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Apple Fritter Donuts are crisp on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside with a thick, vanilla bean glaze. They’re made with apple juice and are packed with chopped apples giving them a delicious, fresh apple flavor.

With apple picking season comes apple doughnuts. While I love regular apple cider doughnuts, I’m a huge sucker for Apple Fritter Doughnuts. Not many apple and pumpkin orchards in my little corner of the world sell Apple Fritter Doughnuts, so it was up to me to find my version of the perfectly fried apple treat.

You may also love our homemade apple butter!

Why you’ll love this apple fritter donut recipe:

tons of fresh apples made into a homemade apple pie filling
soft, homemade buttery dough
thick, flavorful glaze
instructions on how to cut, form and fry apple fritters

Is an apple fritter a donut?

Some apple fritters are made with a biscuit, cake-style dough. No yeast needed. The batter can be whipped up quickly and fried. This recipe is more like a yeast-based donut dough that has apples folded and cut inside, then deep fried. So yes, in this case, the apple fritter is just like a donut.

Tips Before you Begin:

You’ll notice that my homemade apple fritters aren’t exactly elegant looking. They’re bumpy and lumpy, which is exactly how an apple fritter should be. Why is that? So they hold all that beautiful glaze. If the donuts were smooth, the glaze would drip right off. Here are some tips so you can have success making this recipe:

This dough is the same dough we use to make pecan rolls and cinnamon rolls. It’s soft and buttery and delicious. It fries up great (makes yummy homemade donuts too). We use our stand mixer to make the dough, but you can knead it by hand or use a bread machine on the dough setting. Any of those three methods work.
I use instant yeast, which means you do not have to proof the yeast before making the recipe. Check the back of the yeast packet to see which type you have. If you have to proof the yeast, then you can sprinkle it over the milk. Check the temperature! Read our post about different types of yeast for more info.
Once the dough is mixed and rising, make the cinnamon sugar apples. If you’ve ever made fried apples, this recipe is very similar. I use Granny Smith apples so that they hold their shape, but Honeycrisp is good as well. You’ll want this mixture to cool completely before mixing it into the dough.
The key to making excellent fried donuts that aren’t too browned before they cook through is to get the oil temperature correct. If the temperature is too low, the donuts will absorb too much oil. If it is too high, they’ll get too browned. We love our Thermoworks ThermaPen that instantly reads oil. It’s amazing and perfect for grilling too!
The oil temperature should be exactly 375º Fahrenheit and maintain that temperature as you fry the apple fritter donuts. Fry in a deep fryer or a large skillet. If you have a deep fryer at home, use it! The benefits of using a small, at-home deep fryer are that it will be easier to control the temperature of the oil and deep fryers usually come with a basket that is handy for safely lowering the the dough into the oil and lifting them back out. If you do not have a deep fryer, you can use a large, heavy skillet or Dutch oven on your stove top.

How to Make Apple Fritter Donuts

This is the same dough we use for our homemade donuts and cinnamon rolls. It is so easy to work with!

Pour the warm milk, eggs, melted butter, sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer.
Add in two cups of flour and yeast. Use the beater blade to mix just until combined. Then add in another 2 cups of flour (save the other ½ cup and add only if you need it later).
Mix again using the beater blade just until the ingredients are barely combined. Allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes so the flour has time to soak up the liquids. Scrape the dough off the beater blade and remove it.
Attach the dough hook. Beat the dough on medium speed, adding in up to ½ cup more flour if needed to form a dough. Knead for 5-7 minutes or until the dough is elastic and smooth. **The dough should be tacky and will still be sticking to the sides of the bowl. That’s ok! Don’t be tempted to add more flour at this point. We generally add about 4 ½ cups, but start with 4 cups.
Spray a large bowl with cooking spray. Use a rubber spatula to remove the dough from the mixer bowl and place it in the greased large bowl. Cover the bowl with a towel or wax paper. Set the bowl in a warm place and allow the dough to rise until nearly double.
Place the sliced apples into a medium saucepan. Add the sugar. Cook the apples over medium heat, stirring often, for about 10 minutes until they start to soften.
In a small measuring cup, whisk together the apple juice and cornstarch to make a slurry.
Pour the cornstarch slurry into the apples. Mix well. Add the cinnamon and butter. Stir until the mixture starts to thicken, then remove from heat.
Allow the mixture to cool completely. I transfer mine to another bowl and then place them in the fridge to speed this up.
Turn the risen dough out onto a well-floured surface. Pat it into a rectangle that’s about 2 inches thick.
Spread half of the now cool apple mixture in the center of the dough. Fold the top and bottom of the dough over the mixture. Turn the dough, so the top and bottom are now on the sides of the dough.
Pat the dough out into another rectangle that’s 2 inches thick.
Spread the remaining apple filling over the center of the dough. Again, fold the top and bottom of the dough over the filling.

