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Warm, sweet and perfectly crisp, apple cinnamon fritters are the ultimate fall treat. These golden bites are packed with juicy Granny Smith apple chunks and cozy cinnamon spice, fried until just right, then glazed with a simple vanilla icing that sets into a sweet shell. They’re made with pantry basics and come together fast for breakfast, brunch or an afternoon indulgence. These fritters are the perfect mix of crunchy edges, soft centers and sweet glaze in every bite.
Apple cinnamon fritters are crispy, golden and filled with juicy, sweet apple chunks and cinnamon spice, and then finished perfectly with a sweet vanilla glaze.
If you enjoy these, you might also like apple Fireball shortcakes, toffee apple Fireball toddies, cinnamon maple baked apples and apple cider punch.
Why You’ll Love It
Easy to make: No fancy tools or techniques required.
Perfect texture: Crispy outside, soft and fluffy inside.
Full of flavor: Cinnamon and apple make the perfect combo.
Great for sharing: A crowd-pleasing treat for breakfast, brunch or snacks.
Apple Cinnamon Fritters Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
All-purpose flour: Forms the base of the fritter batter.
Granulated sugar: Adds just enough sweetness to balance the tart apples.
Baking powder: Helps create a light, fluffy texture.
Cinnamon: Warms up the flavor and complements the apples.
Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add richness.
Milk: Loosens the batter to the right consistency and thins the glaze.
Apples: Granny Smith apples bring tartness and hold their shape during frying.
Icing sugar: The sweet base of the glaze.
Vanilla extract: Adds smooth flavor to the glaze.
How to Make Fried Apple Fritters
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Mix dry ingredients: Whisk flour, sugar, baking powder and cinnamon in a bowl.
Combine wet ingredients: Beat eggs with milk, then stir into the dry mixture.
Add apples: Fold in the diced apples until evenly distributed.
Fry the fritters: Drop heaping spoonfuls of batter into hot oil and fry until golden brown on both sides.
Drain and cool: Place cooked fritters on a rack or paper towels to remove excess oil.
Make the glaze: Mix icing sugar, vanilla and milk until smooth.
Glaze the fritters: Dip or drizzle glaze over each fritter and let it set.
Substitutions and Variations
Try different apples: Honeycrisp or Pink Lady work well for a sweeter variation.
Use another fruit: Consider blueberries, pear or peaches or mix and match, perhaps a cup of blueberries and a cup of apple.
Cinnamon: Substitute nutmeg or allspice. Ground ginger would be good too.
Add mix-ins: Stir in chopped pecans or raisins for extra texture.
Make them mini: Use smaller spoonfuls to create bite-sized fritters.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin with Cajun shrimp deviled eggs or some wonton noodle soup.
Main dishes: Enjoy some pork carnitas with rice and smoked elote.
Dessert: Finish off with these delicious apple cinnamon fritters and perhaps an elderflower mojito too.
How to Store Apple Fritters with Cinnamon
Store: As you would think, these fried apple donuts are best served fresh. But if you do have leftovers, you can keep them in a brown paper bag or airtight container for a couple of days on the countertop or a week in the refrigerator.
Freeze: Freeze them for up to 2 months.
Thaw: Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: Warm them back up in the air fryer, oven or microwave.
Top Tips
Flatten the batter slightly: This helps them cook evenly and avoids raw centers.
Don’t overcrowd the pan: Fry in batches so the oil stays hot and the fritters crisp properly.
Adjust the glaze: Add milk a little at a time until it’s just right for dipping or drizzling.
Apple Fritter FAQs
They won’t get as crispy, but yes, you can bake them at a high temperature until golden.
Granny Smith is ideal for its tartness and firmness, but other crisp apples work too.
Yes, peeling the apples gives the best texture in the fritters.
Yes, a deep fryer works well and helps maintain even temperature.
Homemade Apple Cinnamon Fritters Recipe
Apple Cinnamon Fritters
Equipment
- Pot Large
- Corer Optional
Ingredients
- 1 Cup all purpose flour
- 3 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 Teaspoon baking powder
- 1 Teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ Teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- ⅓ Cup milk
- 2 apples, Granny Smith, peeled, cored, diced into ¼-inch pieces
- 3 to 4 Cups canola oil
For the Glaze
- 1 ½ Cups icing sugar
- 1 Teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl. Set this aside.
- In a separate small bowl, gently beat the eggs and milk together. Pour this into the dry mixture and stir until just combined. Stir in the apple pieces.
- Heat the oil in a large pot to 375°F. (I cannot stress this enough – don’t overheat the oil or the fritters will fry SO quickly and the outside and leave the inside gooey and uncooked!!)
- Drop the batter (try to flatten it out as you pour) by heaping spoonful into the hot oil. Depending on the thickness of your batter, you may want to flatten it out a little, so the fritter is not too thick. Allow to come to a golden brown (about 2 minutes) flip it and brown the other side. Don't crowd the pan.
- Remove each fritter as it is golden brown all over, to a plate lined with paper towels or a baking rack over a cookie sheet.
- Prepare the glaze by mixing together the powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. You may want to add more or less milk than required to achieve your perfect consistency.
- Drizzle glaze over each apple fritter or dip them in the glaze, and then allow them to cool a bit before serving.
Notes
Don’t overcrowd the pan: Fry in batches so the oil stays hot and the fritters crisp properly.
Adjust the glaze: Add milk a little at a time until it’s just right for dipping or drizzling.
Nutrition
Apple cinnamon fritters bring together classic flavors and irresistible texture in one easy recipe. With their golden crust, soft apple-studded center and sweet vanilla glaze, they’re the kind of treat that makes fall baking feel extra special. Whether you’re frying up a batch for a cozy weekend brunch or a midweek snack, these homemade cinnamon apple fritters are worth every bite. Try them once and they just might become a new seasonal favorite.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
These apple fritters were amazing! The smell alone made the whole house feel cozy, and they tasted even better!
I make these apple cinnamon fritters all the time now! They smell amazing and taste even better. Perfect comfort treat.
These are my dad’s favorite too, or at least that was his verdict when I made them last weekend! :-)))
I have always want to try to make fritters. Look so good.