These homemade Apple Cider Fritters are crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, and bursting with caramelized apples.
🍎 An Apple Fritter Recipe You’ll Love!
Homemade Apple Fritters are the perfect fall dessert or breakfast! They’re indulgent enough to pass for dessert, but since they’re a cousin of the doughnut, they also get grandfathered into the breakfast category just like Pumpkin Cream Filled Donuts and Apple Donuts!
Enjoy them for brunch with a mug of hot apple cider or Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate. Warm them up and top with a scoop of ice cream and Cinnamon Syrup for dessert. Or do what I do — eat them plain, in great wolfish bites, before the rest of your family gets wise and you’re forced to share. However you eat them, you are going to LOVE them!
❤️ Why You’ll Love These Fritters
These aren’t just apple fritters — they are apple CIDER fritters, meaning they have double the apple flavor, and are the perfect combination of apple cider doughnuts and apple fritters. Imagine, if you will, that apple cider doughnuts and apple fritters had a baby. A beautiful, delicious, fluffy, super flavorful, apple-packed baby. Now imagine that babies are socially acceptable to eat. Yeah, they’re like that.
Apple Fritters vs Apple Donuts
Many apple cider doughnut recipes are cake-based, not yeast-based. And most apple fritters don’t have cider in the dough, they just rely on the apple chunks to provide flavor. So this fritter recipe is the best of both worlds: it’s a yeast dough recipe, so it’s wonderfully light and fluffy, and it also has really concentrated apple cider in both the dough and the glaze on top, so even the bites without chunks of apple have a nice apple undertone.
And the apple chunks! Caramelized in butter and brown sugar, with a hint of cinnamon, they’re literally bursting out of every surface of these fritters. They make these fritters shine, so absolutely don’t skip the caramelization steps in the recipe.
I really can’t think of a more perfectly fall food. It reminds me of apple picking, falling leaves, and crisp mornings. But, if you need more apple inspiration, check out our Apple Donuts, Salted Caramel Apple Pear Pie, Caramel Apple Cake, and Mile High Apple Pie!
Table of Contents
🧾 What You’ll Need
Ingredients
A few ingredients and you’ll be all set to make Apple Cider Fritters. Here are a few tips to keep in mind as you gather the ingredients. (Links are affiliate links and I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.)
- Apple cider: I recommend using fresh apple cider in this recipe. Apple cider is made from pressed fresh apples, and has a much stronger flavor than apple juice. It’s less sweet, and it gives these fritters a very realistic and vibrant apple taste. However, it can be hard to find outside of autumn months, so if you can’t source any, you can substitute apple juice in its place. Apple juice tends to have a weaker flavor and is much sweeter, so I do recommend using cider whenever possible.
- Yeast: This recipe calls for active dry yeast. I use and recommend Bob’s Red Mill yeast, or Red Star Yeast. If you are comfortable working with yeast and want to substitute rapid rise yeast you can, but you will need to make changes to the rising procedure following the package directions. In most cases I recommend sticking with active dry yeast.
- Milk: Whole milk will give you the most tender dough, but any fat percentage will work. I have only tested this recipe with dairy milk, so cannot advise on non-dairy alternatives.
- Egg yolks: We’re only using egg yolks in this recipe, so save those whites to make Meringue Cookies or buttercream! Here’s my full guide to separating egg yolks and whites if you need a refresher.
- Spices and salt: Feel free to modify the spices to suit what you have. I love using a spice blend like pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice, but even sticking with cinnamon will give you great results!
- Frying oil: You can use canola or vegetable oil for frying the fritters.
- Apples: Look for firm apples that hold their shape when cooked. I’ve used SweeTango, Gala, and Honeycrisp with great success. I prefer a sweeter apple in this recipe, but if you like tart apples, Granny Smith is also a good choice.
Equipment
You won’t need much in the way of specialty equipment to make these fritters–just a few frying basics! (Links are affiliate links and I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases.)
- Bench scraper or large knife: A bench scraper like this is infinitely hand in the kitchen! If you work with yeasted doughs much, you’ll find it’s invaluable for cutting dough and scraping down your work surface.
- Deep fry thermometer: If you’re going to be deep frying, an accurate thermometer is a MUST. You don’t need to spend a fortune on one, though — a basic model like this is perfect. A thermometer helps you monitor the temperature of the frying oil, so you’ll have successful doughnuts every time. If you are new to using a thermometer, check out my guides for how to use a thermometer and how to test and calibrate a thermometer correctly.
- Fry tool or slotted spoon:You’ll need a wire strainer or similar slotted tool to turn the fritters and remove them from the oil.
- Pastry brush: A pastry brush is used to add the sweet glaze after frying.
