Go Back
Recipe

The Best Ever Apple Fritters

No ratings yet
Soft, fluffy apple fritters filled with warm cinnamon apples and finished with a sweet apple glaze. These homemade fritters are golden on the outside, tender on the inside, and packed with cozy fall flavor.
Print Pin Leave a review
Scale

Ingredients

Dough

  • 1 cup warm milk
  • 1 tbsp yeast
  • 1/4 cup sugar
  • 2 whole eggs room temperature
  • 3 1/2 cups flour bread flour preferred

Apple Filling

  • 2-3 apples peeled and diced
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tbsp water
  • 1 tsp cornstarch

Glaze

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup milk
  • Leftover apple juice from the cooked apples

For Frying

  • Neutral oil

Instructions

Make the Dough

  • Combine the warm milk and yeast in a large bowl. Let sit for 5–10 minutes.
  • Add the sugar and eggs and mix well.
  • Gradually add the flour and knead for 7–8 minutes, either by hand or with a stand mixer. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky.
  • Cover the dough and let it rise for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.

Make the Apple Filling

  • Add the diced apples, butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a saucepan.
  • Cook over medium-low heat for 5–6 minutes.
  • Mix the cornstarch with the water until smooth, then add it to the apples.
  • Cook for another 2 minutes, or until the filling has thickened.
  • Remove from the heat and let the apple mixture cool completely.

Shape the Fritters

  • Once the dough has risen, transfer it to a generously floured surface.
  • Flatten the dough slightly and spread the cooled apple mixture across the center.
  • Fold the dough over the apples.
  • Cut the dough into strips, then cross-cut into roughly 1-inch pieces.
  • Gently fold the dough and apples together 2–3 times until the filling is incorporated.
  • Divide into 8–10 fritters and place each one on flour-dusted parchment paper.

Make the Glaze

  • In a bowl, mix the powdered sugar, milk, and reserved apple juice until smooth.
  • Set aside while the fritters cook.

Fry the Fritters

  • Heat neutral oil to 325°F.
  • Fry about 3 fritters at a time for approximately 3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.
  • Transfer to a wire rack or paper towel-lined plate and let cool for 20–30 minutes.
  • Dip or drizzle each fritter generously with the apple glaze.
  • Serve slightly warm.

Connie’s notes

  • Don’t add too much flour. The dough should be soft and slightly sticky. Too much flour can make the fritters dense instead of fluffy.
  • Let the dough rise fully. It should look noticeably puffy and roughly double in size before shaping.
  • Cook and cool the apples first. Hot apple filling can affect the dough, so let it cool completely before folding it in.
  • Don’t overwork the dough. Fold the apples in gently to keep as much air in the dough as possible.
  • Keep the oil around 325°F. Oil that is too hot can brown the outside before the center cooks, while oil that is too cool can make the fritters greasy.
  • Don’t overcrowd the pan. Fry only a few fritters at a time so the oil temperature stays consistent.
  • Let the fritters cool before glazing. If they’re too hot, the glaze will melt and slide off.
  • Use the leftover apple juices in the glaze. They add extra apple and cinnamon flavor.
  • Serve the fritters slightly warm for the best texture and flavor.
  • These are best enjoyed fresh, especially while the glaze is set and the centers are still soft and fluffy.
Did you make it?

Ratings help other people decide whether to try it — and they tell me which recipes are worth doing more of. It takes ten seconds.

↓ Leave your rating