Apple Fritters with Vanilla Lemon Glaze

Name: Apple Fritters with Vanilla Lemon Glaze
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour; 2 tsp baking powder; ½ tsp kosher salt; 2 large eggs; 2 tbsp unsalted butter (melted); ½-¾ cup whole milk; 5 tbsp maple syrup; 3 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Gala are great, chopped into ½ inch cubes); avocado, canola or any flavorless light oil (for frying); 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar; 2 ½ tbsp whole milk; 2 tbsp lemon juice; 1 lemon (zested); 2 tsp vanilla extract

Posted: September 17, 2020 by lena gladstone | Updated: September 21, 2021

These incredibly luscious Apple Fritters with Vanilla Lemon Glaze combine pillowy dough with sweet apples and a citrusy glaze. They’re a tasty treat you can add to your fall baking list, plus they’re easy to make and ready to be enjoyed in under 30 minutes!

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Apple fritters on a cooling rack with the glaze on a bowl on the side

The only thing better than wearing your coziest sweater on a crisp fall day is if you’re doing it with a fresh apple fritter in your hand! These Apple Fritters with Vanilla Lemon Glaze will get you in the mood for the fall season and satisfy all of your sugary cravings.

This is an easy dessert that’s packed with natural sweetness from apples and maple syrup. To finish, they’ve been coated in a zesty lemon glaze for a pop of fresh flavor. Every bite is sensational!

Once you discover that they aren’t any more difficult to make than a batch of pancakes or waffles, you’ll be making apple fritters every weekend.

What are fritters?

Fritters can come in many varieties. They’re always made up of a batter that’s had meat, seafood, fruit, or vegetables mixed in and are served sweet or savory. To finish, the fritters are pan fried or deep fried in oil.

More specifically, apple fritters are very similar to donuts or funnel cakes. Chopped apples in the batter offer a sweet and unique flavor. They’re traditionally deep fried and coated in a simple glaze made from confectioner’s sugar and milk.

4 stages of preparing batter with apple chunks and pouring glaze on the finished fritters

Ingredients you need

This recipe is so easy because it contains no yeast. This means you don’t need to get your hands dirty or knead the dough! Plus, the recipe calls for simple ingredients only.

This is what you need:

All-purpose flour
Baking powder
Kosher salt
Eggs
Unsalted butter
Milk
Maple syrup
Apples

The lemon vanilla glaze is made from simple ingredients you probably already have at home:

Powdered sugar
Milk
Lemon juice and zest
Vanilla extract

What kind of apples are best?

You want an apple that will hold its texture and present a strong flavor as you bite into the fritter. I personally found that Honeycrisp or Gala apples were best, but Granny Smith would be another great option. Red Delicious will get too soft and lose its flavor in the oil.

Close up of apple fritters cooling on a cooling rack

How to make Apple Fritters with Vanilla Lemon Glaze

Who knew fritter donuts were so easy to make? You won’t need to stop in at a donut shop ever again thanks to this recipe.

You can finish this recipe in just 4 steps:

Make the batter: Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl, then add the eggs, butter, half a cup of milk, and the maple syrup. Mix until combined, then fold in the apples.
Heat the oil: Heat 2 inches of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it reaches 300ºF.
Fry the fritters: Drop tablespoon-size balls of batter into the oil for 4 to 5 minutes or until they’re golden and crisp on all sides. Remove and drain on a wire rack with paper towels underneath.
Make the glaze: While the fritters cool, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Drizzle the glaze over the warm fritters.

Overhead view of fritters cooling on a cooling rack

Can they be baked?

Baked apple fritters are more crispy but just as delicious, especially if you’re not a fan of oil. You can use this recipe to bake the fritters in a 350ºF oven for 12 to 15 minutes, however, they may not rise as well. Replace the maple syrup with brown sugar in case the batter is too wet.

Can they be made gluten free?

You can replace the white four with an all-purpose gluten free flour to make gluten free apple fritters instead. Bob’s Red Mill or King Arthur both make a high quality 1:1 flour.

Plate full of golden apple fritters with a bite taken out of one

Recipe tips and substitutions

Feel free to keep the apple skins on if you wish.
If the batter feels thick, add no more than 1/4 cup milk to thin and always start with a tablespoon at a time.
Add a sprinkle of cinnamon or pumpkin spice into the batter for the best fall flavor.
Heat your oil after the batter has come together so it doesn’t get too hot.
The bigger the frying pan, the better. Alternatively, fry the fritters in a large pot to avoid splattering or spilling.
Use a thermometer to safely measure the temperature of the oil.
Keep a lid or baking soda close by the pot of oil to be safe.
Use the back of a wooden spoon to test the heat. Once bubbles start forming, the oil is ready.
You’ll want the glaze to be a bit runny so it coats the fritters but doesn’t just pour right off as soon as it hits the outside. If it’s too thin, add a little confectioner’s sugar at a time until it becomes a little thicker. If it’s too thick, add a small splash of milk at a time until you reach the desired consistency.
Leave the lemon juice and zest out of the glaze for a more neutral flavor.
Sprinkle the fritters with cinnamon sugar if you don’t want the glaze.
A fritter without glaze is also good! It’s like an old-fashioned donut with a hint of apple flavor.

Close up of a plate of apple fritters piled on top of each other.

Storing

These are best enjoyed on the same day they’re made. The longer they’re stored, the soggier they’ll become. If you end up with leftovers, keep them in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature or for longer in the fridge.

More Dessert Recipes

Need more tasty desserts? Try these easy recipes:

Did you try this tasty dessert? Let me know what you think and leave a comment below! Don’t forget to also take a picture of your recreation and tag me on Instagram. I love to see all of your photos!