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Apples and I are having a thing at the moment.
And by that, I simply mean I am in full on apple mode. Gimme all those delicious crispy apples so I can put them in, on and with EVERYTHING. No seriously, that’s how it’s going down these days. All the apples please!
Watch the how-to video here:
Pumpkin Spice, Maple Glazed Apple Fritters from Half Baked Harvest on Vimeo.
So let’s see, where should I start today? I actually don’t have all that much rambling to do. I rambled a whole bunch yesterday about my new cute little black cat, Snape, so I don’t know, I guess I am outta breath today.
Well, maybe not completely.
I mean, I have PLENTY of breath energetic fingers to tell you all about these maple glazed apple fritters!
First? They are AMAZING, but you probably guessed I would say that, huh? It’s the full on truth though.
Basically these are doughnuts, stuffed with apples and drizzled with a maple glaze. Come on, how could they not be good. I find them best enjoyed with a steaming cup of hot chocolate, coffee (guys, can you believe I drink coffee now?!?!) or apple cider…but you know I really just want the hot chocolate.
Hey, you can’t blame me. It was twenty-six degrees this morning, I am allowed to be delving into all things cozy…with mugs and mugs of hot chocolate. Gosh, I really love fall, it’s my favorite….and it officially begins tomorrow…hands clapping, fists pumping, huge dorky smile on my face…yup, that’s me right now.
Also, also!! I am getting way too excited for Halloween. Next week, Asher and I may be having a three-day sleepover filled with all the spooky things we can come up with.
I’m basically filled to the brim with excitement at them moment. Yesssss
Triple also, Asher wants me to buy all these Halloween decorations and make all sorts of spooky foods. Thoughts? Ideas?? Just putting this out there now, but we can chat more on that next week.
For now, let me fill your brain with delicious apple fritter thoughts.
You’re going to want to run to the store now, because in about thirty or so seconds you will quickly realize that you need these fritters in your life. And you need them NOW.
Sorry, I am so dramatic. In real life I don’t really talk like this, but all that I am saying is true.
You start with a yeast dough spiced with….yup, pumpkin spice! I just couldn’t resist, I had too! The dough is also made with apple cider, so it’s extra sweet and special. Perfect – just the way I like it.
The apple filling is pretty simple. Apples, butter, brown sugar and vanilla. You could eat it with a spoon, it’s that good! Or over ice cream would be amazing too. Or, OR, you could serve your fritters WITH ice cream. YES. <— do this.
While these fritters are fairly simple to make, the tricky part is keeping all those apples inside while you are forming the fritters. Try not to fret about any apples that fall out of the dough or that are sticking out. You can just simply pop them back in. The important thing to remember here is that these are fritters, they DO NOT need to be perfect in any way, shape or form. Seriously remember this.
AND you’ll just be covering these little fritters in glaze anyway, so their looks? They really don’t matter. Just stuff those apple in there, fry, glaze and eat! Oh, and eat them warm. These are best warm. Trust me!
So go on now, have a fritter frenzy!!
Pumpkin Spice, Maple Glazed Apple Fritters.
Servings: 18 Fritters
Calories Per Serving: 226 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 1/4 cups warm apple cider
- 2 tablespoons active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 6 tablespoons butter softened/lightly melted
- 1 egg
- 3 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
Apple Filling
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 5 Honeycrisp or green apples chopped
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 tablespoon apple cider
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
Maple Glaze
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
- seeds from 1 vanilla bean
- 1/2 teaspoons instant coffee optional
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl (I like to use my stand mixer), combine the warm cider with the yeast and sugar. Allow the mixture to sit 5-10 mins or until the mix is foamy and smells like bread. To the bowl, add the butter and egg, mix a little to combine and then add 3 cups flour, the salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and pepper. Knead the dough using a dough hook or your hands until the dough comes together and is smooth, about 3 minutes with a mixer and 5-10 by hand. If the dough seems too sticky, add the remaining 1/2 cup flour. The dough should come together, but be slightly sticky to touch. Grease a large bowl and place the dough ball inside. Cover the bowl and let rise in a warm place while you work on the filling, but at least 30 minutes.
- To make the filling, heat a medium size skillet over medium heat, add the butter. Add the apples, brown sugar and cinnamon, cook, stirring occasionally for about 5 minutes. Add the cider and continue to cook the apples until they are caramelized, about 5 minutes more. During the last minute add the vanilla and cook another minute or until the apples are all the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
- When the dough is ready, Punch it back down into the bowl. Add the cooled apples and knead the apples into the dough. Lighlt flour your work suface and dump the dough out. Now roll the dough out gently into a rectangle about an inch thick. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into 16-18 squares. Use your hands to roll the rectangles into balls, pushing any apples that fall out back into the dough. Don't worry if some of the apples are exposed.
- Place the shaped fritters on a parchment-lined baking sheet and loosely cover with plastic wrap. Let rise for about 15 minutes or until the fritters puff and almost double in size.
- Meanwhile, heat a large pot of oil to 350-375 degrees F. Place a wire rack on a large rimmed baking sheet
- Carefully lower 3 to 4 fritters into the hot oil. Fry on one side for 30 to 60 seconds or until golden brown, then flip the fritter and fry the other side for 30 to 60 seconds or until golden brown. Remove fritters from the oil with a spider or slotted spoon. Drain on the prepared wire rack. Repeat with the remaining fritters.
