Apple Fritters (2024)

If you’re looking for ideas for how to use the bounty of apples that fall provides, look no further than these old-fashioned apple fritters! Think of fritters as being kind of like a doughnut, but with plenty of fresh, crisp diced apples and much easier to make! I like Granny Smith apples and Honeycrisp apples but use whatever apple you like. No need to overthink it.

Growing up, we went to the donut shop once a week for a treat and I got apple fritters basically every time. I just can’t resist apple treats! Now that I know how easy they are to make (seriously, you can have a batch ready in under 30 minutes), I enjoy sharing my love of apples with my family by whipping up a batch on the weekends for a fun, treat-like breakfast. If you’re like me and want to eat all the apple dessert recipes this fall, then try my apple pie recipe, apple crisp recipe, or apple cobbler recipe.

What You Need to Make This Recipe

Vegetable oil — vegetable oil is ideal for frying because it has a high smoke point and won’t burn while you’re frying the fritters. Peanut oil is another great option. Avoid any oils with distinct flavors or low smoke points like olive oil.

Whole milk — if you want to add some richness, reduce the amount of whole milk from ¾ cup to ⅔ cup and add 2 tablespoons melted butter to the wet mixture.

Eggs — ensure the eggs are at room temperature for about 30 minutes to an hour before you start preparing this dish.

Apples — the apples need to be peeled, cored, and diced. I like using a mixture of tart Granny Smith apples and Honeycrisp apples to balance out the glaze’s sweetness, but you can use any apple you enjoy eating, such as Gala, Fuji, or Golden Delicious.

Glaze — you’ll need powdered sugar, whole milk, and vanilla extract for a simple glaze that doesn’t detract from the delicious flavor of fresh apples.

How to Make Apple Fritters

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.

2. In another large bowl, whisk the milk, eggs, and vanilla extract. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Fold together until not almost combined (a few streaks of flour should remain).

3. Add the diced apples to the batter and fold again so all the apples are coated and the flour is completely incorporated.

4. Fill a large pot or Dutch oven 1 ½ inches deep with vegetable oil. Heat over medium-high heat with a candy thermometer or deep fry thermometer attached. Heat the oil to 350°F. If the oil is too hot or not hot enough, adjust the heat of the stove. Scoop the apple fritter batter about ¼ cup at a time and carefully plop it into the hot oil. Fry 4 to 6 fritters at a time so as not to overcrowd the pot. Fry the bottom for about 2 minutes or until golden brown, then flip with a slotted spoon and fry for another 2 or so minutes. Transfer the fried apple fritters to a wire rack set over a large rimmed baking sheet lined with paper towels or parchment paper so the excess oil can drip off.

5. Make the glaze by whisking together powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons milk, and vanilla extract. If the glaze is not thin enough, add more milk.

6. Drizzle the glaze over the apple fritters. If you prefer more sweetness, dip the fritters into the glaze instead for a thicker coating. Either way, allow the fritters to sit for 10 minutes before you dig in so the glaze can set.

Pro Tips for Making this Recipe

• Dice the apples so they are fairly small. Having smaller pieces of apple will ensure they soften nicely when fried.
• Use different spices. Cinnamon is the obvious choice, but I also love the combination of apples and nutmeg! (For an explosion of flavor, use a pinch of freshly grated nutmeg rather than the pre-ground kind.) Ground ginger, cardamom, or a spice blend like apple or pumpkin pie spice are all great additions.
• Use a candy thermometer or deep fry thermometer. They’re inexpensive tools that tell you exactly how hot the oil is, instead of you having to guess.
• Keep the oil temperature at 350°F. The oil will cool down a bit when you add the batter, so you will need to increase the heat of the stovetop to bring it back up to temperature. Don’t hesitate to continue adjusting your heat as you fry to maintain as close to 350°F as possible.
• Try to have the fritters a similar size. Use a measuring cup or scoop so each one is ¼ cup. They’ll cook at an equal pace and be roughly the same size. I like using a large springloaded scoop or ice cream scoop that’s about 2 ounces.
• For a little extra zing, add lemon juice. Toss the diced apples with 3 tablespoons of lemon juice before adding to the batter. Lemon juice adds just a little something extra, while also waking up the apples a bit. You can also use lemon juice instead of milk in the glaze! I find lemon juice balances the sweetness wonderfully.
• Skip the glaze. If you’re looking for more crunch, swap the glaze for cinnamon sugar. Simply mix 1 cup granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon cinnamon. Let the fritters drain on the wire rack for a minute or so, then toss in the cinnamon sugar.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you’ve tried this apple fritters recipe then don’t forget to leave a rating and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you!