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Easy Baked Apple Fritters

These Easy Baked Apple Fritters are loaded with bits of fresh apple in a batter brimming with warming fall spices. They’re baked to golden brown perfection then drizzled with a sweet and simple glaze!

Apple fritters with icing in a white bowl on a white table.
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Apples are one of the most delicious and versatile fall fruits. While they’re available all throughout the year, I think that autumn is when apples are at their very best.

Whether you pick your own from a local orchard or buy them from a farmstand or grocery store, apples make some of the most amazing fall desserts, like this easy Apple Crisp, this delicious Apple Tarte Tatin and of course, these baked apple fritters!

The beauty of this recipe is that the fritters are made with just few basic ingredients and are baked in a muffin tin, instead of messing up the whole kitchen by frying them. You still get that amazing crunchy outside and soft and tender inside with bits of apple studded throughout.

These little bites of apple goodness are a fun, easy, and irresistible fall treat that you can enjoy for breakfast or an afternoon snack! For another breakfast idea, featuring sweet and tasty apple flavor, check out this Apple Scones recipe!

❤ Why We Love this Recipe

Though apples remind us of fall, these fritters are a hit any time of the year. It’s such an easy recipe, you can make up a batch of the batter in no time, which makes them a great breakfast or quick snack recipe when those apple cravings hit.

They’re less messy than fried fritter recipes. And once you taste these light and crispy baked apple fritters, loaded with warm cinnamon and apple flavor, you’ll never want to make them any other way.

🔪 Tools

🛒 What Goes Into Baked Apple Fritters?

Ingredients for apple fritters.

Key Ingredients:

Flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt. Simple ingredients commonly used in baking.

Granulated sugar. Gives the fritters the perfect amount of sweetness.

Baking powder, baking soda. Basic leavening agents used to make a light and fluffy texture.

Ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg. Provides the apple batter all the delicious flavors of fall.

Large eggs, whole milk, butter. Adds richness to the batter as well as helping bind the ingredients together.

Fresh apple, apple cider vinegar. The two main ingredients that give the fitters apple flavor.

Powdered sugar. Used to make the simple glaze.

Scroll down to the recipe card for the full list of ingredients and nutrition information.

👩‍🍳 How to Make Easy Baked Apple Fritters

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Step 1: Peel and dice the apple into ½ inch pieces. Set them aside while making the batter.

Chopped apple on a wood cutting board.

Step 2: Melt unsalted butter in the microwave or stove top in a small sauce pan.

Step 3: Pour ½ tsp-1 tsp oil into each well of a ½ cup muffin pan.

Step 4: Use a pastry brush to cover the sides but leave any extra oil in the bottom of the well.

Note: You’ll want to use a light tasting vegetable oil, like canola oil or light olive oil, to coat the baking pan.

Muffin tin with vegetable oil.

Step 5: In a large mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients except for the powdered sugar (all purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, spices).

Flour and spices in stainless bowl.

Step 6: Whisk the sugar and flour mixture to distribute and break up any clumps.

Flour in a stainless bowl.

Step 7: Using the whisk, create a well or indention in the center of the flour mixture for the wet ingredients.

Step 8. Add the eggs, milk, and the pure vanilla extract into the center of the well.

Flour, milk, and eggs in a stainless bowl.

Step 9: Continue whisking until the flour is smooth and well incorporated.

Batter in a stainless bowl.

Step 10: Next, mix in the melted butter.

Batter in a stainless bowl.

Step 11: Place the prepared muffin pan in the preheated oven for about 5-6 minutes. You want it hot before you place the batter in it. This is what gives the fritter the crispy exterior.

Step 12: Right before removing the pan from the oven, add the small chunks of apples and the vinegar to the batter and stir to evenly distribute.

Note: Be sure to wait to do this step until the last minute – you want the baking soda and vinegar to react in the oven not while sitting out.

Batter in a bowl.

Step 13: Using a ½ cup measuring scoop, scoop apple fritter batter into the hot oil in muffin tins, filling to about ½ inch below the top.

Step 14: Place in the 375° F oven immediately. Bake for 18-20 minutes until a cake tester inserted comes out clean and they are a rich golden brown color.

