Delicious apple rings in a crispy light batter, coated in cinnamon sugar. Serve warm with a drizzle of syrup or ice cream. A perfect, quick & easy dessert
Apple Fritters! This is an absolutely delicious dessert, economical, and incredibly easy and quick to make.
What are apple fritters?
Depending on where in the world you are, apple fritters do have a few different variations. This recipe here is a traditional European / Chinese recipe. Yes, you read that right!
I am thinking the Chinese origin comes from when Hong Kong was once a British colony and many foods at that time were adapted to suit the British people living there. But that's just a guess!
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Nowadays, you will often see apple fritters, pineapple fritters or banana fritters on the dessert menus in Chinese restaurants, served with vanilla ice cream or a sweet sugar syrup.
These fritters are made up of a lovely apple ring, coated in a light, crisp batter and then deep-fried. Once cooked, the apple becomes tender, whilst still maintaining its shape. It's finished off with a delicious coating of cinnamon sugar, whilst still hot.
What are the best apples to use?
The apples I have used are Granny Smiths. They give a little sharpness in flavor in contrast with the cinnamon sugar and also they're a little firmer so when they are heated, the flesh holds firm and still gives a nice bite.
You can use any apple which has a firm flesh, for example, Jonagold, Braeburn, Honeycrisp, Mutsu or Crispin, Pink Lady or Cripps Pink. My favorite is Granny Smiths, they hold their firm flesh when cooked and have a nice balance of sweet and sharp flavor. What you don't want to do is use an apple variety that has a soft flesh because it will go mushy once cooked. The same applies to things like apple pies.
Can this be made in the air fryer?
The simple answer is no. The batter is too runny, and needs to go in hot oil in order to set and crisp up. If you were to put these in an air fryer, the batter would simply run off the apples before it had time to cook and set on the apple surface.
For an air fryer batter, you need it to be very thick, or coated in something else so it won't fall off the apple rings.
Are apple fritters easy to make from scratch?
This recipe is incredibly quick and easy and uses very simple ingredients so you can make these at any time without having to write a long shopping list. They're great for serving 1 or 2 people or indeed a crowd.
If you wanted, you could even add a few other fruits too, such as pineapple slices (those are also very delicious!) or bananas, or any other fruit which is firm.
Can I make these Gluten Free?
We've also added some substitutes below for those who would like to make these Gluten Free.
Top tip
Please note, these really do need to be eaten as soon as possible to enjoy the crisp and light batter. At a push, you could keep them warm in the oven, but I don't think the batter would be as crispy as when they come right out of the pan.
Prep time
5 Minutes
Cook time
2 - 3 Minutes
Serving size
2 apples
Ingredients
¾ Cup plus 2 Tablespoons or 100 All-Purpose Flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
pinch of salt
¼ Pint or 150 ml water
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
2 Apples, I prefer Granny Smiths.
Sugar and/or ground cinnamon, nutmeg, etc for coating
Recipe for Gluten Free batter
To make these Gluten-Free, remove the flour and add 1 tablespoon ground flax and 1 teaspoon potato starch and about ½ Cup of water.
*Note: add a bit of water to the batter at a time until you get a thick consistency as described in Step 2 of the instructions.
These substitutes have been kindly shared by our friends over at Blessed Beyond Crazy who tried our recipe out for Gluten Free! Be sure to check out all their delicious Gluten Free recipes!
Instructions
1. In a bowl, add the flour, baking powder, and salt.
2. Add the water and oil and combine with a hand whisk.
The consistency should be thick, like heavy cream and be able to coat a spoon. If it is too thick, add a drop more water, too thin, add a little more flour. Set aside.
3. Heat a pan with vegetable oil until it reaches 180 C or 350 F. Make sure you do not overfill the pan with oil. I use a small saucepan and cook in batches, filling the pan ⅓rd deep with cooking oil.
4. Whilst the oil is heating up, peel and core the apple, then cut into rings about 1 ½ cm or ½ inch thick.
Dip each apple slice in the batter so it is fully coated and carefully place in the pan, cooking both sides until golden brown.
Easy way to tell if oil is hot enough for frying
To tell if the oil is hot enough, drop a tiny bit of batter, the size of a pea into the oil. If it sizzles and floats to the top immediately, the oil is hot enough.
5. Place the fritters on some kitchen paper then dip into a bowl with sugar and cinnamon if using, to coat.
Serve immediately as they are or with some syrup drizzled over the top or a blob of ice cream!
What is the best way to eat apple fritters?
These fritters are best served immediately from cooking, warm with a nice drizzle of syrup, honey, fruit sauce, ice cream, whipped cream or a simple vanilla sauce.
The topping choices go as far as your imagination! So please enjoy and tell us in the comments below what toppings you decided to use.
We'd love to hear from you and what you thought of our apple fritter recipe. Did you make any changes or add some other goodies? Let us know in the comments below. Thanks for reading and happy cooking!
Recipe Card
Easy Homemade Apple Fritters
Delicious apple rings in a crispy light batter, coated in cinnamon sugar. Serve warm with a drizzle of syrup or ice cream. A perfect, quick & easy dessert
Ingredients
- ¾ Cup plus 2 Tablespoons or 100 All Purpose Flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- pinch of salt
- ¼ Pint or 150 ml water
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 2 Apples, I prefer Granny Smiths.
