Homemade Apple Fritters

We love these apple fritter because they’re much easier to tmake than you might think. The dough is easy to make and frying is nothing to be scared of. Fried dough with chunks of fresh apple, tossed in a vanilla glaze. Let’s do this.

They are easy to make. Really! There’s no complicated shaping, and the glaze mixes up in seconds. Yes, you’ll have a few dishes to wash at the end, and you have to be careful deep frying…But there’s no skill required.

Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need

Use a thermometer to check that the oil stays at 375°F (190°C). If the oil is too hot, the fritters will burn on the outside and remain undercooked inside; if it’s too cool, they’ll end up greasy.

This will make around 28 fritters and is best enjoyed fresh. But if you want to double or triple the recipe, you can make adjustments in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Equipment

• Deep fryer or Dutch oven
• Strainers
• Paper Towels

Ingredients

Fritters

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• ⅓ cup sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon allspice
• ¼ teaspoon cloves
• ⅓ cup milk
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 2 large apples (peeled, cored, and diced) (any variety is fine, but we like a Honeycrisp or sweet variety)
• peanut oil for frying

Vanilla Glaze

• 2 cups confectioner’s sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons milk or cream

Instructions

Don’t overcrowd when you’re frying! There should be room on each side of the fritter.

Step One: Make The Dough

In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. Add the wet ingredients: eggs, milk, and oil. Stir until everything is mixed together well. Make sure to scrape down the bowl’s sides to ensure all of the dry ingredients are mixed in. Fold in the apples.

Step Two: Scoop And Fry

Heat 1¼ inches of oil in a heavy skillet, Dutch oven, or deep fryer to 375 degrees. Drop dough into the hot oil by 2-tablespoon-sized amounts. Cook each side until deep golden brown, flipping after 2-3 minutes. You will need to work in batches.

Step Three: Drain

Place the cooked dough on a paper towel to absorb the excess oil.

Step Four: Glaze

Whisk together the milk, powdered sugar, and vanilla in a small mixing bowl. Dip each fritter in the glaze one at a time. Place them on a cooling rack so the glaze will harden.

Storage Instructions

These are best when eaten fresh, but they will store for a day or so, just like doughnuts.

I prefer to store them in a folded paper bag. If you seal them in something airtight, the moisture from the fritters will make the wet glaze. If you let them breathe, it will stay hardened.

What to Serve with Fried Apple Fritters

Having guests over for breakfast? They’ll love these too:

• An omelet in a cast iron skillet with golden potatoes and bacon. Delicious.
• These home fries use a secret technique for soft potatoes with a golden crust.
• Serve a fruit salad and plenty of coffee to round out the meal.

Questions and Troubleshooting

More Recipes You’ll Love

• These deep-fried Snickers bars are just like you get at the fair.
• For a sourdough version of this, and other recipes, check out this list of fall sourdough recipes.
• These deep-fried Oreos are much cheaper (and tastier) to make at home.

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