Note: Do not open the oven for the first 15 minutes of the bake.

Muffin batter in muffin tin.

Step 15: While the fritters are in the oven baking, make the glaze. In a measuring cup or other separate small bowl, mix the powdered sugar with 1-2 tbsp water (or unsweetened apple cider) until a thick glaze forms.

Icing in a glass cup.

Step 16: Once the fitters are cooked, allow to sit in the pan for 5 minutes before placing on a wire rack.

Apple fritters in a muffin pan.

Step 17: Pour the simple glaze over the unmolded tops of the fritters while still hot. Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before eating.

Apple fritters with icing on a cooling tray.

Variations:

Vanilla cinnamon glaze-We kept things simple with an easy powdered sugar glaze, but you can add even more fall flavors to these fritters by adding in a dash of vanilla extract and a pinch of cinnamon.

Caramel sauce: Make these apple treats even more decadent by serving them with a homemade caramel dipping sauce, like the one I made for these Funnel Cakes. The brown sugar and apples are a marriage made in heaven.

Apple pie spice: Instead of using separate spices, you can always use your favorite store-bought apple spice blend.

Pear fritters: Pears are another great fall fruit. You can use this same batter recipe with chopped pears instead of apples.

Cinnamon butter: Butter makes everything better. Mix a pinch of cinnamon to some room temperature butter and stir until well combined. Take an apple fritter and split it open and smear with some of this butter! It’s so good!

Apple nut fritters: You can mix in some finely chopped pecans or walnuts for added crunch.

Apple fritters with icing in a white bowl on a white table.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Store Homemade Apple Fritters?

Baked apple fritters are best right after they are made. After they have been sitting a while, they begin to soften.

But if you have leftovers, don’t throw them out! Even though the texture changes, they still taste amazing. Place them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a day or two.

How Do I Reheat Apple Fritters

You can either place them back in the oven for a few minutes or for a few seconds in the microwave.

Another great way to reheat them is to put them in your air fryer. This helps crisp them back up a little as well.

What Type of Apple is Best to Make Fritter Dough?

First off, because apples are highlighted in this recipe, you want to make sure you select really fresh apples.

You want a good balance of sweet and tart apples. I prefer Honey Crisp and Pink Lady, but you can use Granny Smith apples if that’s your favorite.

Gala, Fuji, and Red Delicious are not the best apples for baking because they do not hold up well to baking.

Apple fritters with icing in a white bowl on a white table.

Top Tips for Making Baked Apple Fritters

If you’re chopping your apples in advance, spritz them with a little fresh lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.

Resist overmixing the batter. The reason we use a whisk instead of an electric mixer is because heavy handed mixing will turn your light and fluffy fritters into miniature hockey pucks.

For best results, when chopping your apples, make sure they are chopped up fine. You want them well distributed throughout the dough, ensuring you get apple bits in every single bite.

If you don’t feel like fooling with the glaze, you can just give the fritters a dusting with the powdered sugar when they come out of the oven.

When heating the muffin tin, make sure you give it a good 5 minutes. The residual oil left in the wells needs to be hot enough that it almost fries the batter when you pour it in. If you rush this, the outside of the fritter will still brown, but they will have more of an oily and chewy texture.

To make clean up a cinch, place the cooling rack on cookie sheets you have lined with parchment paper. Once you are finished glazing them, you can just throw the parchment paper in the trash and cleanup is done!

More Apple Desserts

Apple fritters in a white bowl with a striped dish towel.

Baked Apple Fritters

These delicious baked apple fritters are perfect for fall parties!
4.96 from 50 votes
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Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 12
Calories: 21kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 1/3 cup/160g all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ tsp/6g baking powder
  • ¾ tsp/4g baking soda
  • ½ tsp/3g salt
  • ½ cup/100g granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp/1g ground cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp/ ½ g ground nutmeg
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp/5ml vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup/155ml whole milk
  • 4 tbsp/58g unsalted butter melted
  • 2 tsp/10ml apple cider vinegar
  • 1 medium/150g apple peeled and diced
  • ~ ¼ cup/60ml vegetable oil for baking pan
  • 1 cup/120g powdered sugar

