Apple Pie Fritters are one of my favorite treats this time of year! They remind me of an apple cider donut but crispier! Flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and deep fried to golden brown perfection, they are the epitome of fall food.
Crisp on the outside and loaded with juicy apples and yummy apple pie flavor inside, this apple fritter recipe is finished with a sweet glaze or cinnamon sugar coating. I suggest pairing it with spiked apple cider for the perfect bite of Fall.
Fall is here which means anything apple pie is fair game including but not limited to my Apple Pie Fries and my popular Pie Crust Cookies.
Growing up in a donut shop, I am very familiar with fried dough. My favorite part of making donuts was pouring the icing on top of the hot fried donuts.
Like donuts, fritters are also golden and crisp on the outside, have a moist and fluffy texture. The advantage to fritters is that they're filled with sweet apple pie flavor.
This easy recipe can be made in under 20 minutes and uses just 7 simple, pantry staple ingredients! It’s honestly dangerous how easy these are to make.
Pair these fritters with hot chocolate for the kiddos and a pumpkin bourbon cocktail for adults and you’ve got the perfect breakfast or dessert.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to fry!
🛒Fritter Ingredient Tips
- flour- all purpose flour is recommended. This forms the binder of the batter and will yield the best result.
- sugar- granulated white sugar is recommended.
- baking powder - this will give your fritters the leavening power so they can rise and yield a fluffy dough.
- apple pie spice- It’s made up of warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice that add a TON of flavor to the fritters. You can use store bought or make your own using cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, allspice, and cardomom.
- apples- I recommend using granny smith apples since they hold up well to heat and result in a less sweet, more tart flavor.
- egg- This will bind the fritter batter together.
- milk- Keeps your fritters moist.
- oil- For frying. I recommend using a neutral oil with a high smoke point like vegetable oil or canola oil. See oil recommendations below.
- finishes: There’s 3 finishing options for you to choose from to coat your apple fritters in. You could toss them in cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar, or drizzle on a simple vanilla glaze
🍎🍏How To Make Apple Pie Fritters
Step 1: Make the batter
- Peel and core your apples, then use a sharp knife to dice them into small, ¼ inch pieces.
- In a large bowl, stir together the dry ingredients, your flour, sugar, baking powder, apple pie spice.
- Next, add in the milk and egg and whisk until JUST combined.
- Fold in the chopped apples.
Step 2: Heat the oil
- In a large skillet, pour your oil until it is about ¼-½ inch deep
- Heat over medium/high heat until it reaches approximately 350°-375° F
Step 3: Fry and serve the apple fritters
- Carefully drop a few heaping tablespoons full of the batter into the hot oil, making sure they do not touch
- Once the bottom is golden brown, flip them over and allow the other side for fry until golden
- Carefully remove the cooked fritters from the hot oil and set them on a wire cooling rack or paper towel to drain the excess oil. Repeat the frying process until all the batter has been used
- While fritters are still warm, toss them in cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, or drizzle over your glaze
- Serve fresh and enjoy!
📃 NOTE: You can print the FULL recipe with all ingredients & detailed instructions below!
👨🍳Expert Tips
✔️Use a candy thermometer to ensure your oil is hot enough. (Frying fritter in cold oil will result in greasy, oily fritters.)
✔️Dice your apples small enough but not too small.
✔️Like pancakes, the consistency of your batter is everything. Too thin and you will get flat fritters. Add more flour if needed!
✔️Use a mini ice cream scooper to scoop out batter. This will give you consistently sized fritters.
✔️Use crisp, firm apples.
✔️Don’t overmix the batter.
✔️Roll in cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar while they’re still warm
✔️Add a pinch of salt to balance the sweetness
What Are The Best Apples To Use?
The best apples are ones that are crisp, firm, and hold their shape when cooked. I prefer to use Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples, but Pink Ladies will also work.
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🪔Best Oils For Frying
I love olive oil but it's not the best for frying. You want an oil that has a high smoke point and is also neutral tasting. The following oils are best:
- canola
- vegetable
- corn
- avocado
- coconut
- safflower
- peanut
- soybean
- sunflower
How Do I Know If My Oil Is Hot Enough?
The easiest way to test the temperature of the oil is with a thermometer. You want it to read anywhere between 350° and 375° fahrenheit.
If you don’t have a thermometer, dip the end of a wooden spoon into the oil and if a lot of bubbles form around it then it’s ready, but if it is bubbling hard then the oil is too hot.
💡Note* If your oil is too cool, your fritter be will soggy. If your oil is too hot, they will burn before cooking inside.
📝Storing Tips
Apple fritters are like donuts so think how you would store donuts! They should last 3-4 days at room temperature. To prolong shelflife, store them in an airtight container. Know that they will not be as crispy the next day so I recommend serving them fresh.
Can I Freeze My Fritters?
Yes! Like donuts, fritters freeze very well. Just wait for them to fully cool before adding them to a plastic freezer bag or container.
I highly recommend wrapping them individually OR flash freezing them so they do not stick to one another. They will last at least 3-4 weeks. Thaw at room temperature and enjoy!
Kitchen Tools Needed:
- Mixing bowl
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Large skillet
- Thermometer
- Wire cooling rack
FAQ's
Why are my fritters flat?
- Check the expiration date on your baking powder!
- Make sure your batter is not too thin. You want pancake batter consistency.
- Make sure your oil is hot enough. 350-375°F is the best frying temperature.
How can I get the lumps out of my glaze?
Oftentimes, powdered sugar will have small clumps that are hard to dissolve when making a glaze. The best way to remove them is to sift the sugar before adding in the milk and vanilla extract. That way you’ll end up with a smooth, glossy glaze for your apple fritters.
What is the best kind of skillet to use for frying?
Because we are essentially shallow frying rather than deep frying any skillet with straight sides is fine however I prefer to use a cast iron as it holds heat well. A stainless steel pan or sauce pan is fine too.
📖 Recipe
Apple Pie Fritters
Ingredients
Batter
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1 cup apples peeled cored and diced small* (about ¼-½ inch)
- 1 egg
- ⅔ cups milk
- Oil for frying
- ⅓ cup cinnamon and sugar (optional* (for coating))
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2-4 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a bowl mix flour, sugar, and baking powder.
- Add egg, milk, diced apples & stir. Do not over mix. Some lumps are okay!
- Heat ½-1 inch oil in a skillet over medium high heat.
- When the oil reaches approximately 350-375 degrees F, carefully drop a few heaping tablespoons full of the batter into the oil. Make sure they do not touch. Flip halfway through. Remove when your fritters are golden brown on all sides!
- Drain on paper towels or wire rack.
- While still warm, toss fritters in cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar and/or glaze.
Recipe Notes
- Check the expiration date on your baking powder!
- Make sure your batter is not too thin. You want pancake batter consistency.
- Make sure your oil is hot enough. 350-375°F is the best frying temperature.
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