Homemade Apple Focaccia Fritters.

These are SO GOOD! Sweet Honeycrisp apples tossed with cinnamon sugar, tucked into soft, airy focaccia dough, then fried until golden with the most deliciously crisp edges. A sweet and salty vanilla espresso glaze coats every inch, making each bite even better.

I love apple season so much, and these fritters are such a fun way to use up all those fresh fall apples. If you’re heading out apple picking this weekend, you have to make a batch!

Living so deep in the mountains means apple picking isn’t really an option for me. It makes me so sad! I could venture out, but it’s a pretty long drive. Thankfully, I can still get my favorite organic Honeycrisp apples. I look forward to them every single fall!

Growing up in Cleveland, we went apple picking all the time. I have the best memories of those days! If you have little kids, take them apple picking. It’s such a fun fall tradition, and those memories are so special.

I’ve been craving apple fritters all season long. The idea for this recipe actually came to me months ago. At first, I was thinking about making focaccia cinnamon rolls, which still sounds pretty delicious. But THEN, apple fritters crept into my thoughts, and I couldn’t stop thinking about them. I’ve been so excited to finally make these and share them with you all!

I spent a few days testing the recipe to make sure everything was just right. But honestly, I was already so happy with the very first batch! That’s always the best feeling.

Full disclosure, these are a little messy to make. But that’s part of the fun! And trust me, they’re so worth it, especially when enjoyed warm with that sweet maple coffee glaze dripping into all the little nooks and crannies. SO GOOD.

My biggest tip? Don’t stress about the mess. These are fritters! They’re not supposed to look exactly alike. Apples will fall out, the dough will get sticky, and that’s all OK. They’ll taste delicious no matter what.

And here’s a little trick. If any apples fall out of the dough while frying, save them! You can tuck them right back into the fritters with a little glaze. The glaze acts almost like glue, holding everything together.

You can also bake these if you’d prefer not to fry!

The dough itself is really simple and comes together quickly. You can use either active dry or instant yeast, so just use what you have. And please don’t leave out the molasses in the apple filling. It adds the most delicious warm flavor that makes these taste almost a little Christmasy. I love it!

These are such a fun fall baking project, and I really hope you all love them as much as I do!

Here are the details

Ingredients

The Dough

• warm apple cider
• active dry or instant yeast
• granulated sugar
• salted butter
• an egg
• all-purpose flour
• salt
• brown sugar
• ground cinnamon

The Apples

• Honeycrisp apples
• organic brown sugar
• ground cinnamon
• blackstrap molasses, apple butter, or maple syrup
• pure vanilla extract

The Maple Coffee Glaze

• powdered sugar
• warm milk
• real maple syrup
• pure vanilla extract
• instant coffee or a shot of hot espresso
• flaky sea salt

The Steps

Step 1: Make the dough.

In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm apple cider, yeast, and sugar. Let sit until bubbly, then add the butter, egg, flour, and salt. Knead until smooth and soft. Cover and let rise until doubled in size.

I use my stand mixer to make this extra easy, but you can knead the dough by hand too! Both active dry and instant yeast work, so use what you have. Just make sure the cider is warm, not hot. And if your kitchen is chilly, the dough might take a little longer to rise. That’s OK!

Step 2: Cook the apples.

In a skillet, cook the diced apples with the brown sugar, cinnamon, and molasses until softened and syrupy. Remove from the heat, stir in the vanilla, and let cool.

I love using Honeycrisp apples, but use your favorite! Just be sure to dice them small, so they’re easier to work into the dough. And please don’t skip the molasses. It adds the most delicious warm, almost Christmasy flavor. Be sure to let the apples cool before filling the dough. This makes everything so much easier to work with!

Step 3: Fill and shape the fritters.

Roll the dough into a large oval, about 1/2 inch thick. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, then spoon the cooled apples over half the dough. Sprinkle lightly with flour, fold the dough over the apples, and seal the edges.

Gently press into a long oval. Make cuts across the dough, then in the opposite direction to create a crosshatch pattern. Gently pull the pieces apart into individual fritters, tucking any loose apples back inside. Place each fritter into a parchment baking cup and let rest while you heat the oil.

Now, this is where things get messy! But please don’t stress. Apples will fall out, the dough will get sticky, and that’s all OK. Just use a little extra flour as needed. Nothing needs to look perfect. All those little folds and uneven edges are what make the fritters so delicious once fried!

Step 4: Fry the fritters.

Heat the avocado oil in a large Dutch oven to 350°F. Working in small batches, carefully lower the fritters into the oil using their parchment cups, making sure the parchment is suitable for frying. Fry until golden, then flip and carefully remove the parchment with tongs. Continue frying until deeply golden and cooked through. Transfer to a cooling rack.

I really recommend using a thermometer here. It makes frying so much easier! Keep the oil around 350°F so the outsides get crisp while the centers cook through. And if any apples fall out, don’t worry! Just remove them from the oil before they burn. You can tuck the cooked pieces back into the fritters with the glaze later.

Step 5: Make the maple coffee glaze.

Whisk together the powdered sugar, warm milk, maple syrup, vanilla, instant coffee, and a pinch of flaky sea salt until smooth.

I love the combination of coffee and sweet cinnamon apples! It adds such a delicious flavor. Start with less coffee and add more to your taste. If the glaze is too thick, add another splash of warm milk. You want it thick but still easy to drizzle.

Step 6: Glaze and enjoy!

Dunk the warm fritters into the glaze or generously drizzle it overtop. Let the excess drip off, then enjoy!

I like glazing these while they’re still warm so the glaze settles into all those little nooks and crannies. And remember, if you have any loose apples, just tuck them back into the fritters with a little glaze. They’ll stick right on!

These are SO GOOD warm, when the edges are crisp, the centers are soft, and the glaze is just beginning to set. YUM!

Make Ahead and Storage

To get ahead, make the dough the night before and let it rise slowly in the refrigerator. You can also cook the apples ahead and keep them chilled. Then all you need to do is shape, fry, and glaze!

These are best enjoyed the day they’re made, but leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Warm them in the oven or air fryer to bring back those delicious crisp edges.

And my biggest reminder? Don’t stress about the shaping! These are homemade fritters. A little mess is part of the fun, and they’ll taste delicious no matter what!