Best Air Fryer Apple Fritters Recipe

Here’s my take on air fryer apple fritters – a quick and simple way to make those warm, sweet treats we all love from the county fair. The air fryer gives them a nice crispy outside while keeping the inside soft and filled with tender apple pieces.

These fritters have become my go-to dessert when I need something fast but still want that homemade touch. My kids always know when I’m making them because the smell of cinnamon and apples fills the whole house. And the best part? They’re ready in just minutes!

What Kind of Apples Should I Use?

For apple fritters, you’ll want to choose apples that hold their shape when cooked and offer a good balance of sweet and tart flavors. Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Pink Lady apples are all excellent choices since they won’t turn mushy in your fritters. If you’re using sweeter varieties like Fuji or Gala, you might want to reduce the sugar in the recipe slightly. When preparing your apples, try to chop them into small, uniform pieces about ¼-inch in size – this helps them cook evenly and makes sure every bite has that perfect apple flavor.

Options for Substitutions

Need to make some swaps? Here are some helpful substitutions for this apple fritter recipe:

• Plain flour: You can use self-raising flour – just skip the baking powder if you do. For a gluten-free version, try a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend, but note the texture might be slightly different.
• Full-fat milk: Any milk works here – reduced-fat, almond, oat, or soy milk are all good options. For extra richness, you could even use buttermilk.
• Apples: Any firm apple variety works well – Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Gala are great choices. Just avoid softer varieties like Red Delicious as they can get too mushy.
• Lemon juice: Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar work just as well – use the same amount.
• Vanilla essence: You can use vanilla paste or powder instead. Or try almond extract for a different flavor (use half the amount as it’s stronger).
• Icing sugar: For the glaze, if you’re out of icing sugar, blend regular white sugar in a food processor until powdery. You’ll need the same amount.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Air Frying

The biggest challenge when making air fryer apple fritters is getting the batter consistency right – if it’s too wet, your fritters will spread and stick to the basket, while too dry will make them tough and dense. For perfect texture, the batter should be thick enough to hold its shape when dropped by spoonfuls, similar to a dense muffin batter. Another common mistake is overcrowding the air fryer basket – make sure to leave enough space between each fritter (about 2 inches) so the hot air can circulate properly and create that golden-brown exterior. To prevent your apples from making the fritters too wet, chop them into small, uniform pieces (about ¼ inch) and pat them dry with paper towels before mixing into the batter. For the best results, spray your air fryer basket with oil between batches and flip the fritters halfway through cooking to ensure even browning on both sides.

What to Serve With Apple Fritters?

These warm, sweet apple fritters are perfect for breakfast or dessert, and they pair wonderfully with a few simple accompaniments. A scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side lets you enjoy the contrast between hot and cold, while the ice cream slowly melts into all those apple-filled nooks and crannies. For breakfast, serve them alongside a hot cup of coffee or spiced chai tea to balance out the sweetness. If you’re feeling extra indulgent, add a drizzle of caramel sauce or a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar on top, and maybe even a dollop of whipped cream for good measure.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: These apple fritters are best enjoyed fresh and warm, but if you have leftovers, place them in an airtight container and keep them at room temperature for up to 2 days. Just remember to let them cool completely before storing, and place a piece of parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking.

Freeze: Want to save some for later? Once completely cooled, place the unglazed fritters in a freezer-safe container with parchment paper between layers and freeze for up to 3 months. I recommend freezing them before adding the glaze – this way, you can add fresh glaze when serving.

Warm Up: To enjoy frozen fritters, thaw them overnight in the fridge, then pop them in the air fryer for 1-2 minutes at 350°F to crisp them up. If they’re just a day old, a quick 15-second zap in the microwave will do the trick. Add fresh glaze if needed!

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	15-20 minutes
Total Time	30-40 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 2100-2300
• Protein: 30-40 g
• Fat: 80-100 g
• Carbohydrates: 320-350 g

Ingredients

• 1½ cups plain flour (180g)
• ¼ cup white sugar (50g)
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 1½ teaspoons cinnamon powder
• ⅓ cup full-fat milk (80ml)
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla essence
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted (unsalted)
• 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and chopped (yields about 2¾ cups or 335g)
• 1 cup icing sugar (120g)
• 3 tablespoons full-fat milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• 1 tablespoon butter, melted (unsalted)

Step 1: Prepare the Dry and Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon.

This will be your dry mixture.

In a separate small mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla extract, and lemon juice to create your wet mixture.

Step 2: Combine the Mixtures and Add Apples

Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the wet ingredients.

Add the butter, then stir everything together until there are no dry streaks of flour remaining.

Gently fold in the apples, stirring just until combined to avoid overmixing.

Step 3: Prepare the Air Fryer

If necessary, preheat your air fryer to 375°F.

Line the basket of the air fryer with parchment paper and spray it with nonstick spray to prevent sticking.

Step 4: Cook the Fritters

Scoop 4 leveled ¼ cup portions of the batter onto the parchment paper in the air fryer basket.

Air fry at 375°F for 8 minutes, then flip the fritters onto the other side and cook for an additional 3 minutes to finish the cooking process.

Transfer the fritters to a wire rack set over a sheet tray to cool slightly.

Repeat with the remaining batter in batches.

Step 5: Prepare the Glaze

In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until very smooth.

Whisk in the butter to complete the glaze.

Step 6: Glaze and Serve the Fritters

Dip the tops of the slightly cooled fritters in the glaze, ensuring the sides are coated as well.

Place the fritters top side up back on the wire rack to allow excess glaze to drip off.

Serve the glazed fritters immediately, while they are fresh and delicious.