Apple Fritters: Deep-Frying To Perfection

Apple fritters are a delicious treat, perfect for breakfast or dessert. They are similar to doughnuts, with a primary ingredient (apple) mixed into an egg, flour, and milk batter. This batter is then deep-fried, creating a warm, crispy, and sweet snack. This recipe is a great way to use up a bounty of apples and can be made in under 30 minutes. The key to a good apple fritter is the apple itself – Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala, and Fuji apples are all popular choices, but any apple can be used. The apple should be peeled, cored, and chopped into small pieces to ensure it cooks through. The batter should be thick and chunky, and the oil temperature should be carefully monitored to ensure the fritters are cooked evenly. Apple fritters can be served with a simple dusting of powdered sugar, or a drizzle of syrup or glaze.

Preparing the ingredients

To make apple fritters in a deep fryer, you'll need to prepare the following ingredients:

• Oil for frying: Vegetable oil is ideal, but you can also use canola oil, peanut oil, or grapeseed oil. You'll need enough oil to fill your deep fryer or a large pot/Dutch oven to a depth of about 1 1/2 inches (3 to 4 cm).
• Apples: Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala, and Fuji apples are all great choices, but feel free to use your favourite variety. You'll need about 2-3 apples, peeled, cored, and diced into small pieces (about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in size).
• Dry ingredients:
• All-purpose flour: You'll need about 1 1/2 cups (215 g) of flour.
• Sugar: Use a combination of granulated sugar (about 1/4 to 1/3 cup) and brown sugar (about 2 tablespoons).
• Baking powder: 2 teaspoons should be enough.
• Cinnamon: Add about 1/2 to 1 1/2 teaspoons, depending on your preference for spice.
• Salt: Just a pinch of salt will enhance the overall flavour.
• Wet ingredients:
• Eggs: Use 2 large eggs, preferably at room temperature.
• Milk: Whole milk or any other variety will work. You'll need about 3/4 to 1 cup.
• Butter (optional): If you want a richer flavour, add 2 tablespoons of melted butter.
• Vanilla extract: This ingredient adds a subtle flavour to the fritters.
• Glaze or coating (optional):
• Powdered sugar: Dust the fritters with powdered sugar for a simple coating.
• Cinnamon sugar: Toss the fritters in a mixture of cinnamon and granulated sugar for a spicy coating.
• Glaze: For a more decadent option, create a glaze by mixing powdered sugar, milk or apple cider, and vanilla extract. Adjust the amounts to achieve your desired consistency.

Once you have gathered and prepared all the ingredients, you'll be ready to start making your apple fritters!

Mixing the batter

To make the batter for apple fritters, you'll need a combination of dry and wet ingredients. For the dry ingredients, you'll need flour, sugar, baking powder, and a pinch of salt. Some recipes also include cinnamon and nutmeg for extra spice. For the wet ingredients, you'll need milk, eggs, and a small amount of vegetable oil or melted butter.

Start by whisking together the dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until well blended. You can use a spatula to fold the mixture together until just combined—be careful not to overmix the batter, as this can make the fritters tough. Finally, add in your peeled, cored, and chopped apples and gently fold them into the batter until they are evenly coated.

The batter for apple fritters should be thick and chunky due to the addition of the apples. This thickness will help the fritters hold their shape when scooped and fried.

Heating the oil

• Choose the Right Oil: Select an oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable oil, canola oil, peanut oil, or grapeseed oil. These oils can withstand high temperatures without burning, making them ideal for deep frying.
• Prepare the Oil: Pour the chosen oil into your deep fryer, Dutch oven, or heavy skillet. You'll need enough oil to fully submerge the fritters, typically around 1 1/2 to 3 inches (3.81 to 7.62 cm) deep.
• Heat the Oil: Place your pot or deep fryer over medium to medium-high heat. Attach a candy thermometer or deep-fry thermometer to the side of the pot if you have one. Heat the oil to a temperature between 350°F to 375°F (175°C to 190°C). This may take several minutes, so be patient and monitor the temperature closely.
• Test the Oil: Before adding the batter, test the oil to ensure it's at the right temperature. Carefully drop a small amount of batter into the hot oil. If it sizzles immediately, rises to the top, and begins browning slowly, the oil is ready. If it burns too quickly, lower the heat slightly.
• Adjust the Heat: As you fry the fritters, keep an eye on the temperature of the oil. Adding batter will cause the temperature to drop, so you may need to increase the heat to maintain the desired temperature. Similarly, when you remove the fritters, the temperature will rise, so be ready to turn down the heat.
• Maintain Oil Temperature: It's important to maintain a consistent oil temperature throughout the frying process. Aim to keep the oil between 350°F to 375°F (175°C to 190°C). This may require adjusting your stove's heat setting as you fry.
• Avoid Overcrowding: Don't overcrowd the pan or deep fryer with too many fritters at once. Frying in small batches of 2-6 fritters at a time will help maintain the oil temperature and ensure even cooking. Allow the oil to return to the correct temperature before adding the next batch.

Frying the fritters

Firstly, heat your oil. You'll need a neutral-flavoured oil with a high smoke point, such as vegetable, canola, peanut or grapeseed oil. Heat the oil in a deep fryer, Dutch oven or heavy stock pot to between 350°F and 375°F. Use a thermometer to ensure the oil is at the correct temperature.

Next, prepare your batter. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and fold together until just combined. Add the diced apples and fold again to ensure all the apples are coated.

Now you're ready to fry the fritters. Drop the batter into the hot oil a spoonful at a time, frying 4-6 fritters at once so as not to overcrowd the pan. Fry each fritter for 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown, then flip and cook for a further 2 minutes or so. Transfer the cooked fritters to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.

Finally, coat the fritters in cinnamon sugar or a simple glaze. For the cinnamon sugar, mix together 1 cup of granulated sugar with 1 tablespoon of cinnamon and toss the fritters in the mixture. For a simple glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract, adding more milk if the glaze is too thick. Dunk the fritters in the glaze or drizzle it over them, then leave to set for 10 minutes before serving.

Draining and coating the fritters

Once your fritters are golden brown, it's time to remove them from the oil and drain them. Use a slotted spoon or tongs to take them out of the oil and place them on a paper-towel-lined plate or wire rack to absorb any excess oil.

Now, if you prefer a crunchier texture, you can roll the fritters in cinnamon sugar while they are still warm. Simply mix about a cup of granulated sugar with a tablespoon of cinnamon and toss the fritters in this mixture until well coated.

However, if you want to glaze your fritters, you will first need to let them cool completely. This will ensure that the glaze sets properly. To make a simple glaze, whisk together some powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract. You can adjust the consistency by adding more milk if it's too thick, or more sugar if it's too thin. Once you're happy with the consistency, dunk each fritter into the glaze, turning to coat both sides. Place the glazed fritters on a wire rack to air dry and drip.

Your apple fritters are now ready to be devoured!

Frequently asked questions