Homemade Apple Fritters
If you love apple fritters but hate the time it takes to make them, these shortcut Apple Fritter donuts are going to amaze you. The batter takes less than 10 minutes to make. All you have to do is mix it, fry it and that’s it. You’ll end up with the softest donuts with juicy caramelized apples in very bite.
Why you'll love Apple Fritter recipe
No yeast required
No need to wait for rising or proofing. The batter comes together in less than 15 minutes.
Light and fluffy
Not heavy or dense. They are like small balls of cloud. Very soft and moist donuts.
Kid-friendly
Their small size makes them perfect for little hands.
What is an apple fritter?
Apple fritters are deep fried donuts and especially popular around the fall season.
Best apples for apple fritters
My favorite apples to use are Sugar Bee from Trader Joe’s. Honey crisp, Fuji or Gala are great options for apple fritters. They are a mix of sweet and tart but firm.
Ingredients and substitutions
All-purpose flour: This recipe has not been tested with other flours.
Apples: Lots and lots of apples!! I love using Sugar Bee but Honeycrisp or Gala work great.
Yogurt: Adds moisture to keep the crumb soft.
Milk: Keeps the donuts bites tender and fluffy.
Egg: Binds the batter and adds and richness.
Butter: For richness, texture and moisture.
Baking powder: Unlike traditional apple fritter donuts, this recipe uses baking powder which skips the proofing time and ready to fry in 15 minutes.
Cinnamon: For that classic warmth spice found in apple fritters.
For the rest of the ingredients, please see the recipe index card below!
Expert tips from my test kitchen
Do not overmix the batter
This is the biggest secret to keeping the fritters fluffy and soft.
Use a heavy bottomed pot
A Dutch oven heats up more evenly.
Measure flour the right way
Measure flour by weight in grams instead of cups. Shop my exact scale here. (affiliate link) If you don’t have a scale, fluff the flour with a fork in its container, and then spoon it into the measuring cup before leveling off with a flat edge.
Don’t over crowd the pot
Adding too many fritters at once lowers the oil temperature fast.
Don’t make the fritters too large
Smaller fritters cook more evenly and give you those crispy edges with a soft center.
How to make homemade Apple Fritters
The section below is a quick overview of how to make this recipe. For full details, see recipe index card below!
Preheat the oil
Heat about 3-4 inches of neutral oil in a heavy bottomed pot to 365°F-375°F. Use a thermometer for best results. If the oil is too cool, the fritters can absorb too much oil. If the oil is too hot, the outside can brown before the center is cooked.
Prepare the apples
Peel, core and finely chop apples into even square pieces. Smaller pieces work best because they become tender when fried.
Make the glaze
Combine powder sugar, milk, maple syrup and vanilla into a medium mixing bowl. Whisk until combined. Glaze should be thick. Set aside.
Mix the wet ingredients
In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, sugar, yogurt and vanilla extract.
Mix the dry ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Mix with the wet ingredients until combined. Do not over mix. Lumps are fine. Overmixing makes the donuts dense instead of light and fluffy.
Fold in the apples
Gently fold in chopped apple pieces into the batter. The batter should be thick enough to scoop but still soft and lots of apples.
Fry the apple fritters
Use a large cookie scooper or ice cream scooper to drop portions of the batter into the hot oil. Fry only 3-5 at a time as the fritters will puff up. If you fry too many, the oil temperature will drop and soak up too much oil. Keep the temperature at 360°F to 370°F. Fry for only 2-3 minutes on each side until the fritters are golden and cooked through. Transfer to a wire rack with a paper towel.
Glaze the donuts
While the apple fritter donuts are slightly warm, toss in a maple syrup glaze and transfer back to wire rack.
FAQ
Q: How do they rise without yeast?
A: They use baking powder to create an instant chemical reaction with the wet ingredients.
Q: Do I need a donut cutter or a mold?
A: No, this recipe uses a scoop and drop batter method directly into the hot oil.
Q: Can I bake them instead of frying them?
A: Yes you can bake them in a muffin tin or a donut pan but they will taste more cake-like than a crispy bakery apple fritter.
Q: How do I keep them from getting soggy after frying?
A: Make sure the oil stays hot. Do not fry too many at once or the oil temperature drops and drain the donuts on a wire rack to preserve its crispy edges.
How to store leftover Apple Fritters
Store leftover muffins in an airtight container or ziploc in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Freeze for up to one month.
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Homemade Apple Fritter Donuts
Equipment
- 1x oil thermometer
- 1x Dutch oven pot
Ingredients
- 5-6 medium apples, chopped into small squares
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 3 large eggs
- 3/4 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup whole milk yogurt
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 4 Tablespoons melted butter
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 Tablespoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon sea salt
For the glaze:
- 3 cups powder sugar
- 2-3 Tablespoons milk
- 2 Tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
Preheat the oil
- Heat about 3-4 inches of neutral oil in a heavy bottomed pot to 350°F-360°F. Use a thermometer for best results. If the oil is too cool, the fritters can absorb too much oil. If the oil is too hot, the outside can brown before the center is cooked.
Prepare the apples
- Peel, core and finely chop apples into even square pieces. Smaller pieces work best because they become tender when fried.
Make the glaze
- Combine powder sugar, milk, maple syrup and vanilla into a medium mixing bowl. Whisk until combined. Glaze should be thick. Set aside.
Mix the wet ingredients
- In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, butter, eggs, sugar, yogurt and vanilla extract.
Mix the dry ingredients
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt. Mix with the wet ingredients until combined. Do not over mix. Lumps are fine. Overmixing makes the donuts dense instead of light and fluffy.
Fold in the apples
- Gently fold in chopped apple pieces into the batter. The batter should be thick enough to scoop but still soft and lots of apples.
Fry the apple fritters
- Use a large cookie scooper or ice cream scooper to drop portions of the batter into the hot oil. Fry only 3-5 at a time as the fritters will puff up. Depending on size of your scoop, this recipe makes 18-20 medium size donuts.
- If you fry too many, the oil temperature will drop and soak up too much oil. Keep the temperature at 365°F to 375°F. Fry for 2-3 minutes on each side until the fritters are golden and cooked through. Transfer to a wire rack with a paper towel.
Glaze the donuts
- While the apple fritter donuts are slightly warm, whisk together the glaze ingredients. Toss in a maple syrup glaze and transfer back to wire rack.
Nutrition
The provided nutritional value above is an estimate per serving. 100% accuracy is not guarenteed. Please see Nutrition Information Disclaimer in our Privacy Policy.
Nutrition Information Disclaimer
These are dangerously good! I ate far too many of them.
That’s what we like to hear!
I LOVE apple fritters, and this was exactly what I needed it to be and more! So excited to have it again!
Yay! We love this recipe and we’re so glad you do too!
These are so fluffy and delicious! The directions are simple to follow. I can’t believe I made my own apple Fritters! it seemed so complex until you broke it down so easily and everyone loved them.
Thank you for the lovely review! We love this recipe too. 🙂
Fantastic!
Thanks so much Miah!
I am unable to find the measurements for the glaze. Otherwise, looking forward to making this recipe.
Please see in the recipe card at the bottom of the blog. 🙂