Air Fryer Apple Fritters are simple, delicious and a fall must! A cinnamon spiced fritter studded with tender honeycrisp and granny smith apples are finished with an incredible brown butter glaze. This recipe makes 10 apple fritters.
It’s apple fritter season!
Put your air fryer to good use and quickly whip up this sweet treat! Since this isn’t a traditional yeast dough that’s deep fried (lord have mercy), the texture is a little bit cake like. However, they are tender with a crisp exterior. The apple and cinnamon flavor is incredible, but the brown butter glaze really makes these shine.
To Make These Air Fryer Apple Fritters You Will Need:
for the fritters:
- unbleached all-purpose flour
- dark brown sugar
- baking powder
- ground cinnamon
- ginger
- fine salt
- half & half
- eggs
- apple cider vinegar
- pure vanilla extract
- honeycrisp apple
- granny smith apple
for the glaze:
- butter
- powdered sugar
- milk
- pure vanilla extract
In a large mixing bowl, measure and add 1-1/2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour, 1/4 dark brown sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt and 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger.
Whisk to combine and set off to the side.
In a separate bowl, crack in 2 large eggs and to that, add 1/3 cup half & half, 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar and 1-1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract.
Beat with a whisk to combine.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry.
Using a spatula, mix until just incorporated.
Add in 1 small, cored, peeled and diced honeycrisp and granny smith. It was 10 ounces total once diced. Fold those into the batter.
Preheat your air fryer to 400℉ (or 200℃).
What Is Air Frying?
- An air fryer is a counter top appliance that requires less oil (anything from a few spritz to 1 tablespoon) yet produces crispy food that rivals most deep fried foods. By using circulating hot air, it moves at a high speed so the food tends to cook in a fraction of the time.
- There are a bunch of different makes and models of air fryers. My husband did the research (as he’s known to do) and found this air fryer [affiliate] to be one of the best. But do your research and purchase one that fits your lifestyle.
How is Air Frying Healthier?
- Air frying is healthier because only a thin layer of oil coats the food and when the hot air comes in contact it will crisp. Saving you a ton of fat and calories (without sacrificing any flavor!) because food is not being submerged in a vat of hot oil.
- Keep in mind, not all air fryers are equal. Some preheat and some do not. Some are smaller than others therefore you may need to work in smaller batches to air fry.
For more Air Fryer recipes, click here for my growing collection.
Lightly spray a piece of parchment (specifically made for your air fryer) with nonstick spray. Place it on to a small plate and add 4 (1/4 cup each) mounds of the fritter batter onto the parchment.
Slide the parchment (with the fritters) onto your air fryer insert and lightly spray the tops with nonstick spray. For thist I’m using ghee oil.
Air fry for 6 minutes.
Carefully turn the fritters over, and continue air frying for 1 to 2 more minutes or until golden.
Transfer the fritters to a wire rack set into a rimmed metal baking sheet and repeat with the remaining dough.
Make The Glaze:
To a small skillet add 4 tablespoons butter. Heat over medium to medium-low, stirring often, until the butter browns and smells nutty.
Remove off of the heat and add in 1 cup sifted powdered sugar.
Whisk while pouring in 1 to 3 tablespoons of half & half or milk.
Lastly, add in a splash of vanilla extract. Continue whisking until smooth.
Spoon the brown butter glaze over top of each fritter.
Let the glaze cool.
Or don’t. 😉
Enjoy! And if you give this Air Fryer Apple Fritters recipe a try, let me know! Snap a photo and tag me on twitter or instagram!
Air Fryer Apple Fritters
Ingredients
FOR THE FRITTERS:
- 1½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1/3 cup half & half
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 small honeycrisp apple, peeled and diced small
- 1 small granny smith apple, peeled and diced small
FOR THE GLAZE:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
- 1 to 3 tablespoons half & half
- 1 splash pure vanilla extract
Instructions
PREPARE THE FRITTERS:
- In a large mixing bowl, measure and add flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and ginger. Whisk to combine and set off to the side.
- Then, in a second bowl, crack in the eggs and to that add half & half, apple cider vinegar and vanilla. Whisk to combine.
- Pour the wet into the dry. Using a spatual, stir until just combined.
- Add in the apples, and fold them into the batter.
- Preheat your air fryer to 400℉ (or 200℃) depending on your make and model.
- Lightly spray a piece of parchment (made for the air fryer – it has holes punched out) with nonstick spray. Place it on to a small plate and add 4 (1/4 cup each) mounds of the fritter batter onto the parchment - more or less depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Spray the tops of the fritter batter lightly with nonstick spray.
- Once the air fryre is preheated, slide the parchment off of the plate and onto the air fryer insert.
- Air fry the fritters for 6 minutes. Carefully turn the fritters over, and continue air frying for 1 to 2 more minutes or until golden.
- Transfer the fritters to a wire rack set into a rimmed metal baking sheet and repeat with the remaining dough.
PREPARE THE BROWN BUTTER GLAZE:
- Add 4 tablespoons butter to a skillet. Heat over medium to medium-low, stirring often, until the butter browns and smells nutty.
- Remove the pan off of the heat and add in the sifted powdered sugar.
- Whisk while gradually pouring in 1 to 3 tablespoons of half & half or milk until smooth. Whisk in the splash of vanilla extract.
- Spoon the glaze over the fritters, let the glaze cool a bit (or don't) and enjoy!
Notes
recipe respectfully adapted from TasteofHome.com
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THANK YOU in advance for your support!
What would you recommend to cook this without an air fryer? Could you bake? Thanks!
Hi Jess! I would definitely need to test this out beforehand, but I would first try 350 degrees for 10 to 12 minutes or until fully cooked and a tester comes out clean. I’d love to know how this turns out for you!
I am going to make this gluten free with red mill GF Flour baking mix. Will let you know!
If I need to triple the output, can I just triple the ingredients in one batch, or would you recommend making 3 batches?
Made these on a snowy day. They turned out great. The flavor is so good.