These Classic Apple Fritters Doughnuts are just like the ones from your favourite bakery or donut shop. Make them at home to enjoy anytime (and they freeze beautifully!).
If there is a better treat to enjoy with my Sunday morning coffee, I don't know what it is. Homemade Apple Fritters have been on my baking bucket-list for some time and a rainy Saturday afternoon presented the perfect opportunity to tackle them. The recipe comes from "Top Pot Hand Forged Doughnuts" - a doughnut shop from Seattle. I had picked up their cookbook a while back and just knew they'd offer up a recipe that wouldn't disappoint. (I have adapted/simplified the process a bit here though, as I found the original un-necessarily complicated).
Let me just say first off - these are the real deal. They are made with a great yeast-raised dough, which is chopped together with cooked apple chunks and perfectly speckled with cinnamon. Once they are cooked up, they are lovely and browned on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside. The glaze adds a thin layer of sweetness and makes these beautiful donuts sparkle.
I don't do a lot of deep frying, but in my world, it just isn't really a donut if it isn't fried, so it has to be (with all due respect to anyone who bakes donuts out there :). That said, if you're careful to keep your oil at the right temperature, you'll find that these donuts will absorb very little oil and won't be at all greasy.
Cook's Notes for Classic Apple Fritters Doughnuts
I really recommend a deep fryer, for best results. I have a small one, which I love, because it doesn't take gallons of oil to fill it. It also keeps the oil at the perfect temperature throughout the frying process, so there's no fiddling around. One less thing to worry about. Alternately, you can use a heavy, deep pot with a thermometer to monitor oil temperature.
Cook your fritters until they are a darkish golden colour. They'll look lovely and you'll ensure that the dough is well cooked, as well.
These are best on the day they are cooked, but they freeze beautifully, so don't hesitate to pop any extras into the freezer to enjoy later.
Classic Apple Fritters Doughnuts
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1 1/2 Tbsp active dry or instant yeast
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 2 cups + 4-6 Tbsp. bread flour
- 1/4 cup + 2 tsp. white sugar
- 1/4 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp mace (can substitute nutmeg)
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp shortening or lard
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
Filling:
- 2 medium tart apples chopped into 1/2-inch pieces
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 2 tsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp + 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 Tbsp bread flour
Glaze:
- 2 cups confectioners/icing sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp light corn or golden syrup
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp vanilla
- 1 Tbsp white sugar
- 1/3 cup water
Instructions
- For the dough: In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, add the yeast to the 1/2 warm water. Add the 2 tsp. of sugar, stir and let stand 5 minutes. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk together the flour, 1/4 cup sugar, baking powder, mace and salt. Set aside.
- When yeast is ready, add the shortening, egg and vanilla and mix with the paddle attachment on low speed for 1 minute (to break up the shortening). Add about 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix until combined. Add a second third of the flour mixture and again, mix until combined. Switch to the dough hook and add the remaining flour mixture. Knead with the hook until all that flour is incorporated. Now start adding flour in 1 Tbsp. increments, until the dough comes together, clears the bottom of the bowl and is becoming smooth. Knead on medium for about 2 minutes more. The dough should be smooth and but still a bit moist (but not sticky).
- Place the dough in an oiled bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set-aside to rise until doubled in size (about 1 hour).
- Meanwhile, make the apple filling. Place the diced apples, sugar and lemon juice into a skillet over medium heat. Cook, stirring often, until all the liquid has evaporated and the apples are softened, about 5 minutes. Remove to a bowl to cool completely before using.
- When bread has finished it's first rise, remove to a lightly floured surface and roll into a 10-inch x 10-inch square. Sprinkle the apples over one half of the dough. Sprinkle all the cinnamon evenly over the apples and then sprinkle with the 1 Tbsp. flour. Fold the empty side of the dough over the side with the apples. Using a sharp knife or a bench scraper, cut the dough into 1/2-inch wide strips from top to bottom. Repeat cutting 1/2-inch strips from side to side, so you end up with small chunks of dough. Gather up the dough bits and cut some more, from different directions, until it is in small chunks and evenly mixed with cinnamon/apples/dough etc.
- Using floured hands, roughly shape into a 12-inch long x 3-inch wide log. Cut the log into 1 inch slices. With each slice, roughly pat into a disc, about the size of your palm (use some additional flour, as needed, if your dough is sticky). Place the dough discs onto a parchment lined or floured baking sheet, leaving a couple of inches of room around each. Repeat with all 12 dough pieces. Cover with plastic wrap that has been sprayed on the under-side with baking spray and set-aside to rise until doubled again, about 30-45 minutes.
- Meanwhile, prepare the glaze. Add the icing sugar, corn syrup, salt and vanilla in a large bowl. Set aside. In a small saucepan, bring the water and white granulated sugar to a boil over high heat then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 1 minute. Add this mixture to the bowl with the icing sugar and whisk until all the sugar and has been incorporated and the mixture is smooth. Set aside.
