Crispy yet soft air fryer apple fritters make a truly delicious dessert any time of year, but especially during the Fall season! They're easy to make in under 30 minutes, and are finished with a homemade vanilla glaze. Perfect for a simple but satisfying dessert or even as a treat in the morning to go with your coffee!
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Experimenting with new desserts to make in the air fryer is one of our favorite activities, and these air fryer apple fritters were an immediate hit! We spent time developing the perfect air fryer apple fritter recipe to create crisp but fluffy fritters with tender apple filling and an easy-to-make vanilla icing. The combination of flavors and texture make these a must-try air fryer dessert for any apple lover!
Ingredients
Apple Fritters
- Flour: We're using all-purpose flour for these apple fritters. We have not tested this apple fritter recipe with gluten-free flour, but recommend Better Batter if you want to give it a try. It's the best gluten-free flour mix we've found for baking.
- Sugar: You will need white granulated sugar for this recipe. We have not tested this recipe using other sugars, but you may use a white sugar alternative if you'd like to give it a try, such as coconut sugar.
- Baking Powder: Make sure to grab baking powder, not baking soda!
- Ground Cinnamon: A little bit of cinnamon is always the perfect complement to apples.
- Kosher Salt: Just a bit of salt balances out the sweetness of these fritters. Use kosher salt or sea salt flakes and not table salt, for best flavor.
- Milk: We're using whole milk. We have not tested this recipe with other milks, but it should work fine with 2%.
- Egg: We always recommend using farm fresh eggs if possible, but if not, look for cage-free pasture-raised eggs if you want the highest quality egg. Yes, it does make a difference!
- Vanilla Extract: Mexican vanilla can also be used in place of vanilla extract. If you like almond flavor, you could also try almond extract.
- Apple: We're using pink lady apples for our air fryer apple fritters, but you can use other varieties of apple, too. Keep scrolling for suggestions of other apple varieties that make great apple fritters!
- Oil Spray: For this recipe, you will want to use a neutral oil like avocado oil or another vegetable oil that doesn't add any unwanted flavor. See our list of air frying oils for ideas.
Apple Fritter Vanilla Icing
- Butter: You will need to melt the butter for the icing. Make sure to use unsalted butter. Salted butter will be too salty!
- Powdered Sugar: Rather than granulated sugar, powdered sugar is used to make icing for its smooth texture.
- Milk: We're using whole milk for the icing, too.
- Vanilla Extract: Again, you can use an alternative such as Mexican vanilla if you prefer. This tends to be a more budget-friendly option that still has great flavor!
- Salt: A pinch of kosher salt is all you need to balance out the sweetness of the vanilla icing.
How to Air Fry Apple Fritters
Step 1
Line your air fryer basket with air fryer parchment paper. This will prevent sticking. Learn more about air fryer parchment paper in our guide to air frying tools. Then, wash and dry apple. Finely dice using a sharp knife and cutting board. There is no need to peel the apple.
Step 2
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt until combined.
Step 3
In a separate bowl or a large measuring cup, whisk together milk, vanilla, and an egg until combined.
Step 4
Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the well.
Step 5
Using a rubber spatula, gently mix the batter until just combined. The batter will be thick, and seeing some dry ingredients is okay. Be careful not to over-mix!
Step 6
Fold in the finely diced apples until all ingredients are combined. You should not see any dry ingredients after mixing in the apples.
Important note: Make sure to mix the apples into the batter right before scooping them into the air fryer. You want to add the apples when you intend to make the fritters, or the texture will turn out wrong as the apples release their juices into the batter.
Step 7
Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop apple fritter dough onto the piece of parchment paper in the air fryer basket in a single layer. Leave a bit of space around each fritter to ensure they cook evenly. We were able to fit 6 fritters into our 7-quart Gourmia air fryer basket. Alternatively, you can use one rounded Tablespoon to scoop apple fritter batter into the basket, if you don't have a cookie scoop.
Step 8
Spray each apple fritter lightly with oil. Air fry at 350°F for 12 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, turn each fritter over. They will be golden brown and cooked through when they are ready. Continue with the remaining apple fritter batter. Be sure to check on subsequent batches a little early; they may cook more quickly than the first batch.
Mixing Icing for Apple Fritters
- While your apple fritters are cooling, mix your icing. In a bowl, whisk together melted butter with powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and salt. Stir until well-blended, adding more milk or cream to thin the icing as necessary.
- When the apple fritters are cool enough to handle, dip them in the icing. Or, you can drizzle the icing over the fritters according to your preference. Serve, and enjoy!
What kind of apples are best for apple fritters?
Pick a firm apple that won't get mushy when cooking. For flavor, choose your favorite type of apple! If you want a little tartness to balance the sweet, use Granny Smith apples. If you prefer a sweeter bite, try Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp apples, or Pink Lady apples—they're much sweeter and less sour than green apples. You can also mix different apples if you want!
We like to choose apples that are sweet and crisp. Here are a few of our favorites that can usually be found in stores:
- Fuji
- Gala
- Honey Crisp
- Pink Lady
- Red or Golden Delicious
- Granny Smith (If you want a tangier flavor, Granny Smith Apples are a great choice.)
The Fuji apple is sweet, juicy, and firm. The firmness makes it a good choice for apple fritters as it doesn't turn to mush. We're not making applesauce! We need a firmer apple that will hold its shape when making apple fritters. Nobody wants a mushy fritter!
Recipe Tips
- Air fry the apple fritter batter immediately for best results. As the batter sits, the apples will release their juices. This will make the batter wet, which is not ideal for air frying. For this reason, we recommend you don't make the batter ahead of time.
- We leave the skin on the apples as it is very nutritious. If you would prefer to peel the apple you can, but you most likely won't be able to tell the difference once you make the fritters.
- For larger apple fritters, measure ¼ cup of batter per apple fritter when scooping them into the air fryer basket. Be sure to leave room around each one. In our 7 quart Gourmia air fryer, we are able to fit 3 larger fritters.
- Don’t crowd the air fryer basket. Leaving room around each apple fritter allows them to cook evenly. This is very imkportant!
- Important note: Use a small oven safe dish such as a ramekin, if needed, to hold down the parchment paper, so it doesn’t fly up into the air fryer burner. Never leave your air fryer unattended, especially when using parchment paper as it can be a fire hazard. See our guide to Air Fryer Safety for more info.
- Remember, air fryer brands vary, so you may have to adjust the cook time to your specific air fryer. As always, use our cook time and temperature as a guide until you are more comfortable with your specific brand of air fryer.
- When cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they may cook more quickly.
Making Cinnamon Sugar Apple Fritters in the Air Fryer
This is a less traditional way of serving apple fritters, but it is delicious and another option if you prefer more apple cinnamon flavor. They give you the feel of cinnamon sugar donut holes. So fun!
For the Cinnamon Sugar
- ¼ cup white granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
- While the apple fritters are air frying, combine ¼ cup sugar and ½ teaspoon cinnamon in a shallow bowl.
- When apple fritters are done, remove them from the air fryer.
- Immediately dip or brush each apple fritter with melted butter.
- One at a time, place each apple fritter into the cinnamon sugar, turning to coat all sides.
CAUTION: Never leave your air fryer unattended when using parchment paper in the air fryer. Be certain the food is heavy enough to keep the parchment paper from flying up into the air fryer burner as this could be a fire hazard.
Storage Instructions
- Store leftover apple fritters in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Feel free to enjoy cold like a scone, or reheat in the air fryer.
FAQ
Yes! We've tested air frying apple fritters in toaster-oven style air fryer such as the Breville Oven Air. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F - preheating is the main difference between using a basket model and a tray model. Line the air fryer tray with parchment paper just as you would the air fryer basket. Spray each fritter when scooping it onto the tray. Air fry for 10-12 minutes in the preheated air fryer, flipping each fritter halfway through air frying.
We use a Tablespoon measure to scoop apple fritters without a cookie scoop, and it works perfectly. You can also make larger fritters. See the tips section above for how to make larger fritters!
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- See all of our air fryer desserts→
Leave a comment and review for us below if you enjoyed this recipe, or if you have questions about any of our air fryer recipes!
Air Fryer Apple Fritters
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
For the Apple Fritters
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup white granulated sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ cup milk whole milk
- 1 egg large
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 apple finely diced (at least 1 heaping cup)
- Oil spray
For the Icing
- 2 Tablespoons melted butter unsalted
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 Tablespoons milk more as needed
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- A pinch of salt
Instructions
Air Frying Apple Fritters
- Line your air fryer basket with air fryer parchment paper. This will prevent sticking. Learn more about air fryer parchment paper.
- Wash and dry 1 apple, then finely dice using a sharp knife and cutting board. There is no need to peel the apple.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 1 cup all-purpose flour, ¼ cup white granulated sugar, 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt until combined.
- In a separate bowl or a large measuring cup, whisk together ¼ cup milk, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1 egg until combined.
- Create a well in the center of the dry ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the well.
- Using a rubber spatula, gently mix the batter until just combined. The batter will be thick, and seeing some dry ingredients is okay. Be careful not to over-mix, as this can make the fritters dense.
- Fold in the finely diced apples until all ingredients are combined. You should not see any dry ingredients after mixing in the apples.
- Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop apple fritter batter onto the parchment paper in the air fryer basket. Leave a bit of space around each fritter to ensure they cook evenly. We were able to fit 6 fritters into our 7-quart Gourmia air fryer basket. Alternatively, you can use one rounded Tablespoon to scoop apple fritter batter into the basket, if you don't have a cookie scoop.
- Spray each apple fritter lightly with Oil spray. Air fry at 350°F for 12 minutes. Halfway through the cooking time, turn each fritter over. They will be golden brown and cooked through when they are ready.
- Continue with the remaining apple fritter batter. Be sure to check on subsequent batches a little early; they may cook more quickly than the first batch.
Apple Fritter Vanilla Icing
- While your apple fritters are cooling, mix your icing. In a bowl, whisk together 2 Tablespoons melted butter with ½ cup powdered sugar, 1 Tablespoons milk, ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract, and A pinch of salt. Mix until well-blended, adding more milk or cream to thin the icing as necessary.
- When the apple fritters are cool enough to handle, dip them in the icing. Or, you can drizzle the icing over the fritters according to your preference. Serve, and enjoy!
Notes
- Air fry the apple fritter batter immediately for best results. As the batter sits, the apples will release their juices. This will make the batter wet, which is not ideal for air frying. For this reason, we recommend you don't make the batter ahead of time.
- We leave the skin on the apples as it is very nutritious. If you would prefer to peel the apple you can, but you most likely won't be able to tell the difference once you make the fritters.
- For larger apple fritters, measure ¼ cup of batter per apple fritter when scooping them into the air fryer basket. Be sure to leave room around each one. In our 7 quart Gourmia air fryer, we are able to fit 3 larger fritters.
- Don’t crowd the air fryer basket. Leaving room around each apple fritter allows them to cook evenly. This is very imkportant!
- Important note: Use a small oven safe dish such as a ramekin, if needed, to hold down the parchment paper, so it doesn’t fly up into the air fryer burner. Never leave your air fryer unattended, especially when using parchment paper as it can be a fire hazard. See our guide to Air Fryer Safety for more info.
- Remember, air fryer brands vary, so you may have to adjust the cook time to your specific air fryer. As always, use our cook time and temperature as a guide until you are more comfortable with your specific brand of air fryer.
- When cooking in multiple batches, be sure to check on the remaining batches early, as they may cook more quickly.
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