Apple Fritter Donut
Apple Fritters have been in my family for years. The recipe has been changed, improved, perfected to this version and we truly love it. We call them Apple Fritter Donuts because their shape and tasty interior reminds us of a delicious, soft donut. So good. This recipe makes about 12 apple fritter donuts and I would say that would serve around 6 - 8 people, depending on how much you love these goodies. Taste-wise, these are divine:
- soft, irresistible interior, crispy fried exterior
- naturally sweet from the apples
- fruity and delicious
- easy recipe to make
- made in just 15 minutes
- kid-friendly and crowd-pleaser
- serve them immediately for the best possible taste and texture
- devour with your afternoon coffee or tea
- each apple fritter donut has less than 200 kcal (without the cinnamon sugar)
What is an apple fritter donut?
An apple fritter donut is basically an apple cut on rings, dipped in a delicious, simple batter. The coated apple rings are then fried in hot oil and while still warm, coated in cinnamon sugar. Their shape and size are similar to a donut and so is the batter the apples are dipped in. However, the batter isn't yeasted.
How to make apple fritters?
Apple fritters are ridiculously easy to make and you can easily whisk them up in just a couple of minutes. Here's what you need to do:
- Bring fritter ingredients to a boil
- Stir in the flour and eggs (one by one)
- Core and cut the apples into rings
- Coat the apple rings in the prepared batter
- Heat the oil
- Fry the apple fritters for 2 - 3 minutes on each side
- Drain and coat in cinnamon sugar
- Serve as soon as possible (who am I kidding, they are impossible to resist)
PRO TIP: If you prefer your fritters to be crispier and less doughy, then don't add the baking powder to the mixture (we tried it both ways and it works). The batter is much crispier and less doughy.
What's the difference between an apple fritter donut vs traditional apple fritters?
Oftentimes, traditional apple fritters are made with yeasted dough and instead of using apples cut on rings like in this recipe, the traditional apple fritters call for shredded apples or apples cut in small cubes. Instead of coating the apple fritters in cinnamon sugar, you might see them glazed with maple syrup glaze or sugar and lemon glaze.
In this recipe, we used a batter that's similar to choux pastry, which makes these apple fritters more doughnut-like. The texture is incredibly soft and sweet inside, yet crispy and golden outside. The texture of this batter might even remind you of an empty eclair.
Often asked questions and answers
Can we replace eggs with something else?
No, this batter is very similar to choux pastry, that's why adding eggs is crucial for this recipe - the eggs hold everything together and make the apple fritter donut soft and delicious.
Do you pat dry the apples before frying?
We didn't pat them dry, but it really depends on the variety of the apples. Our apples were firm and dry so there was no need. If you are using a more juicy variety, then, by all means, pat them dry.
Will the apples be soft inside?
YES! But not soggy, just perfectly soft. It also depends on the variety of the apple used in the recipe.
What other fruits can we use?
We haven't tested it with any other fruit, but fruits like mango, peaches, apricots, and plums should work really well.
Other tasty fried goodies you should try
- Homemade Brioche Doughnuts with Rich Vanilla Cream (video)
- Beignets with Cinnamon Sugar
- Sweet Lemon Ricotta Fritters
METHOD
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Fritters batter
Add milk, water, a pinch of salt, butter, and sugar to a saucepan. Place over high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat. Stir in the all-purpose flour. Using a wooden spoon, stir the batter well to get a smooth mixture. One by one add the eggs into the batter, only adding the next egg once the previous one has been completely incorporated. Stir the mixture vigorously before adding in the next egg. Add the baking powder and stir to combine. Set aside until needed.
TipYou can use a stand mixer or an electric mixer to make the batter. -
Heat the oil
Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet. After a few minutes, check to see if the oil is hot enough. The oil temperature should be 175°C or 350°F. Drop a small amount of the batter into the oil. If it starts to get golden brown and bubbly and it comes to the surface quickly, then it's time to fry some fritters. Have two layers of kitchen towels ready nearby for the fritters to drain.
Tip -
Apple Fritter Donut
Core the apples and cut them into 2 cm or 3/4-inch thick rings. Coat the apple rings in prepared batter, making sure they are completely covered. They will look like little apple donuts. Gently drop each apple fritter donut into the hot oil. Fry for 2 - 3 minutes on each side or until beautifully golden brown. Don't overcrowd the fritters, work in batches of 3 or 4 fritters at a time (depending on the size of your skillet).
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Serve
Drain the apple fritter donuts on kitchen towels and coat in cinnamon sugar (combine sugar and cinnamon powder in a bowl) while they are still warm. Serve as soon as possible. Enjoy.
