These Air Fryer Apple Fritters are a delicious and healthy alternative to fried apple fritters. Air fryer fritters come out crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, and are easy to prepare. Topped with a cinnamon glaze they're an irresistible sweet treat!
What Are Apple Fritters?
Traditional apple fritters are deep fried donuts filled with tender apples, spices and topped with a sweet glaze or icing that's heavenly!
Air Fryer Apple Fritters
These apple fritters made in the air fryer have a crispy exterior and a soft, delicious interior and full of apple cinnamon flavor. They're not exactly like your bakery or donut shop version of apple fritters fried in hot oil but do come close.
If you want a classic dessert made healthier and still tastes good, then this Air fryer apple fritter recipe is a must try.
If you love making air fryer dessert, you'll love this air fryer apples, air fryer apple chips and air fryer apple crisp. These recipes are great for apple season when you have extra.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
- Healthy - This recipe is low in calories compared to the fried version.
- Simple ingredients - with pantry staples you can whip up this pastry in no time.
- Easy to make - So simple and easy to make. Just like you're frying a batch of fritters you'd have to air fry these apple fritters in batches. But unlike frying in oil, you don't have to keep a close eye on it.
- Finger licking good - Even though it's not fried, these fritters are so flavorful with tender apples in a sweet dough laced with spices and finished off with a cinnamon glaze.
What You Need For Air Fryer Apple Fritters
- Fresh Apples - I prefer to use sweet apples like Gala, Honey crisp, Fuji in these fritters because they lend their sweetness to the dough. Granny smith apples are great if you want it less sweet.
- All purpose Flour - To make the batter. Can be substituted with half whole wheat flour and half white flour.
- Brown Sugar - lends a depth of flavor and sweetness to the fritters. Substitute white sugar.
- Baking powder - Since this is not a yeast dough, baking powder is what makes the fritters soft on the inside. It gives a bit of rise to the fritters too.
- Cinnamon, Nutmeg - I like to use both these spices as they balance each other beautifully. Substitute with apple pie spice.
- Milk - I use whole milk but 2% milk would work too. Substitute with apple juice or apple cider for more intense apple flavor.
- Eggs - Acts a binder and holds the fritter together.
- Butter - Use melted butter or oil. If using oil, use a light tasting oil like canola oil, vegetable oil or avocado oil.
- Lemon juice - I like to use lemon juice when working with apple so they don't turn brown. Apple cider vinegar can be used in a pinch.
- Vanilla Extract - add more flavor.
- Powdered sugar - for the cinnamon glaze
How to Make Air Fryer Apple Fritters
*Scroll below for the printable recipe card and ingredient measurements.
- In a large bowl, mix the flour with brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, melted butter and vanilla together.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir until a thick batter forms.
- Peel, core and chop the apples into ½-inch cubes. In a separate bowl, mix the diced apples with lemon juice. Fold the apples into the dough.
- Line the Air fryer basket with parchment paper and scoop about ¼ cup of batter( about 2 tablespoons) onto it. I like to use a medium cookie scoop for this. Spray with cooking spray.
- Air fry apple fritters at 375˚F for 8 to 10 minutes until deep golden brown.
*Air fryers come in different sizes and models, and you may need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Transfer the apple fritters to a cooling rack. Air fry apple fritters in batches until you're finished with the dough.
- For the glaze, in a small bowl whisk together powdered sugar, cinnamon and milk until combined and there're no lumps.
- Once all the fritters are done, pour the cinnamon glaze over the top of the fritters while they're on the wire rack.
Now these cinnamon glazed air fryer apple fritters are ready as a dessert or a snack with cup of coffee or tea.
I like to serve them as they are but you can make it fancy by serving them with ice cream, or with a sweet dip. They'll be great for dessert or breakfasts boards too.
Storing and Reheating
Storage - These apple fritters taste best on the day they're made. Leftover fritters can be stored in airtight container at room temperature for 2 days. You can also store them in the fridge if you're planning to keep them for more than 2 days.
Reheat - They can be reheated in the microwave or in the air fryer. On a side note, when you're reheating the icing will dissolve into the fritter. They'll be delicious nonetheless or you can glaze with more icing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Make sure you're not using too much liquid. And the batter should be thick. Air fry the fritters for an extra minute or two to make them crispy.
You can store them without glaze so they won't become soft quickly. Glaze them when ready to eat.
Yes, they can be made in advance and kept covered at room temperature or in the fridge.
Absolutely. I make the batter and air fry what I need and keep the rest of the batter in the fridge. You can keep the fritter batter covered in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. If the batter is thick add some milk to loosen it up.
More Recipes You'll Love:
- Easy Sauteed Apples
- Brown Butter Apple Pie -Gluten Free
- Air Fryer Cinnamon Pineapple
- Air Fryer Caramelized Bananas
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Air Fryer Apple Fritters
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1¼ cups all purpose flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoon melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 apples peeled, cored and diced
For The Cinnamon Glaze
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoon milk
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix the flour with brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, melted butter and vanilla together.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until a thick batter forms.
- Peel, core and chop the apples into ½-inch cubes. Mix the diced apples with lemon juice. Fold the apples into the dough.
- Line the Air fryer basket with parchment paper and scoop about ¼ cup dough onto it. Spray with cooking spray.
- Air fry apple fritters at 375˚F for 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown.
- Transfer the apple fritters to a wire rack. Air fry apple fritters in batches until you're finished with the dough.
- For the glaze, in a small bowl whisk together powdered sugar, cinnamon and milk until combined and there're no lumps.
- Once all the fritters are done, pour the cinnamon glaze over the top of the fritters.
Notes
- Add more milk if the batter is dry and hard to scoop. First, add a tablespoon, mix and increase if needed. I needed ¾ cup of milk but this could vary due to many conditions. So start with ½ cup of milk and increase as needed.
Shar says
Are the measurements for this recipe accurate? My fritters ran together making a pancake. I would have been better off placing in a cakepan and baking it that way. I measured the ingredients carefully.
Farwin says
I'm sorry it didn't turn out the way as expected. I needed 3/4 cup of milk to make a pourable dough as you see in the process photos. The amount milk needed could vary due to many conditions including the size of the eggs used and how the melted butter is measured. So I amended the recipe card to include 1/2 cup of milk and increase if needed. I hope you give this a try with the new measurements.
Shar says
Thank you! Delicious recipe!
Farwin says
You're welcome Shar. I'm glad you enjoyed.