Description
Delicious homemade apple fritters featuring tender chunks of Granny Smith apples in a cinnamon-spiced batter, fried to golden perfection and coated with a smooth vanilla glaze. A perfect treat for breakfast, dessert, or anytime you crave a sweet, crunchy indulgence.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup whole milk
- 1 large egg (room temperature)
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
Fruit
- 3 cups Granny Smith apples (peeled, cored and diced into ¼–½ inch pieces, from 2 large apples)
Frying Oil
- Canola oil for frying (amount as needed to fill fryer or pot to 2-3 inches depth)
Glaze
- 2 ½ cups powdered sugar (sifted)
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (melted and cooled)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5–6 tablespoons whole milk
Instructions
- Heat Oil: Heat canola oil in an electric fryer or heavy-duty pot to 375°F. Prepare a large-rimmed baking tray with paper towels and a wire rack to drain and cool the fritters once fried.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, and salt until well combined.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: In a small bowl, whisk the whole milk, room temperature egg, and unsweetened applesauce together until smooth.
- Combine Batter: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients bowl and stir gently with a rubber spatula just until the batter is combined and free of lumps. Batter should resemble thick pancake batter.
- Add Apples: Gently fold the diced Granny Smith apples into the batter until evenly distributed without overmixing.
- Fry Fritters: Once oil is hot, carefully spoon about ⅓ cup of batter into the oil and gently spread to flatten slightly for even frying. Fry 2-3 fritters at a time, avoiding overcrowding. Cook for 1 to 1 ½ minutes on one side, then flip and cook another 1 to 1 ½ minutes until deep golden brown.
- Drain Fritters: Using a large slotted spoon or metal spider, remove fritters from oil and transfer onto prepared baking tray to drain excess oil and cool slightly before glazing. Repeat frying until all batter is used.
- Make Glaze: Whisk together sifted powdered sugar, melted cooled butter, vanilla extract, and 5 tablespoons whole milk until smooth. Add the remaining milk tablespoon if needed to achieve a syrup-like consistency similar to warm maple syrup.
- Glaze Fritters: Dip each warm fritter into the glaze, coating both sides thoroughly, and place back on wire rack to allow glaze to set and harden.
- Serve: Once the glaze is set, arrange apple fritters in a single layer and serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Maintain oil temperature at 375°F to ensure even frying without absorbing excess oil.
- Do not overcrowd the fryer to prevent temperature drops and soggy fritters.
- The glaze consistency should be pourable but thick enough to coat the fritters without dripping excessively.
- Use Granny Smith apples for tartness that balances the sweetness of the glaze.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute milk and butter in the glaze with plant-based alternatives.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: apple fritters, fried apple doughnuts, cinnamon apple dessert, glazed apple fritters, homemade apple fritters
