apple fritters

last updated on October 30, 2026

These apple fritters are truly the perfect fall treat. They have an easy batter that’s full of fresh apple chunks, and each donut is tossed in an absolutely delicious maple glaze.

ingredients for apple fritters

• vegetable oil for frying (other oils with a high smoke point work too)
• 3 cups of apples (about 2 apples)
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup milk (or a plant-based option)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

ingredients for maple glaze

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• 1-3 tablespoons milk

how to make apple fritters

1. Heat the oil. Add the oil to a large pot or dutch oven. Turn the heat to medium and allow the oil to heat up while you get started on the batter.
2. Mix the dry ingredients. Peel and core the apples. Chop them into 1/4-inch cubes and set aside. Add the dry ingredients (flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt) to a bowl. Stir until combined.
3. Mix the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients (milk, eggs, and vanilla). Whisk until all is combined. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until there are no streaks of flour. Fold in the chopped apples until all are combined.
4. Cook the apple fritters. Once the oil is at 350°F, use two spoons to scoop the dough and drop it into the oil. Repeat 4 times. Flip the fritters every 2 minutes until golden brown on all sides.
5. Remove from the oil. Once the apple fritters are golden brown, remove them from the oil and transfer to a cooling rack.
6. Make the maple glaze. Add the powdered sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt to a bowl. Add one tablespoon of milk and whisk together. If the glaze is too thick, add another tablespoon of milk and whisk again. (And again if needed!)
7. Cover the apple fritters with the glaze. While the apple fritters are still warm, dip them in the glaze so all sides are covered. Then place them back on the cooling rack to set up. They are best enjoyed warm!

Frying food can sometimes be daunting, but by just paying attention to a few details, you can easily get that crispy, golden crunch you’re looking for! These apple fritters are a great place to start.

tips for deep-frying

• Clip a candy thermometer to the inside of your pot to keep an eye on the temperature. You want the oil to stay between 350°F and 375°F. If the oil is too hot, the fritters will crisp too quickly on the outside while being raw on the inside. Too cold, and the dough will absorb the oil and become soggy.
• When you drop the dough into the oil, the temperature will drop slightly. Try to keep only about 3-5 fritters in the oil at a time to control the temperature and avoid overcrowding.

other recipes you’ll love

• pumpkin spice donuts
• apple cider donuts
• banna bread donuts with brown butter glaze
• apple crumb cake

apple fritters

[category] Dessert

[published] November 23, 2024

[PREP] 15 minutes mins

[COOK] 25 minutes mins

[TOTAL] 40 minutes mins

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Ingredients

apple fritters

• vegetable oil, for frying
• 3 cups apples, about 2 large apples
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup milk plant based is fine
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

maple glaze

• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• 1-3 tablespoons milk

Instructions

1. Add vegetable oil to a large pot until it is about 2 inches deep. Turn the heat to medium and let the oil heat up while you mix up the batter.
2. Peel and core both apples, then cut into small 1/4-inch cubes. Set aside.
3. Add the dry ingredients to a large bowl: all-purpose flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt. Stir until combined.
4. In a separate small bowl, combine the wet ingredients: milk, eggs, and vanilla. Whisk until well combined.
5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix just until there are no streaks of flour remaining. Add the apple chunks into the batter and fold until they're just combined in.
6. When the oil reaches 350F, use two spoons to scoop up about 1/4 cup of batter. Carefully drop the batter into the oil. Flip it every 2 minutes until it is deeply golden brown on both sides. Carefully remove from the hot oil and transfer to a cooling rack. Repeat with the remaining batter, only cooking 3-4 donuts at once so the pot doesn't get too crowded.
7. Once the donuts are all cooked, make the glaze. Add the powdered sugar, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and salt to a bowl. Add 1 tablespoon of milk and whisk to combine. If the icing is really thick, add 1 tablespoon additions of milk until the icing is your desired consistency.
8. While the donuts are still warm, dip each one in the icing so both sides are covered. Then place them back on the cooling rack for the icing to set up. These donuts are best enjoyed warm so dive in!