📋 How to Make Apple Fritters
This assembly method might seem a little fiddly, but there’s a method to the madness! The basic idea is to try and work the apple pieces deep into the layers of dough, so they’re randomly distributed and tucked into pockets of dough here and there, which will yield the signature craggy bumps and edges that make apple fritters so delicious and so unique.
Here’s a photo guide to the fritter process, and full instructions are included in the recipe card down below.
- Gently pat or roll your dough into a thin layer about 1/2-inch thick.
- Spread half of the apples over half of the dough, and fold the dough over on itself. Press down gently to seal the apples into the middle of the dough.
- Press the dough out into a thin rectangle again. Add the rest of the apples on half of the dough.
- Fold it over itself again. This process helps distribute apples randomly throughout the dough layers.
- Pat the dough back into a thin rectangle.
- Use a bench scraper or large sharp knife to cut the dough into small squares, about 1 1/2″.
- Gather together about 4-5 squares (total weight 2.5-3 oz) and press them together into a patty, pinching them at the top to help secure them.
- Place formed fritters on a baking sheet.
- Let the fritters rise, then deep-fry them until crispy and golden.
- Brush warm (but not hot!) fritters with a sweet apple cider glaze, then devour!
💡 Tips and FAQs
I love using SweeTango apples in this recipe. When cooked, they are tender but not mushy, and they hold their shape nicely during the caramelizing process. You don’t have to use these apples, though—any cooking apple you enjoy will work well. Try Gala, Fuji, or Honeycrisp, or Granny Smith if you like tart apples.
Yes. Apple juice is much sweeter than apple cider, and because it is pasteurized and not fresh, the flavor is not as realistic and vibrant. That is why cider is recommended when possible. That being said, apple juice is a fine substitute if cider is not available.
Like all doughnuts, these fritters taste best the day that they’re made, but they’ll keep for several days at room temperature.
🍩More Delicious Desserts
Chocolate Blackout Doughnuts
Crème Brûlée Donuts
Don’t miss the step-by-step tutorial showing how to make Apple Fritters – check out the web story here!
Leave a Review!
If you make this recipe, let us know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating on the recipe below, and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram @elabau, or use #sugarhero on IG!
Apple Cider Fritters
Ingredients
For the Fritters:
- 2.5 cups apple cider
- 2.25 tsp active dry yeast, (1 packet)
- 0.75 cup whole milk, at room temperature
- 14.66 oz all-purpose flour, (3.25 cups)
- 1 oz unsalted butter, (2 tbsp), at room temperature
- 1 oz shortening, (2 tbsp)
- 3 large egg yolks
- 2 TBSP brown sugar
- 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
- 0.75 tsp nutmeg
- 1 tsp salt
- 6 cups canola oil, for frying
For the Apple Filling:
- 2 lbs apples, (about 5 medium apples)
- 2 oz unsalted butter, (1/4 cup)
- 1.88 oz brown sugar, (1/4 cup)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar, (or lemon juice)
For the Glaze:
- 1/4 cup apple cider concentrate, (made during the doughnut preparation)
- 8 oz powdered sugar, (2 cups)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
To Make the Apple Cider Concentrate:
- Pour the apple cider into a medium saucepan, place the pan on medium heat, and bring it to a low boil.
- Continue to cook the apple cider until it reduces down to 3/4 cup, which might take 45-55 minutes. This step can be done ahead of time and the apple cider concentrate can be stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to use it.
- Divide up the 3/4 cup apple cider concentrate: Pour 1/4 cup of it into a small bowl. Pour another 1/4 cup of it into the bowl of a large stand mixer, and reserve the remaining 1/4 cup to make the glaze later.
To Make the Fritters:
- Heat the small bowl of 1/4 cup apple cider concentrate in the microwave in short 10-second bursts, until it is warm but not scalding—it should be around 105-110 F, so barely hotter than body temperature.
- Sprinkle the yeast on top, stir it in gently, and let it sit for about 5 minutes, until the yeast foams up. Important: if you do not see foaming or any change in your yeast, do not proceed! This means your yeast is dead. This could be because the cider was too hot, or your yeast is old and no longer active. If you proceed with the recipe, it will not rise and you will be disappointed. Try again with fresh yeast and carefully measured apple cider concentrate, until you see it foam up, then proceed.
- To the large mixing bowl with the apple cider concentrate, add the milk, butter, shortening, sugar, yolks, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour the yeast mixture into the large mixing bowl as well, then add half of the flour (7-1/3 oz, or 1-2/3 cups). Mix with the paddle attachment for 3-5 minutes, until very smooth.
- Add the rest of the flour (7-1/3 oz, or 1-2/3 cups) and mix with the paddle for another 2 minutes. Switch to the dough hook and mix for 5-7 minutes, until the dough forms a soft, smooth ball around the hook and pulls away from the sides of the bowl. If it seems very sticky while it’s mixing, add a touch more flour, but only another tablespoon or two. Let the mixing do most of the work and resist the temptation to add too much flour, or else you will have tough doughnuts. When the dough is smooth, supple, and pulling away from the sides of the bowl, turn off the mixer. It will still be a bit soft and sticky!
