Apple Fritters
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These easy apple fritters are irresistible. They are gloriously moist and warm inside and crispy on the outside, full of apple flavor at every bite. They will be gone in no time!
The recipe is super quick, easy, and budget-friendly too.
Welcome to one of my favorite fall treats. Let me start by saying that I’m sure you’ll love this apple recipe because these little apple fritters taste and smell SO AMAZING. You can’t stop eating them, seriously.
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They’re also so simple and embarrassingly easy to make. The batter comes together in seconds. Stir in the chopped apples, fry in some oil, and dust with powdered sugar. And BOOM… devour!
They’re also ready in about 15 minutes and make a terrific impromptu dessert or snack to take to school. They are terrific when they’re still warm but taste nice when cold. We LOVE apple fritter leftovers, too! lol
As a bonus, you can customize them with different add-ins if you want a twist or bake them if you wish to skip the frying; I’ve included a few ideas and tips below.
Wait, a word of warning. If you have children and a husband in the kitchen, save a few of these freshly made apple fritters for yourself before it’s too late, or you’ll have to fight with them to share! 🙂
Now, grab a few apples and make these apple fritters! x
List of the ingredients
- Apples
- Egg
- Sugar
- Milk
- Lemon
- Flour
- Cinnamon
- Oil for frying
How to make apple fritters
- Combine the diced apples with lemon juice and cinnamon.
- Add the egg, milk, sugar, and lemon zest and mix thoroughly.
- Stir in the flour and baking powder.
- Add the apples to the batter and toss to combine.
- Use a spoon to transfer a small dollop of batter and apples to a frying pan.
- Fry the fritters for about 60 seconds per side. Dust with powdered sugar, and enjoy while they’re still nice and warm.
Recipe Notes
ingredients & substitution
Apples: Pink Ladies, Gala, and Granny Smiths are my go-to apples for sweet treats, but you can choose any kind you like as long as it has a firm texture and is not too tart. The recipe is also great for using wrinkly or a bit bruised apples.
Batter: Combine egg, sugar, milk, flour, and baking powder until smooth. You can use plant-based milk instead of cow milk and whole-wheat flour instead of all-purpose.
Flavor: To add more flavor, I recommend tossing the apples with ground cinnamon and lemon juice and adding some lemon zest to the batter. I also love adding half a teaspoon of vanilla extract, but I leave that optional.
Powdered sugar: I love dusting my apple fritters with powdered sugar; they look so pretty and taste sweeter. But feel free to skip it if you don’t have any powdered sugar on hand: they will taste delicious anyway.
Apple fritters variations
This apple fritter recipe is very flexible. You can play around with different add-ins (use no more than 1/4 to 1/3 cup of extras).
- Nuts are welcome! You can choose chopped walnuts, pecans, almonds, or hazelnuts. These are all great options; their flavors pair very well with apples and add a lovely, crispy texture. I don’t recommend using peanuts, though, as they steal away that lovely apple flavor.
- Dried fruit: Sultanas, cranberries, dates, they all work with these apple fritters.
Baking vs frying
Do you wonder if you can bake your apple fritters rather than fry them? I get it. Baked apple fritters are lighter and save you the hassle of frying. I’ve tested the recipe in the oven, and although we liked them, the result is not quite the same, as the texture tends to be softer without that crisp outside. However, you can bake them, as I do sometimes (check my tips in the recipe card below!).
Storage Tips
Apple fritters are best enjoyed soon after they’re made while still warm inside and crispy outside. However, if you have apple fritter leftovers (seriously??! lol), they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to one day. Microwave them for 30 seconds to make them nice and warm. They’re not freezer-friendly.
More apple recipes you’ll love
Let me know if you make these epic apple fritters! Leave a comment, rate it, or tag a photo #theclevermeal on Instagram. I would love to hear from you!
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Apple Fritters
Ingredients
- 2 large apples, peeled and diced
- ½ lemon, juice
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 egg
- ½ lemon, zest
- 3 tablespoons (40 grams) sugar
- 2 ½ tablespoon (40 ml) milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
- ¾ cup + 1 tbsp (100 grams) all-purpose flour
- vegetable oil, for frying
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
To serve
- ½ – 1 tablespoon powdered sugar
Instructions
- Peel and dice the apples. Add them to a small bowl and stir in the lemon juice and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Add the egg, sugar, milk, and lemon zest to a bowl and whisk with a fork or a whisker. Add the flour and baking powder, and stir until smooth and lump-free. Add the chopped apples to the batter and toss until combined.
- Add 1-inch deep vegetable oil to a frying pan on medium heat. To check if the oil is ready for frying, use a thermometer (the temperature should be 350°F/175℃). Alternatively, stick the end of a wooden spoon into the oil. The oil is ready for frying if bubbles appear around the wood.
- Next, spoon and transfer a small amount of apple batter to the frying pan (each fritter should be about 2 inches/5 cm wide). Keep them about 1 inch apart and fry for about 60 seconds per side until golden, and the batter inside is fully cooked. Use a slotted spoon to transfer fritters to a plate lined with kitchen paper.
- How to bake apple fritters: Preheat the oven to 400℉/205℃, and grease a non-stick baking sheet with oil. Spoon a small amount of apple fritter batter onto the sheet, keeping them 1 inch apart. Sprinkle with granulated sugar and bake for about 10-12 minutes until golden.
- Serve your apple fritters while they're freshly made and still warm, and dust them with powdered sugar (optional). Enjoy!
