Baked Apple Fritters

Soft, cinnamon-spiced apple fritters baked until golden, then finished with a sweet vanilla glaze. They have the cozy flavor of classic apple fritters without deep-frying.

Details

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 18–22 minutes
• Total Time: 35–40 minutes
• Servings: 10–12 fritters

Ingredients

For the Apple Fritters

• 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and finely diced
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1½ teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1 large egg
• ⅓ cup milk
• 2 tablespoons melted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven:
   Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and lightly grease it.
2. Prepare the apples:
   Peel, core, and finely dice the apples. Pat them lightly with a paper towel if they are very juicy.
3. Mix the dry ingredients:
   In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
4. Mix the wet ingredients:
   In another bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla.
5. Make the batter:
   Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir gently until just combined. Fold in the diced apples. Do not overmix—the batter should be thick and chunky.
6. Shape the fritters:
   Scoop about 2 tablespoons of batter for each fritter and place onto the prepared baking sheet. Slightly flatten each mound with the back of a spoon.
7. Bake:
   Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until the fritters are puffed and lightly golden around the edges.
8. Optional golden finish:
   For a deeper golden top, brush the fritters lightly with melted butter during the final few minutes of baking.
9. Make the glaze:
   Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Add a tiny amount of milk if the glaze is too thick.
10. Glaze:
    Let the fritters cool for about 5 minutes, then drizzle generously with the vanilla glaze.
11. Serve:
    Enjoy warm or at room temperature. They are especially delicious with coffee, tea, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Best Apple Choices

Use apples that hold their shape and have a nice balance of sweetness and tartness:

• Honeycrisp
• Granny Smith
• Pink Lady
• Fuji
• Gala

Nut Information

This recipe contains no nuts as written.

• Peanuts: None
• Tree nuts: None
• Almonds: None
• Walnuts: None
• Pecans: None
• Cashews: None
• Pistachios: None

Optional: You can add ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the batter for extra crunch. If serving someone with a nut allergy, check your flour, powdered sugar, butter, milk, and other packaged ingredients for cross-contact warnings.

Approximate Nutrition

Per fritter, assuming 12 fritters and including glaze:

• Calories: ~175
• Carbohydrates: ~29 g
• Protein: ~3 g
• Fat: ~6 g
• Sugar: ~16 g
• Fiber: ~1–2 g

Nutrition will vary depending on the apples, portion size, and amount of glaze used.

Q&A

Q: Can I make these without the glaze?
A: Yes. They are delicious plain, or you can dust them with powdered sugar.

Q: Why are my fritters too wet inside?
A: Very juicy apples can add extra moisture. Pat diced apples dry and avoid making the fritters too large.

Q: Can I use whole-wheat flour?
A: Yes. Replace up to half of the all-purpose flour with whole-wheat flour. The texture will be slightly denser.

Q: Can I make these dairy-free?
A: Yes. Use plant-based milk and dairy-free butter.

Q: Can I make them gluten-free?
A: Yes. Use a good 1-to-1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend.

Q: Can I prepare the batter ahead of time?
A: It’s best to bake the fritters soon after mixing because the baking powder begins working once the wet and dry ingredients are combined.

Q: How should I store leftovers?
A: Store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 4 days.

Q: Can I freeze apple fritters?
A: Yes. Freeze unglazed fritters in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw and warm them in the oven, then glaze before serving.

Q: How do I reheat them?
A: Warm them in a 325°F (165°C) oven for 5–8 minutes or briefly in an air fryer.

Q: Can I add nuts?
A: Absolutely. Chopped pecans or walnuts pair especially well with the apples and cinnamon.