Are you ready to try something different in your air fryer? Why not air fry some fresh apple fritters!
These yummy treats are easy to make and are healthier than the deep-fried alternative. And with the sweet glaze to go on top, these can pass as a dessert or a breakfast treat!
Read on to learn how you can add air fryer apple fritters to your recipe box!
What is an Apple Fritter?
Traditionally, apple fritters are a deep-fried donut made with apples and spices and drizzled with a yummy glaze. They’re often confused with a pastry, but apple fritters fall within the corn fritter or hushpuppie category!
The word fritter hails from Latin and literally means fried. Because of this, fritters can be savory or sweet. That makes the apple fritter the perfect breakfast food or a yummy dessert after the main meal. Try it as a snack with a cup of tea to chase away those mid-afternoon hunger cravings!
Although the apple fritter has been around since the Middle Ages throughout Europe, this recipe resembles a recipe that originated a little closer to home. The 1828 cookbook “The Virginia Housewife” by Mrs. Mary Randolph became a staple of every American home for many years in the 19th century. The apple fritter recipe was one of the most popular recipes found within the pages of that delightful cookbook
However, our recipe doesn’t feature the step of soaking the apples in wine!
Why Use an Air Fryer?
Why should you use an air fryer to make your apple fritters? An air fryer uses hot air and a fan to “fry” the food, making it a mini-convection oven.
For this reason, cooking will always be much lower in calories than deep frying in oil on the stovetop. With just a spritz of vegetable oil on the parchment paper and on top of the fritters, you can’t go wrong. Air frying versus deep-frying creates less fat content, as well!
Air fryers aren’t just a great way to replace deep-fried foods. You can cook meats, vegetables, baked goods, and more with your air fryer! Breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert can all be made in minutes inside your air fryer. And most air fryers are easy to clean up with little mess. Why wouldn’t you want to try one?
Ingredients Needed to Make Air Fryer Apple Fritters
The first step in making your delicious air fryer apple fritters is to gather the ingredients! Head to the pantry to be sure you properly stocked up on flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and powdered sugar.
In the refrigerator, you’ll need milk, lemon juice, eggs, and butter.
The final necessary ingredient to make your air fryer apple fritters is apples! You can choose any variety that you prefer, however, the crisp and tart varieties usually work best.
Making Air Fryer Apple Fritters
Now that you’ve got your ingredients gathered together, it’s time to make your easy air fryer apple fritters!
Before you can make the batter, you’ll need to dice your apples. Take 2 medium-sized apples and peel them. Next, core and slice them. Finish by dicing them into very small pieces. Now you’re ready to combine the ingredients!
Begin by combining combine 2 ¼ cups flour, ½ cup sugar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 teaspoons baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 2 ½ teaspoons cinnamon, and 2 teaspoons nutmeg in a medium-sized bowl. Set aside.
In a small bowl, whisk together ⅔ cup milk, 1 ½ tablespoons lemon juice, 2 eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth.
Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, being careful not to overmix.
Fold in the apples.
Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or an air fryer basket liner. Spray with vegetable oil.
Drop an overflowing spoonful of apple fritter batter into the basket. Depending on the size of the scoops, you should be able to fit 3 fritters at a time. Spray the tops with a light coating of vegetable oil.
Fry the fritters for 5 minutes at 375 degrees, then flip over and air fry an additional 3 minutes. They should be a deep golden brown when done cooking.
Place the fritters on a cooling rack.
Mix Up Your Glaze!
Now it’s time for the best part! To make the glaze, simply combine 1 cup powdered sugar, ¼ cup melted butter, ½ tsp vanilla, and 1 TB milk in a bowl.
Stir well to mix.
Drizzle the glaze over the top of the fritters evenly until all of the glaze is used up. The glaze will set after a few minutes.
Serve your air fryer apple fritters with glaze immediately with a yummy glass of milk or your preferred beverage!
How to Reheat Your Air Fryer Apple Fritters
Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature or in the fridge for up to a week. To reheat, microwave at 10-second intervals until they’re warm.
