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Baked Apple Fritters are an easy donut shop favorite that you can make at home now. These fritters are baked instead of fried, making them an easy treat to whip up on a whim.
Baked Apple Fritters
This is one of the first recipes I make in the fall and they are an awesome way to warm up the kitchen on a chilly morning.
Apple Fritters are one of my husband’s favorite bakery treats and I love that I can make this hassle-free recipe at home.
Apple Recipes
Apple recipes are a favorite with my family year-round, but there’s something about them that calls to me even more through the winter.
These Baked Apple Cider Donut Muffins are another bakery-style treat that the kids love. And the Caramel Apple Puff Pastries are an impressive pastry that looks so much fussier than they actually are.
(If you haven’t tried Puff Pastry Danishes, put them on your list as well. Because there is honestly nothing else with the ability to impress with such a minimum of effort!)
Last but definitely not least, Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls are a brunch favorite.
How to make baked apple fritters with no yeast
This recipe uses no yeast and instead starts with a biscuit-style dough. To start, mix together the dry ingredients.
Flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon, and baking powder are combined in a mixing bowl. Then, you’ll cut in butter until small crumb sized.
Here’s a tip: Take a stick of frozen butter and grate it directly into the dry ingredients, then stir. It’s a quick and easy way to start the crumb mixture.
Next, toss in some finely diced apples to coat with flour.
Last, you’ll gently stir in some milk to make a thick batter. (The lack of egg in these apple fritters, makes them very tender.)
Drop by big spoonfuls onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.
Can you bake apple fritters?
Yes, but I would use a recipe like this one that is meant to be baked. You don’t want to try baking a dough or batter recipe that is intended to be fried.
After you make the dough and scoop it onto the cookie sheets, you’ll bake in a 400°F oven.
After the fritters are baked, you’ll brush them with a thin powdered sugar glaze, and pop them under the broiler for a few minutes, until slightly browned.
I picked up that broiling tip from Maegan at The Baker Mama when she shared her baked blueberry fritters.
Broiling the initial glaze not only gives these apple fritters a nice caramel color, but it crisps the outside of the fritter to make it more similar to its deep-fried cousin.
If you make this recipe, let me know how you liked it. Leave me a comment below or give it a rating in the recipe card. Happy Baking!
Baked Apple Fritters
Ingredients
For the Fritters
- 2 cups flour
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup butter cold
- 1½ cups finely diced apples
- ¾ cup milk I used whole milk
For the broiled glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk or apple juice
For the finishing glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400° F. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until pea sized. Or I like to freeze the butter and grate it in with a cheese grater.
- Gently stir in the apples. Then add the milk, stirring just until combined.
- Drop by spoonfuls onto a well-greased baking sheet, allowing at least 2 inches of space between them.
- Bake for about 12 minutes or until just lightly browned. Meanwhile, make the broiling glaze by mixing the powdered sugar and apple juice together until smooth. Remove the fritters from the oven, turn the broiler on and immediately brush with the glaze.
- Place the fritters under the boiler, about 3 inches away and broil for 2-4 minutes until the glaze is browned and caramelized. Rotate the pan if needed.
- Let cool on wire rack for several minutes. Whisk together the powdered sugar and milk for the last glaze and brush onto the warm fritters. The are best enjoyed warm.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
{originally published 9/9/19 – recipes notes and photos updated 1/20/21}
Hi Mary…Unfortunately, we work out of a commercial kitchen that utilizes a convection oven only with no broiling capabilites. We do have an oven we can use as a stove-top, but the oven capability is non-existence. Can you recommend any other broiler options? Thank you!
If you happen to have a kitchen torch, you can certainly try caramelizing the tops that way. However, I haven’t tried that myself and can’t speak to exactly how that will work. Without the broiler’s capabilities, the oven will not get hot enough to caramelize the tops of the fritters in quite the same way.
Hi.
Being new to cooking, – how many apples are required for this recipe?
If I am making it for 4 people, how many apples are needed?
Thanks
I would plan on at least 2 apples, but often purchase extra, just in case. A good rule of thumb is about 3/4 cup diced apple per whole apple.
My family loves this recipe!! I add cinnamon to the broiler glaze and substitute one tablespoon of milk for vanilla extract in the final glaze.
Delicious! Has quickly become a household favorite 😍
I’m so glad you love them!
I followed this recipe with the exception of using the broiler. I mixed up powdered sugar with apple juice and spread it on the tops. Very tasty and certainly a keeper.
I’m so glad you like it!
Made these last night and they were great! Recipe was so simple. I’m wondering, instead of grating or using cold butter, could I use melted butter and just refrigerate the dough for a bit? Grating butter is not fun! lol
Unfortunately, melted butter won’t work the same way. I know the grated butter takes a few extra minute, but it’s worth it for the results.
Worked out beautifully! Tasted great too
Whole family loved them thank you 🙏🏽
I’m so glad you like them!
Hi. I sent a message yesterday with a question but today I went ahead and tried your recipe using self rising flour and omitted the baking powder and salt. Also used 2% milk as that’s all I had. OMG these are amazingly delicious. Thank you for the recipe. It’s a keeper a very recommended.
Can I use self rising flour if I omit some or all the baking powder? Would like to try your recipe. Thanks
I haven’t tried that myself, Bev, but I’m guessing that it will work fine.
Delicious 😋
I did cut the sugar to 1/3cup brown sugar, 1 cup whole wheat flour & 1 cup white flour, increased the baking powder to 1.5 tbls.
I’m so glad you like them!