This applesauce fritters recipe really is amazing! The fritters have crispy crumbly edges and a soft, dense, and moist center, thanks to the applesauce. They're the perfect treat to get you in the mood for fall!
I recently went apple picking at a local abandoned orchard with my husband, Scott, and our neighbor, Neal. After coming home with 2 five gallon buckets full of apples, I knew it was time to come up with some new apple recipes. No pressure, I got this!
Last year I came up with an apple sauce recipe and the year before, apple pie filling for canning. So I guess this applesauce fritters recipe is my best apple post of the year! I hope you enjoy these yummy fritters as much as we did!
And don't even think about tossing out the apple peels and cores! You can use them to make this apple cider vinegar recipe!
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😍 Why You'll Love This Recipe
- This apple fritter recipe is super simple and literally takes minutes to prepare!
- You only need simple pantry ingredients to make applesauce fritters.
- The ingredients are mixed by hand in bowls, so you don't need a mixer!
- You can make the batter ahead of time and fry them when you're ready to enjoy some fritters!
🛒 What You Need For This Recipe
🔖 Ingredients & Substitutions
- Apples: Choose your favorite apple variety. I used paradise apples that I had picked locally, but Honey Crisp, Braeburn, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, and my favorite, Pink Lady, are all great options.
- Flour: All-purpose flour
- Sugar: ⅓ cup brown sugar
- Milk: ½ cup whole milk
- Eggs: One large egg
- Spices: Cinnamon, cardamom, and freshly grated nutmeg.
- Molasses: The molasses is optional, but recommended.
- Oil: I used healthy avocado oil, but you can also use vegetable oil or canola oil if that's all you have.
*A full list of ingredients can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post!
🍎 How to Make Applesauce Fritters
Step 1: In a large bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, and spices). Break up any lumps in the brown sugar, if necessary.
Step 2: Whisk milk, applesauce, egg, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until combined. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir gently (do not over-mix).
Step 3: Peel and slice apple, then chop into ½-inch pieces and fold into the fritter batter. Drizzle molasses over the batter and gently mix into the batter with a spatula. Set aside while you prepare your fryer.
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Step 4: In a small pan, heat oil to 350℉. Scoop a ¼ cup apple fritter batter and carefully add to hot oil. Flatten with the back of a large spoon to spread out. Fry for 2 minutes, then carefully flip to fry the fritters on the other side for 2 additional minutes or until golden brown. Drain onto paper towel
Pro Tip: To test to see if the oil is ready, drop a tiny amount of batter into the hot oil, if it immediately begins to sizzle, the oil is ready!
Pro Tip: As you fry the fritters, try to keep the oil at a temperature somewhere between 350-375℉. A laser thermometer comes in handy for this.
Step 5: Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth, then dip fritters into the glaze and shake to drain off the excess. Place on a wire rack to allow the glaze to set.
You may also want to try this delicious apple and puff pastry tart!
🤷🏻♀️ Recipe FAQs
Any baking apple can be used in apple fritters including Granny Smith, Red Delicious, Honey Crisp, Pink Lady, and Cortland.
An apple fritter is more similar to a doughnut than a pastry. This is mainly due to fritters being fried in oil in the same way that doughnuts are. Fritters are usually glazed or sprinkled with powdered sugar, similar to doughnuts.
👩🏼🍳 Pro Tips
- I've also made these fritters with crabapple sauce and they were just as good!
- Make sure to keep the oil at a consistent temperature, somewhere between 350℉-375℉. If the temperature creeps up the fritters will burn and if it's too low, they will be greasy.
- I like to fry one fritter at a time so I use a small pan to do this. Using a small pan also means that I can use less oil.
- Store leftover fritters (what leftovers?) in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Reheat applesauce fritters in a 325℉ oven for 10 minutes.
🍐 Related Recipes
If you enjoy this applesauce fritters recipe, be sure to check out these related posts!
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
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📖 Recipe
Amazing Applesauce Fritters
Equipment
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1¾ cups all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2½ teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- ½ teaspoon cardamom powder
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup whole milk
- ½ cup sweetened cinnamon applesauce
- 1 large egg
Min-Ins
- 3 small apples (or 2 medium)
- 2 tablespoon molasses
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup whole milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Other
- 1½ cups avocado oil (for frying the fritters)
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients (flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and spices). Break up any lumps in the brown sugar, if necessary.
- Whisk milk, applesauce, egg, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until combined. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir gently (do not over-mix).
- Peel and slice apple, then chop into ½ inch pieces and fold into the fritter batter. Drizzle molasses over the batter and gently mix into the batter with a spatula. Set aside while you prepare your fryer.
- In a small pan, heat oil to 350℉. Scoop a ¼ cup apple fritter batter and carefully add to hot oil. Flatten with the back of a large spoon to spread out. Fry for 2 minutes, then carefully flip to fry the fritters on the other side for 2 additional minutes or until golden brown. Drain onto paper towels.
Prepare Glaze
- Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth, then dip fritters into the glaze and shake to drain off the excess. Place on a wire rack to allow the glaze to set.
Notes
- Calories are based on ½ cup of oil being absorbed into the fritters.
- I've also made these fritters with crabapple sauce and they were just as good!
- To test to see if the oil is ready, drop a tiny amount of batter into the hot oil, if it immediately begins to sizzle, the oil is ready!
- Make sure to keep the oil at a consistent temperature, somewhere between 350℉-375℉. If the temperature creeps up the fritters will burn and if it's too low, they will be greasy.
- I like to fry one fritter at a time so I use a small pan to do this. Using a small pan also means that I can use less oil.
- Store leftover fritters (what leftovers?) in an airtight container at room temperature.
- Reheat applesauce fritters in a 325℉ oven for 10 minutes.
Hungy4Hucks says
Hilda, I'm not a big doughnut guy, but these looked so tempting I had to try it for myself. They were so good I had to share them with the neighbors. Will this recipe work with quince? I'm definitely going to do huckleberry fritters next.
Hilda Sterner says
Hungry4Hucks, I know what you mean, these are definitely addicting! I'm not sure how they will turn out with huckleberries. The batter may get too wet and need adjusting so that you can still have the same wonderful texture these fritters have!
Nancy says
Love, love, love these fritters! Thanks for another great recipe!
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Nancy, I have to say, I agree!
Kelly Methey says
These are delicious and so simple to make! Yummy! You have to make these!
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Kelly, they're definitely a new favorite around here!