Instructions

  • Peel and dice the apple into ½ inch pieces. Set them aside while making the batter.
  • Melt unsalted butter in the microwave or stove top in a small sauce pan.
  • Pour ½ tsp-1 tsp oil into each well of a ½ cup muffin pan.
  • Use a pastry brush to cover the sides but leave any extra oil in the bottom of the well.
  • In a large mixing bowl, combine all the dry ingredients except for the powdered sugar (all purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, spices).
  • Whisk the sugar and flour mixture to distribute and break up any clumps.
  • Using the whisk, create a well or indention in the center of the flour mixture for the wet ingredients.
  • Add the eggs, milk, and the pure vanilla extract into the center of the well.
  • Continue whisking until the flour is smooth and well incorporated.
  • Next, mix in the melted butter.
  • Place the prepared muffin pan in the preheated oven for about 5-6 minutes. You want it hot before you place the batter in it. This is what gives the fritter the crispy exterior.
  • Right before removing the pan from the oven, add the small chunks of apples and the vinegar to the batter and stir to evenly distribute.
  • Using a ½ cup measuring scoop, scoop apple fritter batter into the hot oil in muffin tins, filling to about ½ inch below the top.
  • Place in the 375° F oven immediately. Bake for 18-20 minutes until a cake tester inserted comes out clean and they are a rich golden brown color.
  • While the fritters are in the oven baking, make the glaze. In a measuring cup or other separate small bowl, mix the powdered sugar with 1-2 tbsp water (or unsweetened apple cider) until a thick glaze forms.
  • Once the fitters are cooked, allow to sit in the pan for 5 minutes before placing on a wire rack.
  • Pour the simple glaze over the unmolded tops of the fritters while still hot. Allow to cool for at least 20 minutes before eating.

Notes

If you’re chopping your apples in advance, spritz them with a little fresh lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.
Resist overmixing the batter. The reason we use a whisk instead of an electric mixer is because heavy handed mixing will turn your light and fluffy fritters into miniature hockey pucks.
For best results, when chopping your apples, make sure they are chopped up fine. You want them well distributed throughout the dough, ensuring you get apple bits in every single bite.
If you don’t feel like fooling with the glaze, you can just give the fritters a dusting with the powdered sugar when they come out of the oven.
When heating the muffin tin, make sure you give it a good 5 minutes. The residual oil left in the wells needs to be hot enough that it almost fries the batter when you pour it in. If you rush this, the outside of the fritter will still brown, but they will have more of an oily and chewy texture.
To make clean up a cinch, place the cooling rack on cookie sheets you have lined with parchment paper. Once you are finished glazing them, you can just throw the parchment paper in the trash and cleanup is done!

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 21kcal | Carbohydrates: 3g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 31mg | Potassium: 31mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 17IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 0.1mg
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4.96 from 50 votes (49 ratings without comment)

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7 Comments

  1. Also, what are your thoughts on using coconut oil? I love frying up tacos with it. Thinking that might be a good alternative to the vegetable oil

  2. I’m looking to make these for my daughter’s baby shower (fall-themed). Do you have any suggestions for making these in a mini-muffin pan instead of the 1/2 C muffin pan? I think these would be a tasty apple fritter bite! And much easier to put out a basket for 60 people! lol

    1. Hi Melissa,

      That sounds like a fun idea! I’m sorry I have been traveling and trying to catch up and I missed your message. If you use a smaller muffin tin, be sure to reduce the time and they should be fine. I haven’t tried it so that’s my only suggestion. I also like using coconut oil. Let me know how that turns out!

  3. 3 stars
    These are more of a muffin than a fritter for sure! They tasted good but fell short of a crispy fritter and I followed the recipe exactly! I had a big apple and it was plenty and maybe too much for the amount of batter and perhaps the reason they didn’t get crispy!

    1. So sorry you didn’t get the crispy fritters you were looking for. I’ve had a couple of messages about readers thinking they needed more apple and not getting that crispy texture because of the extra liquid. I hope you try again and let me know!

    1. I haven’t tried more. Just be careful about the juices making the batter too runny. Let us know how they turn out!