- Generously oil a large bowl and turn the doughnut dough into the oiled bowl. Cover loosely with a cloth and set it in a warm place to rise for 1 hour, until doubled in size.
To Make the Apple Filling:
- While you wait for the dough to rise, prepare the apple filling. Peel, core, and chop the apples into small pieces about 1/2-3/4" wide.
- Place a large saucepan over medium heat, and melt the butter. Add the sugar, and stir it in until the sugar melts. (The mixture will be sandy and grainy.) Add the apples, cinnamon, vanilla, salt, and apple cider vinegar.
- Cook the apples, stirring occasionally, until they are golden and caramelized, and almost all of the liquid has evaporated from the pan. The time required depends on your pan and your apple variety, but 15-20 minutes is a rough cooking estimate.
- Scrape the apples into a shallow pan or bowl, and refrigerate them until they're room temperature or cooler. (Apples can be made ahead of time and kept in the refrigerator until ready to use.)
To Assemble:
- After an hour, dust your work surface with flour, punch down the dough, and turn it out onto your work surface. Gently pat it or roll it into a thin layer about 1/2-inch thick. Spread half of the apples over half of the dough. Fold the dough over on itself, and press down gently to seal the apples into the middle of the dough.
- Press the dough out into a thin rectangle again, flour it as necessary to keep it from sticking. Add the rest of the apples on half of the dough, and fold it over itself again. (This process helps distribute apples randomly throughout the dough layers.) Pat the dough back into a thin rectangle.
- Use a bench scraper or large sharp knife to cut the dough into small squares, about 1 1/2" or so.
- Line two baking sheets with parchment , and dust them lightly with flour. Gather together about 4-5 dough squares (total weight 2.5-3 oz) and press them together into a patty, pinching them at the top to help secure them. Don't worry if the patties seem to have a ragged appearance, or if apples poke out—this assembly method produces the beautifully craggy and randomly-shaped signature apple fritter appearance! Place a fritter on a baking sheet, then repeat until all of your fritters are formed. You should get about 15 fritters from this recipe.
- Cover the fritters loosely with cloths and let them rise in a warm place until nearly doubled, about 30 minutes.
To Fry and Finish:
- Toward the end of the fritter rise time, pour the frying oil into a medium-large saucepan, and insert a deep fry thermometer. Turn the heat to medium and heat until the oil reaches 350 F. During the frying process, keep a close eye on the thermometer and adjust the heat if necessary to keep the oil near this temperature at all times.
- Once the fritters have risen and the oil is the right temperature, gently place 2-3 fritters at a time in the oil and fry them for about 2 minutes per side, until they are puffed and golden brown.
- Once cooked, remove them from the oil using a slotted spoon or frying tool, and place them on a paper-towel lined wire rack to cool. Repeat with the remaining fritters. Periodically remove any stray apples or dough bits that are floating in the oil.
- To make the glaze, whisk together the reserved 1/4 cup apple cider concentrate along with the rest of the ingredients.
- Try brushing some on a warm (but not super hot!) fritter. It should brush easily, and start to melt into the outside of the fritter. If it is too thick, and looks more like frosting than glaze, add a little apple cider or milk, a small spoonful at a time, to get the right consistency. Brush the glaze on the fritters, or spoon it on and spread it around with the spoon. Repeat until all of the fritters have been glazed.
- Let the glaze set for about 20 minutes, then serve! These fritters are best on the day they are made, but they will keep for several days in an airtight container at room temperature.
Measuring Tips
Our recipes are developed using weight measurements, and we highly recommend using a kitchen scale for baking whenever possible. However, if you prefer to use cups, volume measurements are provided as well. PLEASE NOTE: the adage “8 oz = 1 cup” is NOT true when speaking about weight, so don’t be concerned if the measurements don’t fit this formula.
Want to learn more about baking measurements and conversion?
Nutrition
Over 23 years ago I lived in a small town in Ohio. The local grocery store sold the best apple fritters which I purchased on a weekly basis. Sadly I move to Washington state and left the amazing fritters here, never to be seen again. I have looked and looked for something that would even come close, but alas it had been for naught. About a year ago while surfing Pinterest I came across your recipe and thought it looked like it might be similar to the ones I loved so much. I pinned it and thought I would have to try it sometime. Well I finally did today. My son and I made them together and I have to say they are phenomenal! I was a little over zealous with the amount of apples we put in. They were huge apples, so when he fried them, they were popping apart and apple pieces were floating all over the place in the oil (they were quite tasty). Even though only a few of the fritters actually stayed together, it was obvious what the problem was and was even more obvious that these were the fritters I had been searching for. My husband who rarely eats anything that he doesn’t make, tried a bite and was hooked. He ended up eating three whole fritters. This is unheard of. Thank you, thank you, thank you for this recipe and for giving me back my luscious apple fritters.