Or use your air fryer to reheat them! Arrange on a piece of parchment paper inside the air fryer. Bake at 325 degrees for about 4 minutes or until warm.
How to Serve Your Air Fryer Apple Fritters
Are you looking to make these easy air fryer apple fritters out of this world? Try serving them with one of these delicious sauces!
This Supreme Strawberry Topping is the perfect strawberry sauce to drizzle over your yummy apple fritters! And it only takes 3 ingredients to make!
Or why not try some Chocolate Glaze? This easy chocolate glaze recipe is ready in only 10 minutes and you’ll have enough left over for another dessert.
Another option is to go the traditional route and simply top your air fryer apple fritters with whipped cream or ice cream! You can’t go wrong with these yummy treats.
Mix Up Your Apple Fritters!
Interested in trying something different? Try changing up the fruit used within the recipe!
Bananas, peaches, mixed berries, or strawberries will all bake beautifully using this yummy fritter recipe! Simply substitute the diced apples for 2 ½ – 3 ½ cups of your preferred fruit. Or get creative and try a mixture of fruit to see which is your favorite!
Time to Enjoy Your Air Fryer Apple Fritters!
That’s everything you need to know about these easy air fryer apple fritters. How will you serve your apple fritters?
Interested in making more recipes? Check out our Recipe Page to find what you’re looking for!
Air Fryer Apple Fritters
Love the idea of homemade apple fritters, but not the reality of the calories of deep-fried foods? Then these Air Fryer Apple Fritters are for you! They're just as delicious as traditional apple fritters, but without the fattening oil.
Ingredients
- For the Fritters:
- 2 ¼ cups flour
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 TB brown sugar
- 2 tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 ½ tsp cinnamon
- 2 tsp nutmeg
- ⅔ cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 ½ TB lemon juice
- 2 eggs
- 2 apples (honey crisp or granny smith) peeled, cored, and diced into small pieces (10 min)
- For the Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ¼ cup butter, melted
- ½ tsp vanilla
- 1 TB milk
Instructions
- Take 2 medium-sized apples and peel, core, and slice them. Continue by dicing them into very small pieces. (10 min)
- Combine flour, sugar, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a medium-sized bowl. Set aside. (3 min)
- In a small bowl, whisk together milk, lemon juice, eggs, and vanilla until smooth. (3 min)
- Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients being careful not to overmix. Fold in the apples.
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper or an air fryer basket liner. Spray with vegetable oil. (4 min)
- Drop an overflowing spoonful of apple fritter batter into the basket. Depending on the size of the scoops, you should be able to fit 3 fritters at a time. Spray the tops with a light coating of vegetable oil.
- Fry the fritters for 5 minutes at 375 degrees, then flip over and air fry an additional 3 minutes. They should be a deep golden brown when done cooking. (8 min for each set of 3)
- Place the fritters on a cooling rack.
- While the fritters bake, mix together the glaze. (5 min) Drizzle glaze over the top of the fritters. (3 min)
- Serve immediately!
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature or in the fridge for up to a week. To reheat, microwave at 10-second intervals until they’re warm.
- About the Author
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Laura L. Zimmerman is an author of both indie and traditionally published books. She lives in a tiny rural town in south-central Pennsylvania with her husband, daughters, four adorable kitties, and one energetic puppy!
After earning a BMUS with a Certification in Music Therapy, she decided to homeschool her children. Here she discovered a passion for learning and teaching, which led her to make writing a priority. She currently enjoys reading and writing YA sci-fi and fantasy, as well as middle-grade mysteries.
Having come from a family where cooking wasn’t a priority, she quickly discovered her love of cooking and baking soon after she married. Twenty-three years later it’s still a passion for her as she enjoys creating new recipes for her family and friends. She found her green thumb in the garden soon after her family bought their first house and appreciates the yummy food grown in her own backyard!
Laura can be reached at lauralzimmauthor@gmail.com