We love donuts at our house (we are officially obsessed with our Homemade Donuts and Old Fashioned Donuts), and were thrilled to add another favorite pastry to the list – today’s apple fritter recipe!
These apple fritters have tender apple chunks encased in a fluffy batter, then fried to perfection and topped cinnamon and sugar. They are AMAZING!
Perfect for breakfast or a sweet dessert, these golden-brown morsels are filled with fall flavors and go great with a serving of Apple Cider Recipe or Hot Chocolate.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- Quick. This delicious easy breakfast idea or snack is prepared with minimal effort and ready in only 30 minutes!
- Autumn apples. The combination of apples and crispy fried dough is perfect for chilly fall mornings or cozy afternoons.
- Pantry staples. Make this fall dessert recipe at home using ingredients you most likely already have on hand.
Apple Fritter Recipe Ingredients
- 1-quart vegetable oil, for deep frying – or another oil with a high smoking point like canola oil or peanut oil.
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour – How to Measure Flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup milk – whole milk is my favorite to use, but 2% can also be used
- 2 large eggs, beaten – room temperature eggs incorporate better than cold eggs.
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil – or canola oil
- 3 cups apples, peeled, cored, and chopped – Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Golden Delicious apples, or a combination of tart Granny Smith apples with a sweeter apple. Dice the apples into bite-size pieces about ¼-⅓ inch thick.
- 1 cup cinnamon-sugar – or drizzle with a powdered sugar glaze.
How to Make Apple Fritters
PREP. Heat 1-quart oil in a deep fryer, electric skillet, or Dutch oven to 375°F (Use a thermometer to maintain this heat because if the oil is not hot enough, your fritters will be soggy).
BATTER. Stir flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Pour in milk, eggs, and oil; stir until well blended.
- Fold in 3 chopped apples until evenly distributed.
FRY. Working in small batches to prevent overcrowding, drop spoonfuls of batter into the deep fryer and fry in hot oil until golden brown all over, about 5 minutes.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer fritters to a paper towel-lined plate.
COAT. Toss warm fritters with 1 cup cinnamon sugar in a bowl until well coated.
Make a Glaze!
In a small bowl whisk, 1¼ cups powdered sugar with ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract and, depending on how thin you want it, 3-6 teaspoons of milk or water. Toss warm fritters in the glaze and let set up for a few minutes before serving.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith mixed with a sweeter variety for the best flavor balance.
- Keep oil at 375°F—too hot will burn the outside, too low makes them greasy.
- Fry in small batches so the fritters cook evenly and stay crisp.
- Toss fritters in cinnamon sugar while warm so the coating sticks perfectly.
Apple Fritters
Video
Ingredients
- 1 quart vegetable oil, for deep frying
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon white sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup milk
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 3 cups apples, peeled, cored and chopped
- 1 cup cinnamon-sugar
Instructions
- Heat oil in a deep fryer or electric skillet to 375°F.
- Stir flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. Pour in milk, eggs, and oil; stir until well blended.
- Mix in apples until evenly distributed.
- Working in small batches to prevent overcrowding, drop spoonfuls of batter into the deep fryer and fry in hot oil until golden all over, about 5 minutes.
- Use a slotted spoon to transfer fritters to a paper towel-lined plate.
- Toss warm fritters with cinnamon sugar in a bowl until well coated.
Notes
- Use tart apples like Granny Smith mixed with a sweeter variety for the best flavor balance.
- Keep oil at 375°F—too hot will burn the outside, too low makes them greasy.
- Fry in small batches so the fritters cook evenly and stay crisp.
- Toss fritters in cinnamon sugar while warm so the coating sticks perfectly.
- Refrigerate. Store the dough covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. This can help develop the flavor and make the dough easier to handle.
- Freeze. For longer storage, freeze the dough. Wrap it tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before frying.
- Store leftover apple fritters in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- To reheat, warm them in a low-temperature oven or air fryer for a few minutes until heated through. Avoid microwaving, as it can make them soggy.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Refrigerate. Store the dough covered in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. This can help develop the flavor and make the dough easier to handle.
Freeze. For longer storage, freeze the dough. Wrap it tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before frying.
Store leftover apple fritters in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
More Like This
Pastry Recipes
Apple Recipes
Healthy Apple Muffins
25 mins
Easy Apple Cake
40 mins
Apple Cobbler Recipe
1 hr 20 mins
Apple Crescent Dumplings
38 mins
Collections
This recipe was originally published August 2024.
These are perfection!! I love how light and sweet these are in the same bite! So easy to make and tastes like fall in my mouth.
Kids helped me in making this treat! We had so much fun and it turned out great and delicious 🤤 Planning to make them again 😁
Wow, we loved these! Such a fun way to use apples and so simple to make. Cannot wait to make these again!