- When dough is about ready to cook, heat oil in a deep fryer to 370° (alternately, use a heavy deep pot and a thermometer to monitor temperature). Fry each donut until deep golden on the underside (1 1/2 - 2 minutes), flip over and fry the other side. (*time and temperature may need to vary. Watch closely the first few to determine timing. If they seem to be browning too quickly, lower temperature slightly). Remove to a cooling rack placed over a baking sheet. While still quite warm, dip into prepared glaze and return to cooling rack to cool completely.
Sarah says
Can I ask where the extra tsp of cinnamon goes in the filling? The recipe states to add the 1 tbsp but not sure where to add the 1 tsp.
Jennifer says
Hi Sarah, sorry, it should go together with the 1 Tbsp. I have corrected the instructions to fix that confusion.
Lily says
I made these for my family and they're amazing!! I subbed in quick-rise yeast and it worked just fine, and I made no other changes to the recipe. The outside is crispy, the inside is soft and fluffy with little studs of cinnamon apple...
My entire family went nuts!
Jennifer says
So glad to hear, Lily! Thanks so much :)
Shannon says
I want to make apple fritters for my mom for her birthday. That said, I’ve read a bunch of recipes and started in on this one because it looks good. Is it really that many TABLESPOONS (tbsp) of yeast? It sounds like a lot, but I have way more experience with bread than donuts or fritters...
Jennifer says
Hi Shannon and yes, you will use 1 1/2 Tbsp (4 1/2 tsp) and yes, it's twice what bread is generally, but it is correct :) Enjoy!
Margie says
Can I use all purposes flour Instead
Of bread flour
Jennifer says
Hi Margie, bread flour is recommended for best results, but all purpose flour will work.
Betty-Ann Hansford says
Do i have to fry these? Can i bake them
Jennifer says
Hi Betty-Ann, well ... you don't "have" to do anything :) But, if you want a doughnut and you want it to taste like a doughnut, you need to fry them. If you bake them, you will have a bun.
Jen says
A baked donut is a muffin.....
These look great. I’m good in the kitchen, but donuts and rice....I struggle with for some odd reason. I will make these my next attempt.
Jennifer says
Yep :) And yes, we all have something in cooking that challenges us, don't we? (Mine is pie crust!). I'm glad you're willing to give them a go though. They are worth it :)
Deb says
Wonderful recipe! Just what I was looking for. The fritters take a bit of work and time but are well worth the effort! I’ll make a double batch next time.
Jennifer says
So glad you enjoyed these, Deb! Thanks so much :)
Mia Schnell says
Can u use canned apple pie filling??
Jennifer says
Hi Mia, You probably could. It might be a little messier, and the finished donut would be a little spicier, possibly sweeter and perhaps a little more moist inside. If you try it, let me know how it worked out :)
Holly Shelly-Kilbel says
Thank you for this great recipe. I made in in my air fryer and it worked great. Cooked at 350° (5 minutes each side) yummy. Better than store bought.
Jennifer says
So glad to hear, Holly! Thanks :)
Beth says
These were fantastic. I wanted to try out donuts in the air fryer, and I also just wanted apple fritters. The ones in the air fryer were good but more like apple cinnamon rolls. I deep fried a couple in a small pan, and those turned out exactly as the recipe intended! So good, but really great either way!!
Jennifer says
Glad you enjoyed these, Beth. Thanks so much!
Donna says
I wish I could give it 10 stars!! Holy cow these are amazing! It brought tears to my eyes. There was a little country store when I was a girl that my daddy would take me for apple fritters; haven't had one that good since <3
Jennifer says
So glad to hear, Donna! It's always great when food comes with great memories, too :) Thanks so much.
Donna says
I forgot to mention I was out of corn syrup so I used maple syrup; turned out great.
Sarah says
I’d like to do as much as I can a day in advance then fry them the morning of. How do you recommend I do this?
Jennifer says
Hi Sarah, I found this comment from someone who made these over two days. Hope this helps ... "I raised the dough overnight in the refrigerator. Next morning, I took it out and left at room temp for 1-2 hrs before add the fillings. It came out perfect and delicious, thanks."
Leah says
Hi! I've never made donuts before but have made cinnamon buns and pastries, using all purpose flour. I wanted to try these tomorrow but do not have any bread flour! Would all purpose work, or is it absolutely necessary! Thanks :)
Jennifer says
Hi Leah, all-purpose will work. Bread flour produces the absolute best results, but I think you'll find the all-purpose version still quite nice :)
Judy Caputo says
Can frozen, store bought bread dough be used in place of the from scratch dough?
Jennifer says
Hi Judy, you could certainly give it a go. I don't think frozen dough would have as much flavour as it would be lacking the egg/vanilla etc., so the finished product wouldn't be quite a "fritter-y".
Amy says
I was wondering if this could be doubled? And if so, is there anything you would adjust or just double each amount?
Jennifer says
Hi Amy and yes, you can just double everything and make a double batch of these!
