Baked Apple Fritters (Easy, Lighter Version)These baked apple fritters have the cozy cinnamon-apple flavor of traditional fritters but use the oven instead of deep frying.
Ingredients
For the fritters
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 2 tablespoons melted butter or neutral oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups peeled and diced apples (about 1–2 apples)
For the glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the oven
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
- Mix dry ingredients
- In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- Mix wet ingredients
- In another bowl, whisk together egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla.
- Combine
- Add the wet mixture to the dry ingredients.
- Stir gently until just combined.
- Fold in the diced apples. Avoid overmixing.
- Shape and bake
- Drop spoonfuls of batter onto the baking sheet (about 8–10 fritters).
- Bake for 15–18 minutes, until golden and cooked through.
- Glaze
- Mix powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
- Drizzle over warm fritters.
Tips for the best apple fritters
- Use firm apples like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Fuji for better texture.
- Dice apples small so they soften during baking.
- Add a little lemon juice to the apples to brighten the flavor.
- For a crispier top, lightly brush fritters with melted butter before baking.
Optional variations
- Add chopped walnuts or pecans for crunch.
- Add raisins for a classic bakery-style flavor.
- Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the top instead of using glaze.
They’re best served warm with coffee or tea.
