Apple Fritter Donuts Recipe

Introduction

Apple fritter donuts are a delightful treat combining tender, sweet dough with warm, spiced apple filling. Crisply fried and generously glazed, they offer a perfect balance of textures and flavors that rival any bakery favorite.

Ingredients

• 1 cup 2% milk (warmed to about 120º-125º Fahrenheit)
• 1/2 cup salted butter (melted)
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4 to 4 1/2 cups bread flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast (Red Star Platinum Superior Baking Yeast recommended)
• 6 cups Granny Smith apples (peeled, cored, and chopped, about 6 medium apples)
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup apple juice
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon salted butter
• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup apple juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 quart vegetable oil (for frying)

Instructions

1. Step 1: In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine warm milk, eggs, melted butter, granulated sugar, and salt. Stir to mix.
2. Step 2: Add 2 cups of flour and yeast to the wet ingredients. Use the beater blade to mix just until combined.
3. Step 3: Add another 2 cups of flour, reserving up to 1/2 cup for later if needed. Mix again just until barely combined. Let rest for 5 minutes.
4. Step 4: Remove the beater blade and attach the dough hook. Knead on medium speed for 5–7 minutes, adding reserved flour as needed to form a tacky, elastic dough that still sticks slightly to the bowl.
5. Step 5: Spray a large bowl with cooking spray. Transfer the dough to the bowl, cover with a towel or wax paper, and let rise in a warm place until nearly doubled in size.
6. Step 6: For the apple filling, place chopped apples and sugar in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes until apples soften, stirring often.
7. Step 7: In a small cup, whisk apple juice and cornstarch to create a slurry. Add this to the apples along with cinnamon and butter. Stir until mixture thickens, then remove from heat and cool completely.
8. Step 8: Turn the risen dough onto a floured surface and pat into a 2-inch thick rectangle.
9. Step 9: Spread half of the cooled apple filling down the center. Fold the top and bottom edges over the filling, then turn the dough so those folds become the sides.
10. Step 10: Pat dough out again into a 2-inch thick rectangle, spread remaining apple filling in the center, and fold top and bottom edges over once more.
11. Step 11: While the dough rests, heat the vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven to 375º F using a thermometer for accuracy.
12. Step 12: Roll the dough out to 1/2-inch thickness. Using a pizza cutter, slice the dough into 1-inch strips in both directions to make squares.
13. Step 13: Gather and reshape the dough strips and apple filling into a log about 14 inches long. Slice this log into approximately 14 pieces.
14. Step 14: Form each piece into a ball, adding a bit of flour if needed to hold it together. Let the formed fritters rest as the oil heats.
15. Step 15: Carefully fry 4–5 fritters at a time in the hot oil, ensuring the temperature remains at 375º F. Fry each side for about 3 to 5 minutes until golden brown.
16. Step 16: Remove fritters with a slotted spoon and place them on a paper towel-lined rack to drain. Repeat frying remaining fritters, allowing oil to return to temperature between batches.
17. Step 17: To make the glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, heavy cream, apple juice, vanilla bean paste, and salt until smooth and drizzle-ready. Add more apple juice as needed.
18. Step 18: After fritters have cooled for about 5 minutes, dip each one into the glaze to coat. Serve warm for best flavor.

Tips & Variations

• Use Granny Smith apples for tartness that balances the sweet glaze; substitute with other firm apples if preferred.
• Add a pinch of nutmeg to the apple filling for an extra layer of warm spice.
• Keep oil temperature steady at 375º F to ensure crisply fried donuts without oily absorption.
• For a thinner glaze, add apple juice gradually until it reaches desired consistency for drizzling.

Storage

Store leftover apple fritter donuts in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat gently in a 300º F oven for about 5 minutes to restore crispness before serving. The glaze may soften after refrigeration, so it’s best to enjoy these fresh.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use regular all-purpose flour instead of bread flour?

While bread flour gives a chewier texture due to its higher protein content, you can substitute all-purpose flour if needed. The fritters may be slightly less elastic but will still be delicious.

