Air fryer Apple Fritters {with apple butter glaze}
Crispy. Soft. Juicy. Every October, we visit an apple orchard just outside of Toronto, Canada. We love wandering through rows of apple trees and filling our baskets with our favourite crisp, sweet, and tart apples. My Air Fryer Apple Fritters are a simple and delicious way to celebrate the warmth, laughter, and tradition that we find on an apple orchard. All you need to make this recipe is an air fryer, one crisp apple, cinnamon, and a few basic panty ingredients!
Each fritter is a reminder to slow down, fill your home with warm fall aromas, and never forget to savour the simple things in life. This recipe is sure to be an easy crowd pleaser at every breakfast, brunch, or festive party!
The Little Joys Inside This Bake
- Warm, spiced fritters that taste like autumn
- Easy recipe to make with kids at home (parental supervision required!)
- Air fried for that golden crunch without the grease of deep frying
- Sweet apple chunks in every bite
- Perfect for weekend breakfasts
Commonly Used Apples for Apple Fritters
- Honeycrisp
- Crimson Crisp
- Granny Smith
- Gala
- Pink Lady
- Braeburn
- Or other crisp and firm apple variety!
Everything You Need for Air Fryer Apple Fritters
Apple Fritter Dough
- Apples – chopped crisp and tart apple varieties hold up best in these fritters.
- Flour, sugar – common pantry staples you probably already have at home.
- Egg + milk – to bind and soften the batter.
- Baking powder – for a light, fluffy lift.
- Cinnamon – the flavour of autumn in every bite!
- Vanilla – to add richness and round out the beautiful flavours.
- Lemon juice – to add to your milk mixture to create an easy, faux “butter milk”
- Salt – to balance the sweetness!
Apple Fritter Glaze
- Butter – melted butter to add shine and rich flavour!
- Icing Sugar – to create the glaze consistency.
- Apple Butter – for another layer of apple flavour!
- Lemon juice – to thin the glaze.
Substitution Tips:
- Swap dairy milk for oat or almond milk.
- Try adding a dash of nutmeg or a spoonful of chopped pecans.
- A touch of vanilla or almond extract adds extra warmth and depth.
- Not feeling the apple butter glaze? Dip your fritters in my Apple Cider Caramel.
Mindful Moments
- Watch the thick batter loosen as you fold in the chopped apples.
- Listen to the gentle hum of the air fryer cooking the fritters.
- Stop to smell the cinnamon aromas filling the air.
- Listen for the quiet crackle as the fritters turn golden.
- Feel the warmth of freshly baked apple fritters in your hands.
Storage + Make-Ahead Tips
- Storage: Keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- Reheat: Warm in the air fryer for 2–3 minutes at 350°F to crisp them up again.
- Freezer: Freeze after cooling and glazing and allow to defrost at room temperature.
- Avoid stacking fritters until the apple glaze has hardened!
- Note: While these fritters can be saved overnight, they are best enjoyed warm and freshly baked!
Before You Bake: Apple Fritter FAQ
Can I use any type of apple?
Absolutely! I recommend choosing a firm, crisp apple like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith. I used my favourite sweet, tart, and firm apple – the Crimson Crisp variety, and it was perfect! Note: using apples that are too soft can make the batter watery.
Do I need to preheat the air fryer?
For best results, I recommend heating the air fryer for 2-4 minutes (without the parchment paper!) just prior to baking. A warm air fryer ensures even browning and crisp fritter edges.
Can I make them gluten-free?
Yes! Simply use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and add an extra tablespoon of milk, if needed.
Why are my fritters soggy?
Too much moisture in the fritter dough can cause this. This is often a result of apples that are too soft and wet. If this is the case, simply pat diced apples dry with a paper towel before mixing in.
How It All Comes Together
Apple Fritter Dough
In a medium-sized bowl, add flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk to combine all dry ingredients.
In a small cup, add milk and 1 tsp of lemon juice. Mix to combine and let stand for ~3 minutes (note: this creates a “butter milk”). Add vanilla and egg. Use a fork to break the egg and mix all of the wet ingredients together.
To the centre of your medium bowl filled with dry ingredients, add your wet ingredient mixture. Use a spatula to mix together all ingredients. This is your batter. It will be thick.
Add your chopped/diced apples to your batter and continue to fold ingredients until all of the apple has been mixed with batter.
Apple Fritter Glaze
In a small bowl, add icing sugar, butter, apple butter, and 2 tsp of lemon juice. Mix. If still too thick to spread, continue to add drops of lemon juice to thin out the glaze. The final glaze should be fairly loose and spreadable.
Air Frying
Preheat your air fryer to 400 F for 2-4 minutes.
