Apple Fritters Recipe (VIDEO)

Name: Apple Fritters Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 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)

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.

Apple fritters covered with cinnamon sugar on a plate

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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

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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.

Ingredients for making apple fritter rings

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.

Step by step how to make apple fritter batter

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.

Stack of apple fritter rings dusted with powdered sugar

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.

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Natasha Kravchuk

Welcome to my kitchen! I am Natasha, the blogger behind Natasha's Kitchen (since 2009). My husband and I run this blog together and share only our best, family approved and tested recipes with YOU. Thanks for stopping by! We are so happy you're here.