How do I know when the oil is the right temperature for frying?

Use a deep-fry or candy thermometer to monitor the oil’s temperature. It should be steady at 375º F. If the oil is too cool, fritters will absorb more oil and become greasy; if too hot, they may burn on the outside while remaining raw inside.

Apple Fritter Donuts Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 641 reviews

Delicious homemade Apple Fritter Donuts with a soft, tender dough filled with sweet cinnamon apple filling, fried to golden perfection, and finished with a luscious apple glaze. These fritters combine the best of classic apple pie flavors in a doughnut form, perfect for breakfast or a sweet treat anytime.

• Author: Tara
• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
• Yield: About 14 fritters 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Dough

• 1 cup 2% milk (warmed about 120º-125º Fahrenheit)
• 1/2 cup salted butter (melted)
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 4–4 1/2 cups bread flour
• 2 1/4 teaspoons Red Star Platinum Superior Baking Yeast (instant yeast)

Apple Filling

• 6 cups Granny Smith apples (peeled, cored, and chopped; about 6 medium apples)
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 cup apple juice
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon salted butter

Glaze

• 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup apple juice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

For Frying

• 1 quart vegetable oil

Instructions

1. Make the Dough: Pour the warm milk, eggs, melted butter, sugar, and salt into the bowl of a stand mixer. Add two cups of bread flour and instant yeast, then mix with a beater blade just until combined. Add another 2 cups flour, reserving remaining flour to add if needed. Mix briefly again, then let rest for 5 minutes to allow the flour to absorb liquids.
2. Knead the Dough: Attach the dough hook and beat the dough on medium speed, adding up to 1/2 cup more flour as needed to form an elastic, tacky, and smooth dough. Knead for 5-7 minutes. Transfer the dough to a greased large bowl, cover, and let it rise in a warm place until nearly doubled.
3. Prepare the Apple Filling: Place chopped apples and sugar in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat, stirring often for about 10 minutes until apples soften. In a small cup, whisk apple juice and cornstarch together, then add to the apples along with cinnamon and butter. Stir until thickened, then remove from heat and cool completely in the fridge.
4. Assemble the Doughnuts: Turn risen dough onto a floured surface and pat into a 2-inch thick rectangle. Spread half the apple filling down the center, fold top and bottom over the filling, then rotate dough so folds are on the sides. Pat again into a 2-inch thick rectangle, spread remaining apple filling, and fold as before.
5. Shape the Fritters: Let the dough rest while heating oil. Then pat dough out to 1/2-inch thickness. Cut into 1-inch squares with a pizza cutter, gather scraps and form a 14-inch log, slicing into about 14 pieces. Shape each piece into a compact ball, adding flour to prevent sticking. Allow resting while oil heats.
6. Heat Oil for Frying: Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven to 375ºF. Use a thermometer to maintain the temperature.
7. Fry the Fritters: Carefully drop 4-5 fritters into hot oil without overcrowding. Fry for about 3 minutes until golden brown, then flip and fry for an additional 4-5 minutes until both sides are golden. Remove fritters to a wire rack over paper towels to drain. Repeat with remaining fritters, maintaining oil temperature.
8. Prepare the Glaze: Whisk together powdered sugar, heavy cream, apple juice, vanilla bean paste, and salt until runny enough to drizzle. Add more apple juice as needed for consistency.
9. Glaze the Fritters: After frying, let fritters cool for about 5 minutes, then dip each into the glaze to coat thoroughly. Allow glaze to set before serving.

Notes

• Use instant yeast for a quicker rise and better dough texture.
• Keep the oil temperature steady at 375ºF to ensure even frying and avoid greasy fritters.
• Allow the apple filling to cool completely before assembling to prevent dough from becoming soggy.
• Dust hands and surfaces with flour to manage sticky dough during shaping.
• The glaze consistency is important; it should be pourable but not too thin to properly coat the fritters.

Keywords: apple fritter donuts, apple doughnuts, homemade apple fritters, fried donuts, cinnamon apple donuts, sweet fried dough