While the dough rests, heat the oil in a large Dutch oven on medium until it reaches 375 degrees F.
Pat the dough out to 1/2-inch thickness. Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into a grid pattern, making 1-inch strips. Then make cuts 1″ wide the other direction so that you end up with a bunch of squares. Some of the apple chunks may fall out and that’s ok!

Gather the yeasted dough bits and chunks of apple and cut a little bit more from different directions.
Flour your hands and put a little bit more flour down on the pastry mat if needed. Then form the cut dough and apples into a log about 14″ long.

pile of apple fritter dough on a pastry mat

Use the cutter to slice about 14 slices. Use your hands to form each fritter into a ball that looks like it would hold together, adding a little more flour if needed. Allow the fritters to rest while the oil heats.

Heat the oil in a large skillet or pot (or use a deep fryer) to 375º Fahrenheit. Use a candy thermometer to test the oil temp because it is important that it stays at 375ª.
Carefully drop each fritter into the hot oil. Do not overcrowd the pan, or the oil temperature will drop too quickly. Add 4 or 5 fritters at a time. Fry for about 3 minutes or until golden brown.

Using a slotted spoon carefully turn the fritters over and cook until the other side is also golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes.

golden brown apple fritters in a deep fryer

Remove the fritters to a baking sheet covered in paper towels and fitted with a cooling rack.
Repeat the process of frying the fritters allowing the oil to return to 375ºF between batches.

Pro Tip: As you lift the fritters out of the oil, be sure to allow all excess oil to drip off of the donut, then place them on a wire cooling rack (with a paper towel underneath to catch drips). The wire rack ensures they don’t hold onto extra oil and end up greasy.

Make the Glaze

After frying the apple fritter donuts, everyone who walked into our house commented on how good it smelled. I credit that with the smell of the warm vanilla bean glaze made with vanilla bean paste hitting the freshly fried Apple Fritter Doughnuts. It’s vanilla bean and cinnamon apples mixed into one amazingly delicious smell.

Simply whisk the ingredients together in a small bowl then dip the apple fritter donuts in the glaze.

Storage Instructions

Once the apple fritter donuts are cooled and the glaze is set, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Then refrigerate any remaining for up to 5 days.

Other Donut Recipes

Apple Fritter Donuts

4.84 from 6 votes

These Apple Fritter Donuts are crisp on the outside, light and fluffy on the inside with a thick, vanilla bean glaze. They're made with apple cider and are packed with chopped apples giving them a delicious, fresh apple flavor.

Servings 14

Prep Time 2 40

Cook Time 8

Total Time 2 48

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Ingredients

US Customary – Metric

For the Dough:

1 cup 2% milk warmed (about 120º-125º Fahrenheit)
1/2 cup salted butter melted
2 large eggs
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4- 4 1/2 cups bread flour
2 1/4 teaspoons Red Star Platinum Superior Baking Yeast** (instant yeast)

For the Apples:

6 cups Granny Smith apples peeled, cored, and chopped (about 6 medium apples)
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup apple juice
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1 tablespoon ground Cinnamon
1 tablespoon salted butter

For the Glaze:

1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup apple juice
1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
1/2 teaspoon salt

For Frying:

1 quart vegetable oil

Instructions

To Make the Dough:

