oil, your batter should be sturdy and thick, more like paste than Elmer's glue.

What is used to coat fruit for fritters? ›

Batter is also used to coat fruit for fritters.

How to stop fritters falling apart? ›

If your zucchini fritters are falling apart, it's likely because the fritters are sticking to the skillet or the batter was too wet. Getting the zucchini dry before preparing the batter so the binding agents can hold the fritter together. If you have a non-stick frying pan, opt for that as well.

Why do you put baking powder in fritters? ›

They just need a simple, light batter of flour, cornstarch, and baking powder mixed with seltzer to tie them together. The seltzer and baking powder ensure that the fritters are shatteringly crisp–even slightly tired vegetables emerge from the oil crunchy, fresh, and sweet.

What is the best oil for crispy batter? ›

Vegetable Oil: Best All-Purpose Oil for Frying

It's great for all different methods of frying and all kinds of foods like breaded chicken and fries. Typically a blend of oils, it has a high smoke point of 400 to 450 degrees, and it has a pretty neutral flavor, which deepens the flavor of the food.

What happens if I use baking soda instead of baking powder? ›

That is why you will notice that recipes usually call for a small amount of baking soda, typically ¼ teaspoon per 1 cup of flour. Do not make the mistake of trying to substitute equal parts baking soda for baking powder in recipes. Your baked goods will have no leavening, be quite flat, and have an altered taste.

What raising agent is used in fritters? ›

There are a lot of recipes for apple fritters that use baking powder or soda, which is a chemical rising agent, to make the dough rise.

Does baking powder make batter crispy? ›

But the baking powder is key, because it acts like a salt. It helps draw moisture to the surface, where it can evaporate. Since they have similar reactions, we typically combine baking powder and table salt to amplify this effect, resulting in extra-crispiness.

Is baking soda or baking powder better for pakoras? ›

You are messing a little with the pH of the recipe (the acidity) but as baking powder has everything it needs to create a rise on its own, whereas baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) needs some acid, you should still get the bubbles you need, but whatever the acid is that's already in the recipe will go un-neutralised.

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