- To make the glaze, whisk together the maple syrup, powdered sugar, vanilla and instant coffee.
- Drizzle the glaze over the warm fritters and EAT!
With a side of hot chocolate…cause YES. Tuesday, you are so sweet!
WOWOWOWOW!!! Are you kidding me?!! I’m eating a warm one as I type this and I am in absolute heaven (my husband too. He even told me I’m amazing…but the credit goes to you!) ! Slightly crispy on the outside, soft and moist on the inside with the perfect amount of spice. And the apples! These can not be beat. I wish I could post a photo here! These are SO much better than any apple fritter I’ve ever had from a good bakery! Only problem is my apple fritter standards are now wayyyyyy higher than they were. I don’t think I can even buy them anymore. I’m not sure why other commenters had issues. I made this exactly as written (with the addition of 1 extra apple just because) and I would not change a thing!! You did it again!! I’m sure you’ll be hearing from me again on another recipe within the next few days. Everything you create is just TOO good. 😀
Wow this was so amazing to read!! I am really glad these turned out so well for you, Alyssa! Thank you so much for trying these! xTieghan
Hi there, these sound fantastic…who doesn’t love anything pumpkin spiced? I’d can’t wait to make these fritters, but have one question. When you say Apple cider is this the same as Apple cider vinegar?
If not, do you have a recipe for Apple cider? I can’t seem to find it anywhere in our grocery stores.
Hi Melanie! No, it is not the same as apple cider vinegar… it is more of a juice! Here, it is seasonal, so it really only shows up near the fall. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Help do I make these with apple cider vinegar?
So I made these tonight… and your directions say to add the apples to the dough but your pictures show the dough rolled out and apples added on top one side and covered wit the other half of the dough. I didn’t pay attention to the picture and did what your directions said, added the apples to the dough which caused the dough to be so incredibly sticky it was impossible to work with until I added a TON of flour. The fritters ended up coming out too doughy. I’m sure the original fritters taste much better but maybe edit your directions so that no one makes the same mistake again?
Hey Irene,
I am so sorry for the trouble and confusion. I do actually like to mix the apple into the dough as I found too many of the apples fell out while frying the other way. How long did you cook your apples for? Maybe they needed to be cooked longer to remove the moisture before adding to the dough?
Do you think I could bake these instead of frying?
Hey Amanda! Yes! I would bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
I made these for a family gathering last night and they were AMAZING!! People were still talking about them as they left. I used Einkorn all purpose flour and fried them in avocado oil. I also added more powdered sugar and a little cream cheese to the glaze. Definitely will make again!
I am so happy to hear that! I am so glad you and your guests loved this recipe Dena! Thank you!
The title says there is a video but I don’t see one. Was it taken down? Thanks!
Hi Lindsey! The video is right under the first photo, I linked it down below! Let me know if you have any other questions!
https://www.halfbakedharvest.com/maple-glazed-apple-fritters/
I see where it says to “watch the video here” under the first picture but there isn’t an actual video or link there for me to watch it. I had someone else check and they couldn’t see the video either.
HI! I am sorry about that. The video should be there now. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love the recipe. Thank you! 🙂
For those that are wondering whether to bake or fry, I have to put my vote in the fry camp having tried both. I really wanted baking to work just as well (because frying = scary), but the fried fritters just tasted SO much better. When baked, these turned a bit bready and were significantly drier – not bad, but also not at all like an apple fritter. I fried in coconut oil and while I was slightly horrified at the amount I had to use, the results were worth it! I would even go as far to say that the glaze is unnecessary, but I’m a purist at heart 🙂
Hi Rebeccah! These fritters are seriously one of my favs, so I am super glad you enjoyed them! Thank you!
I just watched the video. You put the apples in the dough, but the pics show you rolled out the dough and put the apples on top. Which is best?
Hey Charlotte! So sorry for the confusion. Either way works, but I think it is easier to just stir the apples into the dough as I did in the video. Hope that helps and please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love these!
I’m having a hard time getting the dough cooked all the way through- outside is perfect! Maybe the oil is too hot? – any suggestions?
I made the apple fritters for Thanksgiving breakfast. I didn’t have brown sugar on hand so I used sugar, they weren’t as sweet but still tasty.I did all the dough prep last night and let them proof over night in the fridge. I took them out and let them get to room temp. They fried up nicely and I rolled some of them in cinnamon sugar as well as the glaze. I don’t like to fry to many foods so this is a great holiday food. Great recipe for a special day.
Sounds delicious Laurie! The holidays are the perfect cheat day!! So happy you loved them!!
Wow, it looks gorgeous! i’ll try to bake it!
Awesome! I hope you love it!
Question! Could we make these partially ahead? Like up to forming the fritters and refrigerating the night before and then frying them up for breakfast and covering with glaze?
Hey Sandy! I have never tried that, but I don’t see why that would not work. Please let me know how it goes! Thank you!
I don’t have fresh apples, can I use canned apple pie filling????
Hmm, I am not sure. I am afraid that the filling might be too liquidy.
Nossa adorei a receita, vou fazer aqui no brasil e fala depois como ficou.
Could you back these instead of frying them?
*Bake
Hey Liz, yes you can. I like the fired best, but you can bake them at 350 degrees F. for 20-25 minutes. Hope you love these!