Warm Apple Fritters are a treat during apple season and they are ready in just 30 minutes. The batter has a secret ingredient the produces a fluffy coating that’s crisp on the outside and soft inside. Imagine Glazed Donuts stuffed with an apple ring.
My kids love homemade apple fritters and there are never any leftovers. Watch the video tutorial and see how easy it is to make apple fritter rings at home.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
We love apple recipes from classic Apple Pie to flaky Apple Turnovers. If you are a fan of apple desserts, this Apple Fritter Recipe is a must-try!
Apple Fritters Video Tutorial
If you liked this video for Apple Fritters, pleasesubscribe to our Youtube Channel(P.S. Click the BELL icon so you can be the first to know when we post a new video). Thanks for subscribing!
What are Apple Fritters?
Apple fritters are essentially apple donuts; apples dipped in a simple batter and deep-fried in oil. If you prefer, you can chop up apples into small pieces and spoon mounds of apple fritter batter into the oil to make clusters of apple fritters. We love to fry them as Apple Fritter Rings because they look like donuts – super cute, easier to eat, and they are less likely to fall apart in the oil.
Ingredients for Apple Fritters
- Apples – select crisp, sweet-tart apples such as golden delicious, Granny Smith, honey crisp.
- Lemon juice – squeezed over the apples to prevent browning
- Flour – all-purpose flour works great
- Sugar – lightly sweetens the batter
- Baking powder – makes the batter rise
- Salt – balances the sweetness of the fritters
- Milk – any fat content; from 1% to whole milk
- Butter – creates a tender dough
- Egg – use 1 egg yolk then fold in 2 beaten egg whites to make the batter extra fluffy
- Oil – any high heat frying oil such as canola, vegetable oil, or peanut oil.
The Best Apple Peeler
If you love apple recipes, we highly recommend using an apple peeler. It will save you a ton of time and effort. It peels, cores, and slices your apples into perfect 1/4″-thick rings and there is no waste. We love this tool for Apple Pie, Apple Crisp, and it makes Apple Sauce super fast to prepare.
How to Make the Batter
- Whisk dry ingredients – flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.
- Wet ingredients – in a second bowl, whisk milk, 1 yolk, and melted butter.
- Combine – add dry ingredients to wet ingredients and whisk together until smooth.
- Beat egg whites – beat 2 whites until stiff peaks form, but the mixture is not overly dry.
- Fold egg whites into the batter using a spatula just until combined.
How to Make Apple Fritter Rings
- Pour 2-3 inches of oil into a pot over medium/high heat until it reaches 375˚ F.
- Peel, core, and slice apples into 1/4″ thick rings (use an apple peeler to save time). Transfer to a bowl and toss with 3 Tbsp fresh lemon juice.
- Dip apple rings into batter, letting excess drip back into the bowl. Fry about 5 fritters at a time for 2 minutes per side until browned, flipping once.
- Remove fritters from oil with a slotted spoon and transfer to a paper towel lined tray. Roll in cinnamon sugar or dust in powdered sugar to serve.
Pro Tip: Be sure to keep the oil above 350˚ F while frying so the fritters don’t absorb too much oil.A clip-on pot thermometer helps with maintaining the proper oil temperature.
Common Questions
What kind of thermometer is best for frying?
You can use an inexpensive clip-on thermometer or get a versatile thermometer like Thermoworks brand which can be used for the oven, grill, and pretty much any project.
When are apple fritters done cooking?
Fry for about 2 minutes per side. The fritters should be a deep golden brown to ensure a crisp exterior. If they are browning too quickly, reduce the heat and vice versa.
Can I Make this in a deep fryer?
Yes, you can definitely use a deep fryer with the same temperature settings and timings.
Can I use an air fryer?
Because the batter is very wet, it doesn’t lend itself well to be air-fried. Apple fritters do reheat and re-crisp really well in an air fryer.
How to Serve Apple Fritters
Serve apple fritter rings warm with your favorite toppings or coatings.
- Cinnamon sugar – combine 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon. Roll apple fritters in mixture to coat both sides.
