Description
Crispy, golden apple fritters with cinnamon-spiced apples in a light, airy batter. Glaze optional.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or your favorite baking apple), peeled, cored, and diced into ½-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Vegetable oil or canola oil, for frying (about 4-6 cups)
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 3–4 tablespoons milk or cream
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the Apples: In a medium bowl, combine diced apples, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and lemon juice. Toss gently until evenly coated. Let sit for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Make the Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and granulated sugar. In a separate bowl, whisk together egg, buttermilk, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently stir until just combined. Be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can lead to tough fritters. A few lumps are perfectly fine!
- Gently fold in the seasoned apples into the batter. Make sure the apples are evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Fry the Fritters: Pour oil into a large, heavy-bottomed pot or deep fryer to a depth of 2-3 inches. Heat over medium heat to 350-375°F (175-190°C).
- Carefully drop spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil, being careful not to overcrowd the pot.
- Fry for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Flip halfway through.
- Remove fritters and place on a wire rack lined with paper towels to drain excess oil.
- Make the Glaze (Optional): In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk/cream, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add more milk/cream until desired consistency is reached.
- While the fritters are still warm, dip them into the glaze or drizzle the glaze over the top.
- Let the glaze set for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the pot when frying.
- Maintain the oil temperature between 350-375°F (175-190°C).
- Use fresh oil for the best flavor.
- Drain fritters well on a wire rack.
- Serve warm.
- Add spices to the batter for extra flavor.
- Experiment with different types of apples.
- Add nuts or raisins to the batter.
- Make it Vegan: Substitute the buttermilk with a plant-based milk and add a tablespoon of lemon juice. Use a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water) instead of a chicken egg.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes