Cinnamon Glazed Apple Fritters

Deep fried apple fritters with cinnamon and nutmeg using diced Honeycrisp apples with a sugar glaze.

This scrumptious recipe for Cinnamon Glazed Apple Fritters is a delightful treat for any time of the day. The batter, rich with flavors, combines all-purpose flour, light brown and white sugar, a pinch of salt, and an aromatic mix of cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger, all bound together with baking powder. The liquid elements of the batter include buttermilk and applesauce, along with well-beaten eggs, ensuring a moist and tender crumb. The highlight is the incorporation of finely diced Honeycrisp apples, peeled and cored, lending their sweet-tart flavor and juicy texture to every bite. For frying, a quart of peanut or vegetable oil is heated to a sizzling 375°F, and the batter is carefully spooned in, turning into golden, crispy fritters after about 2 minutes per side. Each fritter is then drained and drizzled with a homemade glaze, a simple yet exquisite combination of powdered sugar, buttermilk, and vanilla extract. The final product, with its crisp exterior and soft, apple-filled interior, coated in a sweet, creamy glaze, makes for a delicious snack or dessert that’s hard to resist.

Servings

12-16 fritters

Prep Time

20 minutes

Cook Time

20-30 minutes

Total Time

40-50 minutes

Ingredients

Fritter Batter

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp white sugar
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp ground ginger
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/3 cup buttermilk
  • 1/3 cup applesauce
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 2 Honeycrisp apples, peeled, cored, and finely diced

Frying Oil

  • 1 quart of peanut or vegetable oil

Glaze

  • 2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup buttermilk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Prepare Fritter Batter:

  • In a mixing bowl, combine flour, light brown sugar, white sugar, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and baking powder. Set aside.
  • In a separate, larger mixing bowl, whisk together beaten eggs, buttermilk, and applesauce until smooth.
  • Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, whisking continuously until well combined.
  • Gently fold in diced apples to incorporate into the batter.

Prepare Glaze:

  • In a small bowl, stir together powdered sugar, buttermilk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Set aside.

Fry Fritters:

  • Heat approximately 3 inches of peanut or vegetable oil in a deep pot to 375°F (190°C).
  • Using a 1/4 or 1/3 cup (depending on desired fritter size), carefully scoop and drop batter into the hot oil.
  • Fry each fritter for about 2 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy.
  • Remove fritters with a slotted spoon and drain on a paper towel-lined plate.

Glaze & Cool:

  • After draining for a minute, transfer the fritters to a wire rack.
  • Drizzle glaze over the tops and bottoms of each fritter while still warm.
  • Allow fritters to rest and cool slightly before serving.

Tips:

  • Be cautious when working with hot oil to prevent burns.
  • Adjust the amount of spices in the batter to suit your taste preferences.

Prepare the flour, brown and white sugars, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and baking powder in a mixing bowl.

Whisk together the beaten eggs, buttermilk, and applesauce in a larger mixing bowl.

Peel, core, and dice the apples in a separate bowl. Also stir together the powdered sugar, buttermilk, and vanilla extract for the glaze.

Whisk together the dry and wet mixes.

Fold in the diced apples.

Heat about 3 inches of frying oil in a deep pot to 375 degrees.

Use either a 1/4 cup or 1/3 cup depending on the desired size of your fritters to scoop batter into the oil. Fry about 2 minutes on each side until browned.

Remove with a slotted metal spoon and place on a paper towel lined plate for a minute before transferring to a wire rack to drizzle the glaze on both sizes and rest a few minutes to let cool.