- Powdered sugar – dust warm fritters with powdered sugar just before serving.
- Glazed – drizzle with the lemon glaze that we used on our Blueberry Muffins.
Apple fritters are melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Make this a new tradition to create beautiful food memories with your loved ones.
More Fall Desserts
If you enjoy Fall baking, we have you covered. Here are our best pumpkin, apple, and more recipes that highlight the best of Autumn.
- Pumpkin Pie
- Baked Apples
- Easy Cinnamon Rolls
- Pumpkin Cheesecake
- Banana Bread
Apple Fritters Recipe
4.96 from 46 votes
Author: Natasha Kravchuk
Apple Fritters are essentially fried donuts stuffed with apples. These apple fritter rings are great rolled in cinnamon sugar, dusted with powdered sugar, or drizzled with a lemon glaze.
Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
Cook Time: 20 minutes mins
Total Time: 30 minutes mins
Ingredients
Servings: 25 fritters
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 Tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2/3 cup milk, 1% or whole milk
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted (unsalted or salted)
- 2 egg whites
- 4 medium apples, peeled, cored and sliced into 1/4” rings
- 3 Tbsp lemon juice, juice of 1 medium lemon
- 2 to 3 inches Canola oil , or vegetable oil for frying
Instructions
In a medium bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
In a second large bowl, whisk together milk, egg yolk and melted butter. Gradually add the flour mixture into your wet ingredients and whisk until smooth.
Pour 2 to 3 inches of oil into a large pot or dutch oven and heat over medium/high heat to 375˚F on a thermometer.
Peel core and slice apples into 1/4”-thick rings and place into a shallow dish. Squeeze lemon juice over apple slices and use your hands to gently toss apple rings to coat with lemon juice (this will prevent browning).
In a medium bowl, beat 2 egg whites with an electric hand mixer, egg beaters or a whisk until stiff peaks form, but whites are not dry. If you over-beat, it will be difficult to blend. Use a spatula to gently fold whites into the batter until fully incorporated.
Remove apple slices one at a time from the lemon juice, allowing any excess juice to drip back into the bowl then dip both sides of the apple in batter to fully coat, allowing excess batter to drip back into the bowl.
Fry in hot oil batches in a single layer (5 or 6 at a time to avoid crowding), frying for about 2 minutes per side or until browned, flipping once. Keep oil above 350˚F while frying.
Remove with a strainer and transfer fritters to a paper towel-lined plate to absorb excess oil. To serve, dust with powdered sugar or dip both sides in cinnamon sugar.*
Notes
*To make cinnamon sugar: whisk together 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 tsp cinnamon.
Note on Nutrition Information: nutrition label is for 1 fritter and is an estimate only as it is difficult to get an exact amount of oil absorbed. Nutrition is calculated before any toppings or coatings are added.
Nutrition Per Serving
127kcal Calories9g Carbs1g Protein10g Fat1g Saturated Fat3g Polyunsaturated Fat6g Monounsaturated Fat1g Trans Fat9mg Cholesterol35mg Sodium77mg Potassium1g Fiber4g Sugar53IU Vitamin A2mg Vitamin C22mg Calcium1mg Iron
- Full Nutrition Label
- Nutrition Disclosure
Nutrition Facts
Apple Fritters Recipe
Amount per Serving
Calories
127
% Daily Value*
Fat
10
g
15
%
Saturated Fat
1
g
6
%
Trans Fat
1
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
3
g
Monounsaturated Fat
6
g
3
%
Sodium
35
mg
2
%
Potassium
77
mg
2
%
Carbohydrates
9
g
3
%
Fiber
1
g
4
%
Sugar
4
g
4
%
Protein
1
g
2
%
Vitamin A
53
IU
1
%
Vitamin C
2
mg
2
%
Calcium
22
mg
2
%
Iron
1
mg
6
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple fritter rings, apple fritters
Skill Level: Easy/Medium
Cost to Make: $$
Calories: 127
Natasha Kravchuk
