Apple Fritters

Warm, fluffy and deliciously filled with apples and spice, these little apple fritters are a wonderful homemade treat to prepare when a bit of extra coziness is in order!

Apple Fritters, Filled with Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

I've always been head-over-heals in love with the fall season.

Perhaps it’s the fiery light of the evenings, the trees so full of big, crunchy leaves that flutter down to the ground and call out to be piled up and jumped into; or perhaps it's all the hearty, earthy foods that can be enjoyed in so very many delightful ways.

It might even be the fact that I can pull out a cozy blanket to wrap myself up in because it’s finally needed.

Or maybe... it's the anticipation of licking sweet cinnamon sugar off of my fingers from making homemade apple fritters, a wonderfully cozy treat!

Apple fritters filled with finely diced honeycrisp and granny smith apples, and fresh apple cider, are one of my favorite goodies this time of year. They're so aromatic and flavorful from all the yummy spices in the batter.

And because they take a little dip in the hot oil, their aroma deliciously permeates throughout the entire house, somehow making everything seem extra comforting, which is always a welcome thing in my home.

The Right Ingredients for Warm, Fluffy Apple Fritters

I like my apple fritters to be tender and more on the fluffy side, with a little bit of body to them.

So I've found that combining equal parts flour and cream of wheat (farina) is a really delicious way to go when creating the batter. This combination creates a really light texture, and helps to hold all of those delicious little pieces of diced apple in the batter, without being too heavy.

And because I love the slightly more caramel flavor of brown sugar, I use that in the batter, along with a hefty pinch of pumpkin pie spice, which contains both sweet and spicy notes.

I like to use both honeycrisp and granny smith apples for both sweet and tart notes; and I also like to add unfiltered apple cider to my recipe, as this reinforces the apple flavor that makes these fritters so inviting.

Of course, apple fritters wouldn't be complete without a finishing toss in a fragrant cinnamon-sugar mixture while still warm and fresh out of the oil, so that's the final bit of additional flavor these cute little fritters get!

How to Make Apple Fritters

This method is a pretty basic one where the dry ingredients are whisked together, and the wet ingredients are then gently folded in.

It's also a yeast-free recipe, and quick to prepare!

1. I begin by whisking together the flour, cream of wheat (farina), brown sugar, baking soda, baking powder and spices.
2. To those dry ingredients I add a beaten egg, vanilla, and the apple cider, and fold them in; then, I fold in my finely diced apples.
3. I bring my oil up to around 325°; and once hot, I drop tablespoon-size portions of the batter into the oil and allow them to fry until golden-brown, about 2 minutes. And I drain the apple fritters on a paper towel lined baking sheet.
4. When slightly cooled (enough to handle), I add them to a large ziplock bag, sprinkle in my combo of sugar and cinnamon, and toss gently to coat them. (You can also go a different route and sprinkle over powdered sugar and dip the apple fritters into maple syrup—so good!)
5. Then, I dig in—with fresh, hot coffee, of course!

Tips & Tidbits for Apple Fritters:

• "Them" apples: I use a combo of honeycrisp and granny smith apples for this recipe, as one offers sweetness and one some tartness!
• Cream of wheat (farina) for a light texture: I've found that using equal parts flour and cream of wheat to be a great way to go for a tender, fluffy result for these apple fritters. They've got some substance, but they're not heavy.
• Unfiltered apple cider: The addition of unfiltered apple cider in the batter creates extra moisture and offers more apple flavor—so sweet and delicious!
• Toss with cinnamon sugar, or sprinkle with powdered sugar: When I'm more in the mood to enjoy a slightly more spiced apple fritter, one that reminds me of the flavor of apple cider donuts from an apple farm, I toss these fritters in cinnamon-sugar mixture. I also enjoy sprinkling them with powdered sugar, and dipping in maple syrup as well!

Feast your eyes on these, or just jump to the recipe:

Recipe

Apple Fritters

by Ingrid Beer

Print Recipe

Warm and fluffy, these fragrant apple fritters filled with fresh apples, spices and apple cider are a cozy and sweet treat!

Category: Breakfast
Cuisine: American

Yield: 24-26 apple fritters

Nutrition Info: 157 calories (per two fritters)

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 15 minutes
Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup flour
• ¾ cup cream of wheat (farina)
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 ¼ teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1 egg, beaten
• ¾ cup unfiltered apple cider (fresh-pressed style)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 medium-large honeycrisp apple, peeled and diced very finely
• ½ granny smith apple, peeled and diced very finely
• Vegetable or peanut oil for frying (about 3-4 cups)
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Powdered sugar (another option)
• Maple syrup (another option)

Preparation:

-In a bowl, add the flour, cream of wheat, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and pumpkin pie spice, and whisk together to combine very well.

-Next, add in the beaten egg, the apple cider and the vanilla, and using a spatula, combine the mixture just until well blended, but not overly worked; next, add in the finely diced apples and fold them into the batter until well combined.

-Add the vegetable or peanut oil to a large pot, and heat the oil to 325 degrees; once the oil is hot, begin frying the apple fritters by dropping tablespoonfuls carefully into the hot oil, about 4 fritters per batch; use a slotted spoon (or wire spider) to continually move the fritters around in the hot oil to prevent them from getting too dark on one side, and fry for roughly 2 minutes, or until golden-brown and cooked through in the center.

-Remove the apple fritters from the oil and place them onto a paper towel-lined baking sheet or bowl to drain; repeat the process until all are fried.

-In a small dish or ramekin, combine the 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar with the ¼ teaspoon of ground cinnamon and set side for a moment.

-Add the warm fritters to a jumbo-sized zip lock bag, sprinkle in the cinnamon-sugar mixture over them and shake the bag to coat the fritters evenly. (Or, as an alternative, you can sprinkle them with powdered sugar and serve with maple syrup.)

-Serve while fresh and warm!

Craving other apple treats? Check out these Apple Muffins, this Apple Cake, or this Apple and Brown Sugar Snickerdoodle Cake!

Cook’s Note: This post was originally published in 2012, and has been updated with even more love!