The dough came together just as you said it would. I was a bit over eager and after assembling or I tried to fry one and the center was gooey. I let the rest rise for 30 minutes and they came out perfect. Also my home smells amazing right now. Thank you for sharing. Only tip is really make sure you cook the liquid out the apples, my fritters were very sticky!
Aprelle, I’m so thrilled to hear that you enjoyed the fritters, and thanks for the apple tip–I know other people will appreciate it too! 🙂
Mine fell apart when I cooked them (was my fault because of how I put them together!), so I decided to freeze them to bake at another time. I added a crumb topping before baking and they were amazing! The dough (amazing dough) and apple filling recipe is DELICIOUS! This recipe is a keeper.
Lisa, I’m so thrilled to hear that they worked out for you! A crumb topping sounds AMAZING. Thanks for sharing!
These look like they belong in my stomach. Thank you. I just have one question: Is there a way to BAKE them instead of FRYING them? I ask because I have limited vision and can’t see down; I am afraid to try frying because I am afraid of burning myself or the house down. If you answer no, I will pout and ask someone else to fry them for me. Thank you very much!!
Hey Jeanette, I have only ever fried them so I can’t give from experience. I’m sure you could bake them, I just wouldn’t be able to recommend a time or temperature. If you try it I would love to hear how it goes! Thank you!
Adore this wonderful recipe! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Wow! Elizabeth hits the apple out of the ballpark! One of the most articulate pastry chefs who easily communicate the varying processes of candy making. Highly recommend any recipe you find by the Sugar Hero! Better yet, get her book: “The Sweet Book of Candy Making”
Contrary to most of the people who posted, I actually am in the process of making this recipe. I could not get the yeast to proof. I had to boil down the apple cider, (organic, nothing added), my temperature gauge is on spot, there’s nothing different in the elevation, humidity, etc. I make bread all the time, so I’m no stranger to yeast, it’s actually more forgiving than folks give it credit for. The yeast is fresh. So I’m befuddled why the yeast did not proof. I did it three times. Same result. Since this is an extraordinary amount of work and ingredients, I went ahead with the last yeast and mixed the dough. I’ll wait an hour or so to see if it doubles in size, but my hope is dimmed. The filling turned out superb, but if I can’t create the dough required for a real apple fritter, that’s a moot point. I’ll carry on and keep you posted with an update.
Hi Cynthia, I’m sorry this recipe did not work out for you. I’m not entirely sure what to tell you. It sounds as if your yeast did not ever proof, and if that is the case, then yes, the fritters will not turn out well. As far as why it did not proof, I can’t answer that for you, but there is nothing in the recipe that would cause that to be the case. Yeast feeds on sugar and loves a warm-but-not-hot environment, so the warm apple cider is the perfect solution for it to thrive in. There is nothing there that would inhibit yeast growth. Did you test your yeast in a warm water and sugar solution to see if it was active? Sometimes even freshly purchased yeast can be a dud and testing it in other circumstances can help determine if the issue is with ingredients, equipment, or recipe.
In addition, contrary to your comment, many people have tried this recipe with success. I switched my commenting system a bit ago, so earlier reviews do not show up under the “reviews” tab, but they can be read under “all comments.” People have successfully made them as written, using a bread machines, with a freezing period, as well as many other adjustments.
PS In full transparency I am not publishing your second comment. I understand you are frustrated, but I work hard to cultivate a kind and courteous community and ask everyone to participate in kind. Commenting guidelines can be found in the website’s Terms and Conditions page. I am always happy to troubleshoot recipe issues and you are welcome to email me if you would like to discuss further.
I have always been afraid of making apple fritters he looks so complicated! This is the first recipe I tried and I think it was because you outlined everything so clearly step-by-step with pictures to support the process. I’d like that I could do it in stages and not feel overwhelmed chopping apples reducing cider, making the stove and from start to finish the process was very organized and it came out delicious! I am so thrilled with this recipe thank you very much for a very good first experience.
This makes my heart so happy! Thanks for sharing your experience. I’m so glad we could support you in your baking adventures!
Can I use rapid yeast ?
Hi Julia! I’ve never done it with rapid yeast, but I think it would be fine . . . as long as you modify the instructions and do the rising the way the rapid yeast packaging recommends. Good luck!
Any way I can bake this? I have no depth and I’d be afraid of burning myself. These look great!
Hi Jeannette! I’ve never tried baking them myself but other readers have. They said it turned out like an apple dumpling and was still delicious. Good luck if you decide to try it!