Once your Air Fryer has preheated, remove the air fryer basket and carefully drop in an air fryer sized parchment liner into the basket. Use a cooking spray (note: I used avocado spray but any light cooking spray will work) to lightly spray the parchment liner.
Add a scoop of batter (2-3 tbsp in size) into the baking tray. (note: depending on the size of your air fryer, you will be able to make room for 2-3 fritters).
Spray the tops of each fritter with cooking spray.
Air Fry at 400F for about ~4.5 minutes. Pause air fryer, flip the apple fritters over, spray once more with oil, and fry for another ~4.5 minutes.
You will know that the fritters are done when the edges have started to turn brown and the apple fritters have puffed up and are crackling.
Carefully remove apple fritters from the air fryer and place on a cooling rack. Repeat air frying process with the next batch of apple fritters.
Glazing
Place a parchment paper below a cooling rack (note: this is for your glazed Apple Fritters as glaze may drip down onto this).
Add a spoonful of glaze to each apple fritter and spread it flat until it has covered the surface of the fritter. Continue until all baked fritters are glazed.
Once glaze has solidified, your Air Fryer Apple Fritters are ready to enjoy!
Also check out:
Baked Apple Roses
One Bowl Apple Cake
Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip
Air Fryer Apple Fritters {with apple butter glaze}
Ingredients
Cinnamon Dough
- 1 cup All-purpose Flour
- 1/3 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1.5 tsp Baking Powder
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Cinnamon
- 1/4 cup Milk m.f. 2% or higher
- 1 tsp Fresh lemon Juice
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 Egg large, room temperature
- 1 Medium Apple (crisp, sweet, hard) washed, and diced into small cubes (<1cm pieces)
Apple Butter Glaze
- 1 tbsp Melted Butter
- 1/2 cup Icing Sugar
- 1 tsp Apple Butter
- Lemon Juice from 1/2 a lemon to be added first as 2 tsp addition, then in drops until batter becomes a loose paste
Instructions
Apple Fritter Dough
- In a medium-sized bowl, add flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk to combine all dry ingredients.
- In a small cup, add milk and 1 tsp of lemon juice. Mix to combine and let stand for ~3 minutes (note: this creates a "butter milk"). Add vanilla and egg. Use a fork to break your egg and mix all of the wet ingredients together.
- To the centre of your medium bowl filled with dry ingredients, add your wet ingredient mixture. Use a spatula to mix together all ingredients. This is your batter. It will be thick.
- Add your chopped/diced apples to your batter and continue to fold ingredients until all of the apple has been evenly mixed in.
Apple Fritter Glaze
- In a small bowl, add your icing sugar, butter, apple butter, and 2 tsp of lemon juice. Mix. If still too thick to spread, continue to add drops of lemon juice to thin out the glaze. The final glaze should be fairly loose and spreadable.
Air Frying
- Preheat your air fryer to 400 F for 2-4 minutes.
- Once your Air Fryer has preheated, remove the air fryer basket and carefully drop in an air fryer sized parchment liner into the basket. Use a cooking spray (note: I used avocado spray but any light cooking spray will work) to lightly spray the parchment liner.
- Add a scoop of batter (2-3 tbsp in size) into the baking tray. (note: depending on the size of your air fryer, you will be able to make room for 2-3 fritters).
- Spray the tops of each fritter with cooking spray.
- Air Fry at 400F for about ~4.5 minutes. Pause air fryer, flip the apple fritters over, spray once more with oil, and fry for another ~4.5 minutes.
- You will know that the fritters are done when the edges have started to turn brown and the apple fritters have puffed up and are crackling.
- Carefully remove from the air fryer and place on to a cooling rack. Repeat air frying process with the next batch of apple fritters.
Glazing
- Place a parchment paper below a cooling rack (note: this is for your glazed apple fritters as glaze may drip down onto this).
- Add a spoonful of glaze to each apple fritter and spread it flat until it has covered the surface of the fritter. Continue until all baked fritters are glazed.
- Once glaze has solidified, your Air Fryer Apple Fritters are ready to enjoy!
Notes
- Unsure what kind of apple to use? I recommend using a crisp and firm apple such as a Granny Smith, Gala, or Honey Crisp.
- Why are my apple fritters soggy? Too much moisture in the fritter dough can cause this. This is often a result of apples that are too soft and wet. If this is the case, simply pat diced apples dry with a paper towel before mixing in.
- Can I make them gluten-free? Yes! Simply use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and add an extra tablespoon of milk, if needed.
- This is an easy, family-friendly recipe! Parental supervision is required for the air frying step (Please be careful with hot oil!)