Apple Fritters Better Than Your Granny Used To Make (2024)

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Hi Bold Bakers!

Fall is here, and if you thought you were going to make it through the season without my favorite Apple Fritter recipe, then you must be new! There’s no better excuse to make an irresistible yeast-free dessert than, “I have so many apples, I don’t know what to do with them!”

Plus, fruit is good for you! (Even if it is served in the form of a fried donut and covered in a vanilla glaze, right?)

These homemade apple fritters are bursting with fresh apples and are simply a cinch to make! Can’t you already imagine the wonderful smell of apples, cinnamon, and sugar waking up your family for a Sunday breakfast surprise?

What Are Apple Fritters?

Apple fritters are similar to donuts — if donuts came jam-packed with fresh fruit and a lot of flavor! The dough is not unlike pancake dough. However, when making apple fritters, you fold in the fresh fruit into the batter and then pan-fry or deep fry it, like a donut, instead of cooking it like a pancake.

I like to top my homemade apple fritters with a vanilla glaze, making them perfect for an indulgent breakfast or a dessert served with tea after dinner.

What You Need To Make Apple Fritters with a Vanilla Glaze

• Measuring cupsandspoons
• Mixing bowls
• Large saucepan
• Wire rack
• Baking tray
• Food thermometer

How To Make Apple Fritters

Apple fritters are a shockingly simple and very quick dessert! Here is how you make them (and don’t forget to get the full recipe with measurements, on the page down below):

1. To make the vanilla glaze for the apple fritters, whisk the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla together until smooth. Set aside.
2. Prep the apples by peeling, coring, and dicing them into small chunks. Set the apples aside and cover with a damp piece of paper towel.
3. To make the fritter batter, whisk the buttermilk, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla extract in a large bowl.
4. In another bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and cinnamon.
5. Combine the wet and dry ingredients, stirring until just well combined. Then, fold in the apples.
6. In a large saucepan over medium heat, pour about 2 to 3-inches of oil and insert a thermometer to measure the oil heat. Place a wire rack on top of a baking tray near the saucepan to transfer your fritters to.
7. Once the oil has reached medium heat, about 375°F/190°C, carefully drop 2 to 3 large spoonfuls of the fritter batter into the oil.
8. Cook the fritters for about 2-3 minutes. Once one side is golden brown, flip it and let the other side cook.
9. Lift the fritters out of the oil and place them on your prepared wire rack to cool. Once cooled, dunk them in the vanilla glaze and place them back on the rack to dry.

Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Apple Fritters

• A thermometer is super useful for this recipe. Be sure to keep the oil at 375°F. If it is too hot, the fritters won’t fry properly. If it is too cold, they’ll absorb too much oil and get soggy.
• Instead of a vanilla glaze, you can dip the fritters in cinnamon sugar.
• Use myButtermilk Substituteif you don’t have any to hand.
• Use Granny Smith apples for this recipe! They keep their shape, add a little tartness, and are perfect for this apple fritter recipe.
• Oil is HOT when frying! Make sure you stay safe: place donuts carefully in the oil to avoid splash burns, watch carefully to make sure that the oil doesn’t start to smoke, and never walk away from oil heating on the stove! If you are a child making this recipe, make sure to get an adult’s help!

How To Store Apple Fritters

While they’re best on the day they are made, leftover apple fritters can be kept in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to one day.

Make More Fall Recipes!

• Best-Ever Pumpkin Bread
• Chewy Caramel Apples
• Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook!

Full (and printable) recipe below!

Ingredients

Instructions