Fall is here, and with it local orchard’s and produce sections are overflowing with an abundance of ripe apples. Take advantage of the season and make a batch of these easy fried apple fritters for a delicious breakfast or brunch for the family to enjoy. Coated with a sweet powered sugar glaze, they’re a seasonal sweet treat you’ve got to try!
Getting my kids to eat anything healthy can be such a chore, but there’s one season a year where they’re always happy to have fruit on the menu.
That’s Fall, and always after a trip to our local apple orchard.
We always load up on several freshly picked bushels, and then once they get tired of eating plain old apples- this Mama gets creative.
Adding a little bit of fruit to the menu is always a good thing for me. Breakfast or dessert, it’s always a win for me.
Which is another reason I adore these easy apple fritters.
They pull double duty, working day or night- whatever I need them for, and they’re always a hit.
In my opinion, they’re seriously one of the most undervalued treats the season has to offer!
Ingredients Needed
For The Fritters
- Oil – I prefer using canola oil because it’s lower in saturated fats, but vegetable oil will work just as well.
- Egg
- Milk – Use whatever milk you keep in your kitchen, for this recipe fat content doesn’t matter.
- Apples – Fuji, Gala, or Granny Smith are recommended, but I’ve never refused to turn an apple into a fritter.
- Flour – Plain all purpose flour works best- nothing fancy here folks!
- Sugar – White, granulated sugar
- Baking Powder – Do NOT skip this ingredient as it’s what makes your batter fluff up during the fry.
- Cinnamon
- Salt – Only a pinch is called for, and you can skip it if salt’s a problem for your diet, but it does add a nice contrast that makes the sweetness of the fritters pop.
For The Glaze
- Powdered Sugar – I recommend sifting the sugar before using as it will yield a smoother glaze.
- Milk
- Vanilla Extract – I prefer the real deal, but have made this with both and the imitation extract tastes just as good!
How To Make
This recipe is best broken down into two parts: how to make the fritters & how to make the sweet glaze they’re coated in.
Add the oil to a large, heavy bottomed pot or to a fryer. Heat the oil to 365 degrees F. If using a plain pot to heat your oil, I recommend using a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature.
Making The Fritters
Start by gathering all the ingredients needed for the fritters. The recipe will move quickly, so having everything on hand just makes things easier.
Whisk the egg & milk together in a mixing bowl until evenly combined. Using a spatula, fold the chopped apples into the mixture.
In a separate mixing bowl add the dry ingredients- the flour, sugar, baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and salt. You can use a whisk or a simple fork, and stir until all of the ingredients are evenly combined.
Add the dry ingredients to the bowl of wet batter, careful not to add it too quickly so that the flour poofs up and makes a mess. Whisk them together ONLY until just combined & moistened.
Resist the temptation to overmix, as an overmixed batter will yield flat fritters that don’t fluff and rise during frying.
Now it’s time to fry!
My grandma made this using an old wooden spoon to drop her dollops of batter in, and you could certainly do that too.
I like my fritters to be more uniform in size so I know they’ll cook through at the same rate, so I use a measuring cup to measure my batter. Gently drop 1/4-1/3 cup of batter into the hot oil, being careful not to crowd the pan/pot.
Allow the fritters to fry for 3-4 minutes, turning as needed so they brown evenly on all sides, until cooked through.
Using a slotted strainer spoon remove the cooked fritters, one at a time, and transfer them to a thick layer of waiting paper towels. The paper towels will soak up all of the excess grease that will drain off of the fried apple fritters.
Set the apples aside, and allow them to rest. Repeat until all the batter’s been used and all fritters are resting on the paper towels.
Making The Powdered Sugar Glaze
These fritters are delicious by themselves, but are even better with the sweet glazed coating. It’s honestly my go-to glaze recipe, and it is super simple to whip up in minutes.
Add powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to a mixing bowl- whisk them together until the glaze comes together & is smooth.
You could certainly use a hand mixer to whisk it quickly, but it’s really not necessary. Minimal effort/whisking is required- promise!
Dip each cooled fritter in the glaze, and then place it on a serving tray. The glaze will harden as it cools.
Repeat until all the fritters are glazed and assembled on the tray of your choosing.
Alternatively, you could add all of the fritters to a tray or plate & then pour the glaze out over them. Use whichever method you prefer!
Serve them immediately, and I highly recommend enjoying them with a glass of milk. Although hot coffee or tea work too!
What Kind Of Apples Are Best?
I love Fuji apples, like seriously, love them. So I tend to keep them on hand and use them in this recipe; however, other apples work just as well- some even better!
Gala apples are another variety that we’ve used that taste scrumptious in this recipe.
If I’m being honest though, if this is your first experience with an apple fritter, go with Granny Smith.
They’re great at retaining their texture even under high heat, and their tart flavor is a great pairing with the batter & sweet glaze.
Can These Fruit Fritters Be Stored For Later?
Unfortunately, the answer is no.
Due to the nature of a fried fritter, it’s just not a viable option.
Fritters will be golden brown & deliciously crisp after cooking, but will turn soggy within an hour. It’s just the nature of fritters, and nothing can be done to prevent it.
So as Grandma used to say, “Get em while the gettins’ good, y’all!”
Other Delicious Apple Recipes
These easy fried apple fritters are the perfect recipe for a breakfast or brunch. Embrace all things Fall, and make a batch for your family and savor the season together.
Looking for other recipes that feature sweet apple flavor? Try these:
- Fireball Whiskey Glazed Apple Cider Dumplings
- Instant Pot Stuffed Apples
- Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls
- Apple Butter Pie
Easy Fried Apple Fritters
Ingredients
For The Apple Fritters
- 2 cups canola oil
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cups fuji apples cored, peeled, & chopped
- 1 cup flour
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon divided
- 1/4 tsp salt
For The Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 3 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
To Make The Fritters
- Add the oil to a large, heavy bottomed skillet and heat it to 365°F.
- To a medium sized mixing bowl, add the beaten egg and milk. Whisk them together until evenly combined.
- Add the apples to the bowl, and fold them into the mixture.
- In a separate mixing bowl add the flour, 1 tablespoon sugar, baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, and salt. Whisk together until evenly combined.
- Pour the dry ingredients into the wet mixing bowl, and whisk together just until combined. Don't over mix!
- Using a measuring cup, drop the mixture into the hot oil CAREFULLY in 1/4 dollops.
- Allow the fritters to fry for 3-4 minutes, gently turning as needed to evenly cook/brown.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove the cooked fritters to a paper towel lined plate to rest & drain of excess oil. Working in batches of 2-3, repeat until all the batter's gone.
- Once drained of excess grease, transfer all of the apple fritters to a serving tray. Set aside & prepare the glaze.
To Make The Glaze
- Add all of the ingredients to a mixing bowl. Whisk together until evenly combined.
- Dip each cooled fritter into the glaze, turning over to evenly coat. Return to the serving tray, and repeat until all fritters are glazed.
- Serve with milk & enjoy!
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