Chef John's Apple Fritters

4.7
(211)

I didn't think I liked apple fritters, but turns out I just don't like chunks of almost raw apple, surrounded by a doughnut. Maybe I've just been going to the wrong shops, but I've never enjoyed the texture, and always wanted to try them with cooked apples.

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close up on two apple fritters, with a glass of orange juice
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Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
10 mins
Additional Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
35 mins
Servings:
8
Yield:
16 small apple fritters
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 8 servings

  • 1 tablespoon butter

  • 2 large Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch dice

  • 1 tablespoon white sugar

  • 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour

  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder

  • ½ teaspoon kosher salt

  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

  • ¼ teaspoon ground ginger

  • teaspoon ground nutmeg

  • 1 large egg

  • ¼ cup white sugar

  • 1 tablespoon melted butter

  • ½ cup sparkling apple cider

  • 2 cups vegetable oil for frying

Glaze:

  • ½ cup confectioners' sugar, or more as needed

  • 1 tablespoon sparkling apple cider, or as needed to make glaze

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients.

    all ingredients gathered to make apple fritters

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  2. Melt butter over medium-high heat and cook until it turns golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes.

    butter melted until it's golden brown

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  3. Add apples and cook over medium-high heat until apples just begin to soften around the edges, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle in 1 tablespoon sugar and continue cooking another 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Drain in a strainer; let cool to room temperature.

    cubed apples cooking until they become soft around the edges

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  4. Whisk flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg together in a mixing bowl until well combined.

    dry ingredients whisked together in a bowl

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  5. Whisk egg, 1/4 cup sugar, and melted butter together in a separate mixing bowl.

    egg, sugar and melted butter whisked together in a separate bowl

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  6. Add cooled apple pieces and sparkling apple cider; add the flour mixture. Stir just until flour is incorporated.

    both mixtures, apples and sparkling cider mixed together

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  7. Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spoon about 2 tablespoons batter per fritter, into hot oil, slightly flattening them out. Cook in batches. Fry on one side until small bubbles appear on the surface, about 2 minutes. Carefully flip fritters over and fry the other side until richly browned, about 2 more minutes.

    fritter frying in hot oil until golden brown

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  8. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain grease. Cool slightly before glazing.

    fritters draining on paper towel and drizzled with glaze once slightly cooled

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  9. Whisk powdered sugar and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Add enough apple cider, 1 teaspoon at a time, to form a smooth glaze that is just runny enough to drizzle over fritters. Enjoy!

    close up on two apple fritters with a glass of orange juice

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

493 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

248 Calories
9g Fat
40g Carbs
3g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 8
Calories 248
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 9g 12%
Saturated Fat 3g 14%
Cholesterol 31mg 10%
Sodium 243mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 40g 14%
Dietary Fiber 2g 6%
Total Sugars 23g
Protein 3g 6%
Vitamin C 3mg 3%
Calcium 62mg 5%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 110mg 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.