Satisfy your cravings for a sweet treat during apple season with these irresistible Air Fryer Apple Fritters! Air-fried dough is infused with an indulgent blend of tender apple pieces, spicy cinnamon, and fragrant vanilla for a quintessential autumn dessert. Air frying gives the fritters a golden, crispy outer crust while keeping the centers soft and tender. A sweet, buttery powdered sugar glaze tops them off with a luxurious vanilla-scented finish.
This recipe offers an easier alternative to deep frying. With less mess and no excess oil, you can enjoy all the seasonal flavors without the hassle or extra grease. The simple preparation also takes less than 20 minutes, so you can treat yourself to warm, freshly air-fried fritters anytime–for breakfast, as a midday snack, or as a comforting dessert! If you’re looking for more apple recipes, try my Apple Cinnamon Pancakes, Apple Muffins, or Apple Cider.
Ingredients For Air Fryer Apple Fritters
All-Purpose Flour — this basic pantry staple provides the fritter with a light, airy texture.
Granulated Sugar — adds sweetness and helps the outer edges of the fritters form a golden brown crust.
Ground Cinnamon — gives the fritters a warm, spiced flavor that complements the apples perfectly.
Whole Milk — adds moisture to the batter and helps achieve the perfect glaze consistency.
Large Eggs — bring the eggs to room temperature before adding them for easier blending.
Lemon Juice — use freshly squeezed lemon juice for the brightest flavor and most robust acidity.
Unsalted Butter — butter adds flavor to the fritter dough and the glaze while also helping them stay moist and cook up tender.
Fresh Apples — choose fresh medium-sized apples in your preferred variety. Honeycrisp apples are ideal for their crisp texture and sweet-tart flavor, or you can use Granny Smith, Gala, or Mcintosh.
Glaze — powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and melted butter create a glaze that forms a crisp and crunchy exterior to the apple fritters and just the right amount of sweetness.
How To Make Air Fryer Apple Fritters
1. Line the basket of an air fryer with parchment paper and spray with nonstick spray. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon together until combined.
2. Whisk the milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and lemon juice to combine in a small mixing bowl.
3. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Add the melted butter, then stir to combine until no dry streaks of flour remain.
4. Fold in the apples with a rubber spatula, stirring until just combined.
5. Scoop 4 leveled ¼ cup portions onto the parchment paper in the air fryer basket, spacing them at least ½-inch apart.
6. Air fry at 375°F for 8 minutes. Flip the fritters onto the other side and cook for 3 more minutes until the bottoms and centers are cooked through. Transfer the fritters to a wire rack set over a sheet tray to cool. Repeat with the remaining batter in batches. Let them cool slightly.
7. Whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a medium bowl until very smooth. Then, whisk in the melted butter.
8. Dip the tops of the fritters into the glaze, coating the sides. Return the fritters top side up to the wire rack. Serve immediately.
What Are The Best Apples To Use?
I recommend using Honeycrisp apples for the best apple fritters. Their crisp texture and sweetness are the perfect filling for this recipe. However, you can also use another type of apple, such as Granny Smith apples if you prefer a tarter flavor or Gala apples for a sweeter flavor. Choose apples that are bright in color and free of any blemishes or soft spots to achieve the best texture.
Can I Use Apple Pie Filling Instead Of Fresh Apples?
Fresh chopped apples provide the best texture and flavor. I do not recommend using apple pie filling (homemade or canned) as it contains sugar and other ingredients that can affect how the fritter batter cooks.
How To Store
Store leftover fritters in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
How To Reheat Apple Fritters In The Air Fryer
Reheat leftover fritters in the air fry at 325ºF for about 2-3 minutes until warmed through. This helps them restore their crisp outer texture. Keep in mind if the fritters are already glazed, the glaze may melt a bit and can burn easily, so keep an eye on them and do not reheat them at a high temperature or for a long time.
Pro Tips For Making This Recipe
- Preheat the air fryer. If your air fryer model allows and recommends it, preheat it before starting the recipe. This ensures even cooking and helps the fritters start crisping up as soon as they hit the basket.
- Add extra flavorings or spices. For an extra fall-flavored kick, add ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg, cardamom, or ginger to the dry ingredients. You can also enhance the flavor of the glaze by adding ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and two teaspoons of maple syrup, swapping the vanilla extract for vanilla bean paste, or substituting one tablespoon of milk with lemon juice, spiced rum, or bourbon.