- Sugar and / or ground cinnamon, nutmeg etc for coating
Instructions
- In a bowl, add the flour, baking powder and salt.
- Add the water and oil and combine with a hand whisk. The consistency should be thick, like heavy cream and be able to coat a spoon. If it is too thick, add a drop more water, too thin, add a little more flour. Set aside.
- Heat a pan with vegetable oil until it reaches 180 C or 350 F. Make sure you do not over fill the pan with oil. I use a small saucepan and cook in batches, filling the pan ⅓rd deep with cooking oil.
- Whilst the oil is heating up, peel and core the apple, then cut in to rings about 1 ½ cm or ½ inch thick. Dip each apple slice in the batter so it is fully coated and carefully place in the pan, cooking both sides until golden brown. ** To tell if the oil is hot enough, drop a tiny bit of batter, the size of a pea in to the oil. If it sizzles and floats to the top immediately, the oil is hot enough.
- Place the fritters on some kitchen paper then dip into a bowl with sugar and cinnamon if using, to coat.
- Serve immediately as they are or with some syrup drizzled over the top or a blob of ice cream!
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Nutrition Information:
Yield: 4 Serving Size: 2Amount Per Serving: Calories: 478Total Fat: 34gSaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 19gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 341mgCarbohydrates: 2403gFiber: 88gSugar: 22gProtein: 323g
Delicious Recipes Using Apples
Here's a lovely selection of recipes using apples.
Apple Frangipane. This is a really nice coffee time cake to make. Goes great with a nice cup of tea! Or you can have as a dessert, warm or cold with a squirt of whipped cream or like me, a blob of vanilla ice cream! It's really yummy! Delicious!
Easy Apple Spiced Turnovers. Delicious warm from the oven! Crispy puff pastry packed with apples coated in cinnamon. Great eaten warm or chilled with a blob of ice cream!
Apple and Pumpkin Muffins! These breakfast muffins are full of the flavors of Fall with pumpkin, apple and cinnamon with a delicious streusel topping. A really easy recipe and that topping is so good!
Easy Apple Angel Dump Cake, so delicious with a blob or two of ice cream! Easy recipe and quick to make. Oven or slow cooker, you choose!
Apple and Cranberry Crescent Roll Cream Cheese Bars. An incredibly easy recipe with fantastic flavors!
Dutch Apple Pudding with Butterscotch Sauce, this is a delicious dessert, wonderful served warm. Lovely chunks of apple, laced with cinnamon and then served with a drizzle of warm butterscotch sauce.
Dutch Apple Pie! Loaded with apples, raisins, cinnamon and the most delicious pastry I've ever eaten! Be sure to have a lovely cup of coffee to go with a slice of pie in true Dutch tradition!
Delicious Apple Crumble Pie Bars. These are absolutely out of this world! Chunks of apple pie filling on a lovely shortbread base and topped off with a delicious crumble. Really easy recipe too!
Mini Caramel Apple Pastries. Delightful mini pastries filled with caramel and apples and oh so easy to make!
Mom's Homemade Apple Pie. A wonderful old family recipe, simple ingredients, easy to make and delicious every time! Perfect for a regular family dessert, or to take to pot lucks, Thanksgiving, or anytime!
Amazing Toffee Apple Cake, a delicious cake recipe made from scratch bursting with the flavors of Fall. Perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas too!
Nanny Pat's Special Apple Pie
This apple pie is an old family recipe and always very popular, especially for those who prefer a crustless pie!
German Style Fluffy Apple Pancakes. Delicious, quick and easy recipe and these are certainly fluffy! Serve warm with a sprinkling of sugar and a dash of cinnamon.
Fluffy Apple Swirl Pudding - A wonderful bread and butter dessert, best served warm with a drizzle of Maple Syrup or a blob of ice cream..or both!
Mom's apple dumplings recipe, old fashioned recipe using apples in a sweet pie crust then baked in delicious cinnamon syrup. A great comforting dessert
Linda Stuckey
says:That sugar is what makes them appealing to me! lol Thanks, must try this one soon! Looks delicious!!
Lovefoodies
says:Hi Linda! Glad you like the recipe :) Have a lovely weekend!
Nancy
says:Do you know if these would cook well in an air frier ? I hope so I would really appreciate a recipe similar to this containing fresh or canned apples for my air fryier. Thank you in advance for your input !
,
Lovefoodies
says:Hi Nancy, I have never tried in an air fryer and so far, we haven’t had any reports back on if it works, so if you do try, please do come back and let us know how you did it so we have your feedback!
Thanks so much!
Mary
says:These look delicious. The recipe looks simple enough for my teeny tiny kitchen.
I believe I will forego the sugar coating in favor of a light glaze though. All that sugar on the apple fritters is a bit off – putting for me.
Lovefoodies
says:Hi Mary, yes, it is entirely up to you how you wish to serve the apple fritters. There is no sugar added to the batter nor the apples themselves so some sweetness is usually very nice with the fritters. You choose whatever you wish! Personally, I enjoy the sprinkling of sugar but everyone is different! Please enjoy!