This applesauce fritters recipe really is amazing! The fritters have crispy, crumbly edges and a soft, dense, and moist center, thanks to the applesauce from my canning applesauce recipe! They're the perfect treat to get you in the mood for fall. Serve them with a warm mug of spiced apple cider for the ultimate fall treat.
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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. Oh, and you'll want to try my new invisible apple cake and apple compote recipes!
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 it when you're ready to enjoy some fritters!
🔖 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.
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 the 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.
If you own an air fryer, give these yummy air fryer apple fritters a try!
🍐 Related Recipes
If you enjoy this applesauce fritters recipe, be sure to check out these related posts!
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📖 Recipe
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Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- 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.
- 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.
Nutrition
Video
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.
Pat Manske says
I didn’t know what to expect with this dish, but it's an out of the ballpark recipe. You won’t be disappointed!
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks, Pat! I appreciate the review.
Teresa Evers says
These apple sauce fritters were divine !!! They were very tasty, sweet, best when their just out of the frying pan. The recipe is fairly simple, all the ingredients were in my pantry and I always have fresh apples on hand.
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you, Teresa!
Jeannette says
These fritters are the best I've ever eaten, light, delicate, and delicious. Plus, a very simple recipe. I omitted the molasses and they were sweet enough. These were perfect for Christmas morning.
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you so much Jeannette! I'm so happy to hear they were enjoyed. Merry Christmas!
Kelly Methey says
These delightfully delicious applesauce fritters are amazing! I agree that they are best eaten warm with the gooey glaze. They are finger lickin’ good!
Hilda Sterner says
Couldn't agree more, thanks Kelly!
Kathy Fisher says
Amazing. We thoroughly enjoyed these delicious applesauce fritters. Eat them warm. They are a taste of Heaven. Perfect. Terrific recipe.
Hilda Sterner says
Thank you, Kathy! I'm glad you enjoyed the fritters. I can't make them all the time or I'd be 200 lbs! Hard to resist!
Kim says
These apple fritters are so delicious. I haven't had a chance to make them but was lucky enough to be with Hilda when she made some. The fritters were so crispy on the outside and so soft on the inside.
Thanks Hilda.
Hilda Sterner says
Thanks Kim, thank you for the review!
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!