- Avoid overmixing the batter. Mix the fritter batter until just combined, as overmixing can lead to a dense texture–rather than light and fluffy. The batter should still be slightly lumpy with bits of apple throughout.
- Don’t crowd the air fryer. Place the fritter dough in a single layer in the air fryer basket, at least ½” apart, so they have ample space to expand and puff up. A 6-quart air fryer basket will hold four fritters at a time, cooking in at least three batches. Larger baskets should be able to accommodate more fritters per batch.
- Line air fryer basket. Be sure to line the air fryer with a piece of parchment paper. Generously spray it with cooking spray to prevent the dough from sticking and make cleanup easier. Cut the paper to fit the basket to prevent obstruction of airflow.
- Alternative garnish. If you prefer to skip the glaze, coat the fritters with cinnamon sugar fresh out of the air fryer for a delicious apple cinnamon flavor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! You can bake this recipe instead of air frying if desired. Bake at 400ºF on a silicone baking mat or parchment paper-lined baking sheet for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and the centers of the fritters are set. The texture will be slightly different than if air-fried, but they will still be delicious.
Sogginess can result from overcrowding the air fryer and undercooking the fritters. Cook the fritters in batches as needed, making sure there is space between each one for the hot air to flow. Also, check each fritter for doneness to ensure the center isn’t underdone and doughy.
Yes, you can freeze leftover fritters. Place them in a single layer on a baking sheet until frozen, then transfer them to an airtight freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Reheat from frozen in the air fryer at 350ºF for about 5-7 minutes or until they are heated and crispy. I recommend holding the glaze if you plan on freezing some and then glazing them once reheated.
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Air Fryer Apple Fritters Recipe
Equipment
- 6-qt air fryer (basket)
- Nonstick spray
Ingredients
For the Apple Fritters:
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour (180g)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar (50g)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ⅓ cup whole milk (80ml)
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 medium apples peeled, cored, and diced (2¾ cups/335g diced)
For the Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar (120g)
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
Instructions
For the Apple Fritters:
- In a large bowl, whisk to combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon.
- In a small mixing bowl, whisk to combine the milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and lemon juice.
- Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients. Add the butter, then stir to combine until no dry streaks of flour remain. Fold in the apples, stirring just until combined.
- If necessary, preheat your air fryer to 375°F. Line the basket of an air fryer with parchment paper and spray it with nonstick spray.
- Scoop 4, leveled, ¼ cup portions onto the parchment paper in the air fryer basket.
- Air fry at 375°F for 8 minutes. Flip onto the other side and cook for an additional 3 minutes to finish cooking the bottoms and centers through. Transfer the fritters to a wire rack set over a sheet tray to cool. Repeat with the remaining batter in batches. Let them cool slightly.
For the Glaze:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until very smooth. Whisk in the butter.
- Dip the tops of the fritters in the glaze, coating the sides. Return the fritters top side up to the wire rack. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Preheat the air fryer. If your air fryer model allows and recommends it, preheat it before starting the recipe. This ensures even cooking and helps the fritters start crisping up as soon as they hit the basket.
- Add extra flavorings or spices. For an extra fall-flavored kick, add ¼ teaspoon of ground nutmeg, cardamom, or ginger to the dry ingredients. You can also enhance the flavor of the glaze by adding ½ teaspoon of cinnamon and two teaspoons of maple syrup, swapping the vanilla extract for vanilla bean paste, or substituting one tablespoon of milk with lemon juice, spiced rum, or bourbon.
- Avoid overmixing the batter. Mix the fritter batter until just combined, as overmixing can lead to a dense texture–rather than light and fluffy. The batter should still be slightly lumpy with bits of apple throughout.
- Don’t crowd the air fryer. Place the fritter dough in a single layer in the air fryer basket, at least ½” apart, so they have ample space to expand and puff up. A 6-quart air fryer basket will hold four fritters at a time, cooking in at least three batches. Larger baskets should be able to accommodate more fritters per batch.
- Line air fryer basket. Be sure to line the air fryer with a piece of parchment paper. Generously spray it with cooking spray to prevent the dough from sticking and make cleanup easier. Cut the paper to fit the basket to prevent obstruction of airflow.
- Alternative garnish. If you prefer to skip the glaze, coat the fritters with cinnamon sugar fresh out of the air fryer for a delicious apple cinnamon flavor.
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