By Grocery List Plus Editorial Staff | Published on June 14, 2026
Serves 16
247 cal · 55 min
Bakery-Quality Apple Fritters
Recipe GLPR80ed5c09809ee1
Golden, crispy apple fritters with tender apple pieces throughout, finished with a smooth apple cider glaze. These homemade fritters capture the bakery appeal with a light, tender crumb and perfect balance of sweetness and spice.
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Ingredients
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch pieces
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, divided
1 teaspoon plus a pinch kosher salt
Canola oil, for frying
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon apple pie spice
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup whole milk
1/3 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
5 tablespoons apple cider
pinch Pinch kosher salt
Directions
Prepare the apple filling: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the diced apples, lemon juice, and 2 tablespoons of the granulated sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples soften and most of the liquid has evaporated, about 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely. Once cooled, stir in a pinch of kosher salt.
Make the dry mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, apple pie spice, and 1 teaspoon of kosher salt.
Combine wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the beaten eggs, milk, sour cream, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Form the batter: Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined—do not overmix. The batter should be thick but cohesive. Gently fold in the cooled apple mixture until evenly distributed throughout.
Prepare for frying: Heat canola oil to 350°F in a heavy-bottomed pot or deep skillet, using a thermometer to monitor temperature. Line a plate with paper towels.
Fry the fritters: Working in batches, carefully drop heaping tablespoon-sized portions of batter into the hot oil. Fry 2 to 3 minutes on the first side until golden brown, then flip and fry 2 to 3 minutes on the second side. The fritters should be deep golden brown on both sides. Transfer to the paper towel-lined plate. Maintain the oil temperature between batches.
Make the glaze: While the fritters cool slightly, whisk together the confectioners' sugar, apple cider, and a pinch of kosher salt in a small bowl until smooth and pourable.
Glaze the fritters: Once the fritters are still warm but slightly cooled (about 5 minutes after frying), dip the top of each fritter into the glaze or drizzle the glaze over them. Allow the glaze to set before serving.
Comments
Apple fritters land solidly in Charlotte's favor: Granny Smiths are available year-round at every major chain, and the other ingredients—butter, eggs, milk, sour cream, vanilla, all-purpose flour—are pantry staples at Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Publix, Walmart, ALDI, and Kroger. At roughly $0.70 to $0.90 per fritter, the cost is reasonable and driven mainly by the apples and oil for frying. The stated 55 minutes understates the work: account for 15 minutes of apple prep (peeling, coring, chopping) and another 10 to 15 minutes of frying time in batches, making this closer to 75 to 80 minutes of hands-on or near-hands-on time. These are best eaten same-day while still crispy; they soften by the next morning and don't reheat well. The recipe suits a weekend baking project or a special breakfast, not a weeknight quick meal, but for a family that enjoys fried dough, a full batch feeds 8 to 10 people generously.
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