Old Fashioned Apple Fritter Recipe with Salted Caramel Glaze
You'll obsess over these homemade old fashioned apple fritters! Deep fried to perfection, packed with apples, then drizzled with a luscious salted caramel glaze.
Servings: 12 apple fritters
Calories: 189kcal
Ingredients
- vegetable oil for frying
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ⅔ cup whole milk warmed to 110-115 degrees F
- 1 tablespoon salted butter melted
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 honeycrisp apples peeled, cored, and diced into ¼ inch chunks
- 1 cup soft caramel bits
- splash of water to melt the caramel bits
- finishing salt to sprinkle on fritters
Instructions
Make the Apple Fritters
- Begin heating your oil to 375℉ (190℃) in a dutch oven or large, heavy bottom pot.vegetable oil
- In a large bowl whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, ginger, and salt. Set aside.1½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 tablespoon granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, 2 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, butter, eggs, vanilla. Pour this into the large bowl of dry ingredients and whisk together until just combined.⅔ cup whole milk, 1 tablespoon salted butter, 2 teaspoon vanilla extract, 2 large eggs
- Use a baking spatula to gently fold in the apple chunks.3 honeycrisp apples
- Once the oil is at temperature, use a ¼ cup measuring spoon and drop apple fritter dough into the hot oil. Fry 2-3 fritters at a time at most, making sure the temperature stays around 375 degrees F using the candy thermometer.
- Fry for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until both sides are a deep golden brown. Transfer to a baking sheet lined paper towels to drain any oil.
Make the Caramel Glaze while Frying
- Melt the caramel bits with the splash of water the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until completely melted.1 cup soft caramel bits, splash of water
Glaze + Serve the Apple Fritters
- After the fritters have cooled for a few minutes and you can hold them, dunk them into the warm caramel. Sprinkle a light amount of finishing salt over the caramel. Serve the apple fritters warm!finishing salt
Notes
Variations
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- Instead of caramel apple fritters coat them in a powdered sugar glaze or toss them in cinnamon sugar fresh out of the oil.
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- A dash of cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom can give your fritters a cozy, autumnal flavor.
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- Chopped pecans or walnuts add a satisfying crunch to each bite.
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- Mix a splash of bourbon into the batter or glaze for a grown-up twist.
Tips and Tricks for Frying like a Pro
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- Do Not Use Low Smoke Point Oils- no low smoke point oil (like sesame oil or olive oil) for this recipe, please! I think the only more terrible taste than acrid burnt oil is burnt garlic.
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- Don’t Overmix the Batter - Over-mixing can make the fritters dense and tough. Mix just until the wet and dry ingredients are combined for that perfect light and fluffy texture.
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- Maintain Oil Temperature - Fry at a steady 375 degrees F. Too hot, and the fritters will burn on the outside and be raw inside. Too cool, and they’ll absorb too much oil and become greasy.
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- Don’t Crowd the Pan - Fry a few fritters at a time. Overcrowding lowers the oil temperature and causes uneven frying and greasy fritters!
Storage and Reheating
To keep leftover apple fritters fresh and delicious, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. If you want them to last longer, pop them in the fridge where they'll stay good for about 4-5 days. For the best results, reheat them in the oven at 350°F for a few minutes to restore that crispy exterior. You can also freeze them by wrapping each fritter in plastic wrap and placing them in a freezer-safe bag; they’ll keep well for up to 2 months. Just reheat in the oven on a baking sheet straight from the freezer (remove them from the bag, of course!). adapted from AllRecipesNutrition
Serving: 1 apple fritter | Calories: 189kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 240mg | Potassium: 141mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 19g | Vitamin A: 124IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 1mg