Air Fryer Apple Fritters

Sugar and spice and everything nice, that’s what these treats are made of! Classic apple fritters are a hugely popular donut shop treat.

The dough is sweet and filled with bits of sweet apples and a hint of cinnamon. And the whole thing is topped off with a sweet drizzle of icing. YUM to that apple cinnamon flavor!

And folks, thanks to air fryers, they are sooooo easy to make at home. Yeap, air frying apple fritters is so quick and so simple, you’ll wonder why you didn’t try it sooner.

Plus, just like these easy Air Fryer Apple Chips and crispy Air Fryer Banana Chips, you get all the deliciousness of this nostalgic sweet treat without the excess oil and calories that come with deep frying. #airfryerforthewin

Whipping up apple fritters from scratch means you get to stay in your pajamas and skip the trip to the bakery or donut shop. Dunk these fritters in a warm mug of coffee, apple cider, or an ice-cold glass of milk for a totally delightful breakfast treat. Hello, lazy Sunday mornings!

These also make a delicious dessert or snack for those me-time moments.

What Are Apple Fritters?

These are like deep-fried donuts that are filled with fruits in this case apple pieces. Then these are finished off with a delicious glaze!

Why Make This Recipe

• Delicious – Apples, cinnamon, crunchy fried dough! Tastes like an apple donut and perfect for fall and all year round!
• Easy – The dough is yeast-free and easy to mix up in a single bowl.
• Nostalgic – Apple fritters have been a popular bakery treat for decades.
• Healthier – Air fried foods don’t use as much oil as their traditional counterparts, so you can still enjoy your favorites on occasion and feel better. Healthier than if you deep fry them.

Ingredient Notes

• Flour – this recipe calls for all-purpose flour.
• Sugar – use regular sugar.
• Baking powder – make sure to level your measurements (no baking soda needed)
• Spices – flavor comes from ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, vanilla extract, and an optional pinch of ground cardamom. You can add your favorite spices.
• Eggs – to help bind everything.
• Milk – just use your favorite milk.
• Citrus – a little bit of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar
• Apples – this calls for fresh apples peeled, cored, and diced.
• Cooking spray – us cooking spray or vegetable oil for brushing.
• Optional – use your favorite glaze if preferred.

Ready to make this apple fritter recipe? Gather your ingredients and I will show you…

How To Make Apple Fritters In The Air Fryer

Get the complete ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees F / 180 degrees C.
2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg, then add milk and eggs, and lemon juice (wet ingredients) to the flour mixture and stir to combine.
3. Add in the diced apples and mix into the fritter batter. Dough should hold together at this point.
4. Measure out around a ⅓ cup of dough for each fritter, and add to the lined air fryer basket. Make sure to leave space in between. Spray or brush the fritters with oil, then air fry for 8 minutes.
5. Flip the apple fritters, spray or brush the other side with oil and cook for an additional 3 minutes until deep golden brown.
6. Remove from the air fryer, place apple fritters on a cooling rack, drizzle with glaze (if desired) with a spoon or pastry brush, and serve.

Pro Recipe Tips

• Cook 1 or 2 apple fritters at a time depending on the size of your air fryer basket or skillet. You want to give them ample space so they can cook evenly.
• If the dough is very wet, line the basket of your air fryer with parchment paper and spray with a thin layer of cooking oil before adding the batter. 
• Dry the chopped apples with a towel before adding to the batter to prevent the dough from becoming soggy.
• Avoid over-mixing the batter so you don’t end up with tough fritters.
• Use an ice cream scoop to transfer the batter to the air fryer or skillet. 
• Let fritters cool on a wire rack to avoid them getting soggy.
• Air fryer temperatures can vary depending on the make and model. I recommend starting with less cook time, checking for doneness, then adding more time as needed.

Delicious Variations

• Use an apple cider glaze  – Traditional icing is made by combining powdered sugar and cream. Using an apple cider glaze intensifies the apple flavor in these fritters. Combine 2 cups of powdered sugar, ¼ cup of apple cider, and cinnamon to taste.
• Other glaze – feel free to make a brown butter glaze or brown sugar glaze.
• Swap the fruit – You can use just about any kind of fruit to make a fritter. Try peaches, pears, strawberries, blueberries, etc. The possibilities are endless. 

Prep Ahead and Storage 

• Make-Ahead – This is easy especially as it is not a yeast dough. This dough comes together in just a few minutes so it’s best to make it when you are ready to fry the fritter.
• Store – Baked goods will taste best when eaten right away, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container for 3-5 days. You will want to reheat the leftover fritters in the microwave for 10-15 seconds before serving. Alternatively, you can reheat them in the air fryer for 30-60 seconds. 
• Freeze – Cook and glaze the fritters and allow them to cool completely. Flash freeze by placing them on a cookie sheet in the freezer for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Place the fritters into zip-top freezer bags and seal. Thaw on the counter and reheat in the microwave for 10-15 seconds before serving. 

FAQs

Other Air Fryer Recipes You May Like

Some of my favorite Air Fryer Recipes are below.

• Air Fryer Fried Oreos.
• Easy Air Fryer Donuts.
• Air Fryer Homemade Pop Tarts.
• Easy Air Fryer Churros.
• Air Fryer Tortilla Chips.
• Air Fryer Brownie Mix Cookies.
• Air Fryer Cupcakes.
• Air Fryer Apple Chips.
• Plus some tip posts How To Preheat Air Fryer.
• How To Clean An Air Fryer.

Serving Suggestions

• Instant Pot Apple Cider.
• Crispy Air Fryer Bacon.
• Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate.

Weight Watchers Points

There are 9 Blue Plan SmartPoints in one serving of this.

Tools Needed 

• An Air Fryer.
• A mixing bowl.
• Measuring spoons and cups.
• Air Fryer Accessories.

Thank you for reading my homemade apple fritters recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable Air Fryer recipes, Instant Pot Recipes, Southern Recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.

Get The Air Fryer Apple Fritters Recipe: