Let’s make these fritters!
- Prep the apples: Start by peeling, coring, and dicing your apples. Toss them in a bowl with a sprinkle of cinnamon (maybe a little extra if you’re like me). You want those apple pieces to get nice and coated before folding them into the batter. (Source:Ineskohl.info)
- Mix the dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. This is where all the fluffy magic begins.
- Whisk the wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. You’ll want everything smooth and well-combined.
- Combine everything: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. The batter will be thick—don’t worry, that’s exactly what you want. Gently fold in those cinnamon-coated apples. Try not to overmix the batter here. It’s totally fine if it’s a little lumpy.
- Spoon the batter onto the baking sheet: Grab a spoon or ice cream scoop and dollop the batter onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. I like to make these fairly rustic-looking, so don’t worry about them being perfectly round. It adds to their charm!
- Bake until golden: Bake the fritters in a preheated 400°F oven for about 15–18 minutes or until golden brown on top and a toothpick comes out clean. Keep an eye on them after 15 minutes—they can go from perfect to too brown quickly.
- Glaze time: While the fritters are baking, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Once the fritters are out of the oven and have cooled for a few minutes, drizzle that glaze over them while they’re still warm. Or dunk them straight into the glaze—no judgment here. If you want extra sweetness, do a double glaze after the first layer dries. So good.
Tips for Success:
- Don’t overmix the batter—overmixing can make the fritters dense instead of light and fluffy.
- Go crazy with the apples: You can never have too many apples. If you like bigger chunks, go for it! They’ll get nice and soft as they bake.
- The glaze sets quickly: If you want that perfect bakery-style glaze, drizzle it while the fritters are still slightly warm so it soaks in a little bit.
These baked apple fritters are best enjoyed fresh out of the oven when they’re still warm and that glaze is sticky and sweet. But if you somehow have leftovers (which, let’s be honest, is unlikely), they reheat beautifully in the oven at a low temp. I actually love popping one in the toaster oven the next morning for a quick treat with my coffee.
Make it your own:
- Add nuts: A handful of chopped pecans or walnuts folded into the batter would give these fritters a lovely crunch.
- Try different fruits: Pears or peaches would be amazing in place of the apples, especially when they’re in season.
- Spice it up: If you’re feeling adventurous, try adding a pinch of cardamom or even some ginger for a little extra warmth.
There you have it—an easy, cozy recipe that brings a little fall magic right into your kitchen. These baked apple fritters are a perfect weekend baking project, and the smell alone is worth the effort!
