Homemade apple fritters made with a warm blend of cinnamon and apple pie spices and freshly diced apples. These doughnuts are finished with a sweet vanilla glaze so every bite delivers tender dough and juicy apple pieces.
Choose Your Apples
Select apples that are more tart than overly sweet for the best fritters — baking apples hold up better during frying and leave you with pleasant apple texture in each bite. Jonagold is a favorite for baking: it has a bright, tangy flavor and doesn’t break down into mush. Honeycrisp also works well thanks to its crisp, juicy flesh and subtle sweetness. For a classic tart contrast, Granny Smith pairs beautifully with the vanilla glaze. Any of these varieties will produce great homemade apple fritters.
Apple Fritter Doughnut Batter
When making doughnut batter, avoid overworking the dough. Excessive kneading develops gluten and produces hard, dense fritters. To keep fritters light and tender, mix and knead only until the dough comes together and is slightly sticky — enough to hold the apple pieces without becoming tough.
Frying Homemade Fritters
For evenly browned, fully cooked fritters, heat your oil to the correct temperature before you begin frying. A candy thermometer makes it easy to monitor the oil and maintain the proper heat. Keep the oil at about 375°F (190°C) for best results.
Do not overcrowd the pot when frying. Dropping too many fritters at once lowers the oil temperature and causes uneven cooking and soggy or undercooked centers. Fry in small batches so each fritter browns uniformly and cooks through.
Homemade Apple Pie Spice
You can use a pre-mixed apple pie spice for convenience, or make your own blend to control the flavor. A simple homemade mix works well in the batter:
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ⅛ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
Either option will add warm, aromatic notes to the fritters that complement the apples and the vanilla glaze.
Homemade Apple Fritters
These fritters combine a cinnamon-spiced batter with diced apples and a simple vanilla glaze for a classic breakfast or dessert treat.
Equipment
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Candy thermometer
Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 3 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1½ cups diced apples, peeled
- Oil for frying
Apple Fritter Glaze
- 2 cups confectioner’s sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4–6 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Mix in the sugar until combined. Beat in the softened butter and vanilla extract.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and spices.
- Make a well in the dry ingredients and add the wet mixture. Stir until just combined, then fold in the diced apples.
- Gently knead only until the dough is slightly sticky. Add a little more flour if needed to prevent it from being too wet.
- Pour enough oil into a deep pot to fully submerge the fritters and heat to 375°F (190°C). Use a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature.
- Use a ¼-cup measure to portion the dough into balls. Carefully lower them into the hot oil, frying in small batches so the oil temperature stays consistent.
- The fritters will sink briefly and then rise to the surface. Fry about 60–70 seconds per side, until evenly golden and cooked through.
- Remove fritters with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel–lined plate. When cooled slightly, place them on a wire rack set over parchment to catch excess glaze.
Apple Fritter Glaze
- In a shallow bowl, whisk the confectioner’s sugar and vanilla. Gradually add milk until the glaze reaches a smooth, dip-able consistency.
- Dip each fritter into the glaze, coating both sides, and return to the cooling rack to set.
- Repeat until all fritters are glazed. Drizzle any remaining glaze over the fritters if desired.
Notes
*A candy thermometer helps you reach and maintain the correct frying temperature for consistent results.
**Fry in batches to prevent the oil temperature from dropping and to ensure even frying.
Nutrition
| Calories: 302 kcal
| Carbohydrates: 87 g
| Protein: 5 g
Nutritional information is an estimate and may vary based on ingredients and portion sizes.
© Mama Needs Cake
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