Baked Apple Fritters with Vanilla Glaze
Description
These baked apple fritters are soft and tender on the inside, lightly crisp on the outside, and loaded with sweet cinnamon apples. Finished with a simple vanilla glaze, they taste like a cozy fall donut—but without deep frying. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a not-too-sweet dessert.
Ingredients
Fritters
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2 cups apples, peeled and finely chopped
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1 cup all-purpose flour
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⅓ cup granulated sugar
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1 tsp baking powder
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½ tsp ground cinnamon
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¼ tsp salt
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½ cup milk
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1 large egg
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1 tsp vanilla extract
Optional Vanilla Glaze
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¾ cup powdered sugar
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1–2 tbsp milk
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½ tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Prep
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Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C)
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Line a baking sheet with parchment paper
2. Mix Dry Ingredients
In a large bowl, whisk together:
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Flour
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Sugar
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Baking powder
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Cinnamon
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Salt
3. Mix Wet Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk:
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Milk
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Egg
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Vanilla extract
4. Combine
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Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients
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Stir until just combined
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Fold in chopped apples (don’t overmix)
5. Bake
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Drop batter by heaping spoonfuls onto baking sheet
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Space about 2 inches apart
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Bake 15–18 minutes, until golden and set
6. Glaze (Optional but Recommended 😏)
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Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla
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Spoon glaze over warm fritters
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Let set for 5 minutes before serving
Servings
Makes: 10–12 fritters
Serving Size: 1 fritter
Recipe Notes
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Best served warm
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Apples soften as they bake, creating a moist texture
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Glaze will harden slightly as it cools
Tips for Best Results
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Use Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Fuji apples
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Chop apples small so they cook evenly
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For crispier tops, broil for 1–2 minutes after baking
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Want extra flavor? Add:
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Nutmeg (¼ tsp)
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Lemon zest (½ tsp)
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Variations
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Air Fryer: 350°F for 8–10 minutes
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Dairy-Free: Use almond or oat milk
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Sugar Swap: Replace sugar with coconut sugar
Nutritional Information (Estimated per fritter)
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Calories: 145
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Carbohydrates: 24g
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Sugar: 11g
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Protein: 3g
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Fat: 4g
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Fiber: 1.5g
(Values may vary depending on glaze and apple size)
Health Benefits
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Apples provide fiber and antioxidants
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Baked instead of fried = lower fat
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Portion-controlled sweetness
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Can be made with whole wheat flour for extra fiber
Q & A
Q: Can I make these ahead of time?
A: Yes! Store in an airtight container up to 2 days or refrigerate for 4 days.
Q: Can I freeze them?
A: Absolutely. Freeze unglazed fritters up to 2 months. Glaze after reheating.
Q: Why are my fritters dense?
A: Overmixing the batter can make them heavy—mix just until combined.
Q: Can I fry these instead?
A: Yes, but this recipe is designed for baking. Frying will require thicker batter.