Lalise says
Do you peel the apples or leave the skin on? It's been years since I made fritters of any sort. I used to work in a bakery and we always left the peel on. That of course was with an industrial fryer so the peels softened and then crisped up nicely. It would be really helpful if you could add this information to your ingredient list.
Regards,
Lalise
Jennifer says
Hi Lalise, You can honestly go either way. I prefer to peel them, but if you don't mind peel, you can certainly leave it on without affecting the outcome.
Lalise says
Ty so much Jennifer for the quick reply. Perhaps I will make a test batch of each to test how palatable peels are or aren't with home frying methods. ;)
Brian P. says
I have been trying to find a recipe for cherry fritters to no avail. After reading your recipe for these apple fritters, I plan to try to adapt this to use cherries in place of the apples, omit the cinnamon from the filling, and using the cherry juice/syrup from the cherry jar in place of the light corn syrup in the glaze. I am wondering if I should delete the lemon juice from the filling also. Is that added in your recipe simply for additional flavoring or does it serve another purpose? Also, do you think my adaptation of the recipe sounds like it will work out okay?
Jennifer says
Hi Brian, Sounds mostly good. The lemon juice is largely there for the apples (to prevent browning), so you can easily omit. My only worry is regarding substituting the cherry juice for the corn syrup in the glaze. The corn syrup (invert sugar) serves a purpose in creating the lovely, shiny "fritter" glaze. So while you can add the cherry juice, I wouldn't omit the corn syrup. I might even suggest reducing the cherry juice by simmering, so you need to use less of it in your glaze. Let me know how it all works out :)
Tom says
Wow. I bookmarked this page and your website, and printed your recipe, but could use a little help with deep frying. I'll buy one of your recommended small deep fryers from Amazon, but am unclear as to what size I need... For example, do you fry multiple fritters at once, or just one at a time?
I'll try canola oil per your suggestion. Is it possible (adviseable) to reuse the oil, or must it be disposed of after just one use?
Thanks for the GREAT article, the recipe and helpful discussion with your readers.
Jennifer says
Hi Tom, I opted for the smaller size so it stores more easily and doesn't take a ton of oil with each use. But yes, that does come with a trade off, in that you can't fry as many things at one time. When it comes to these fritters, you may only be able to fry one at a time. Maybe two. They need enough room to float flat on the top, so will depend on exactly how large your fryer is.
As for reusing the oil, you can. I sometimes just pour it back into the original plastic container (once it's cooled, of course) and store in the fridge to use again. Sometimes the oil will pick up a slight flavour of whatever you fried in it. Not so bad with donuts, but you wouldn't want to use oil you fried fish in to fry donuts :) I write on the bottle what I fried with it, because I have a terrible memory. Hope that helps :)
Michelle says
Hello! What kind of oil do you recommend for frying?
Jennifer says
Hi Michelle, I always use Canola myself. It's neutral tasting and stands up well to the high heat. Plus it's economical to buy it in large containers, since deep frying takes a lot of oil. Hope that helps :)
Natalie says
How would you go about freezing these? I need to make 2 batches for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow but I have more time today to prepare it all. Any recommendations?
Jennifer says
Hi Natalie, I just let them cool completely, then put into freezer bags (except if they seem they might get mucked up by putting straight into bags. If that's the case, just set on baking sheets and place into the freezer on the baking sheets until firm, then transfer to freezer bags). To thaw, simply take them out of the freezer and let thaw in the bags on the counter top. Enjoy :)
Abra says
These things are so good, they should be illegal.
Jennifer says
Lol! Glad you enjoyed them :)
Kathleen says
My 93 yr. old mother loves a good apple fritter and doesn't treat herself to one very often. I thought I'd make your recipe. I bake with yeast quite often, but after reading your directions over and over, I am slightly confused. So I cut the dough vertically and horizontally until I get small chunks. Then I cut up the chunks a bit? Then, and this is where I'm confused, I pull them together to form a log 3" by 12". Am I correct? How do all those chunks stay together without falling apart in the frying? Please advise. I know I sound totally inept, but really I am an experienced baker. Thanks for your help.
Jennifer says
Hi Kathleen, I can understand how it sounds like it would all fall apart throughout the end part when reading it. In reality, you're going to find that it will stick together just fine. It's going to be a bit of a sticky mess, so there will be looks of stickiness to keep it all together! I hope your mother enjoys them (I am sure she will :)
Marietta Boisdore says
Superb!
Jennifer says
So glad! Thanks :)
Melissa says
I just finished making these and well I am already on my second one. What yumminess! Better than any coffee shop apple fritter I have ever tried. It was my first time making a donut and read through a couple of recipes before deciding on this one. I am so glad that I did, so easy to understand and follow and the end results are so good! Corn syrup is not usually an ingredient that I have on hand so I just did a basic glaze of milk, icing sugar and vanilla worked out really well. Will definitely be making these again. No more coffee shop fritters for me. Thank you so much!
Jennifer says
Thanks Melissa and so glad to hear! I really enjoy these, too and you've reminded me that I'm overdue to baking up a batch :)