Pour the warm milk, eggs, melted butter, sugar and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer.** 1 cup 2% milk, ½ cup salted butter, 2 large eggs, ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon salt
Add in two cups of flour and yeast. Use the beater blade to mix just until combined. Then add in another 2 cups of flour (save the other ½ cup and add only if you need it later). 4- 4 ½ cups bread flour, 2 ¼ teaspoons Red Star Platinum Superior Baking Yeast**
Mix again using the beater blade just until the ingredients are barely combined. Allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes so the flour has time to soak up the liquids. Scrape the dough off the beater blade and remove it.
Attach the dough hook. Beat the dough on medium speed, adding in up to ½ cup more flour if needed to form a dough. Knead for 5-7 minutes or until the dough is elastic and smooth. **The dough should be tacky and will still be sticking to the sides of the bowl. That's ok! Don't be tempted to add more flour at this point. We generally add about 4 ½ cups, but start with 4 cups.
Spray a large bowl with cooking spray. Use a rubber spatula to remove the dough from the mixer bowl and place it in the greased large bowl. Cover the bowl with a towel or wax paper. Set the bowl in a warm place and allow the dough to rise until nearly double.

For the Apple Filling:

Place the sliced apples into a medium saucepan. Add the sugar. Cook the apples over medium heat, stirring often, for about 10 minutes until they start to soften. 6 cups Granny Smith apples, ¾ cup granulated sugar
In a small measuring cup, whisk together the apple juice and cornstarch to make a slurry. ¼ cup apple juice, 2 tablespoons cornstarch
Pour the cornstarch slurry into the apples. Mix well. Add the cinnamon and butter. Stir until the mixture starts to thicken, then remove from heat. 1 tablespoon ground Cinnamon, 1 tablespoon salted butter
Allow the mixture to cool completely. I transfer mine to another bowl and then place them in the fridge to speed this up.

To Assemble the Doughnuts:

Turn the risen dough out onto a well-floured surface. Pat it into a rectangle that's about 2 inches thick.
Spread half of the now cool apple mixture in the center of the dough. Fold the top and bottom of the dough over the mixture. Turn the dough, so the top and bottom are now on the sides of the dough.
Pat the dough out into another rectangle that’s 2 inches thick.
Spread the remaining apple filling over the center of the dough. Again, fold the top and bottom of the dough over the filling.
While the dough rests, heat the oil in a large Dutch oven on medium until it reaches 375 degrees F.
Pat the dough out to 1/2-inch thickness. Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into a grid pattern, making 1-inch strips. Then make cuts 1" wide the other direction so that you end up with a bunch of squares.
Gather the dough bits and cut a little bit more from different directions.
Flour your hands and put a little bit more flour down on the pastry mat if needed. Then form the cut dough and apples into a log about 14" long.
Use the cutter to slice about 14 slices. Use your hands to form each fritter into a ball that looks like it would hold together, adding a little more flour if needed. Allow the fritters to rest while the oil heats.
Heat the oil in a large skillet (or use a deep fryer) to 375º Fahrenheit. Use a thermometer to test the oil temp because it is important that it stays at 375ª. 1 quart vegetable oil

To Fry the Fritters:

Carefully drop each fritter into the warm oil. Do not overcrowd the pan, or the oil temperature will drop too quickly. Add 4 or 5 fritters at a time. Fry for about 3 minutes or until golden brown.
Using a slotted spoon carefully turn the fritters over and cook until the other side is also golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes.
Remove the fritters to a baking sheet covered in paper towels and fitted with a drying rack.
Repeat the process of frying the fritters allowing the oil to return to 375ºF between batches.

Glazing the Fritters:

Whisk together the confectioners' sugar, cream, apple juice, vanilla bean paste, and salt. The glaze should be runny enough to coat the fritters so add more juice a little at a time until it is able to be drizzled. 1 ¼ cups powdered sugar, ¼ cup heavy cream, ¼ cup apple juice, 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste, ½ teaspoon salt
After removing each batch from the oil, allow to sit for about 5 min. Dip into the glaze.

Notes

**We use Red Star Platinum instant baking yeast which does not have to be proofed first. Check the temperature of the milk and butter and make sure it is not too cold or hot. If you use a different type of yeast, read the back of the package for instructions on adding it to the recipe. Some yeasts must be proofed first. If you have one that does, you can proof it in the warm milk. Watch the temperatures closely!

Nutrition

Author Julie Clark

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Calories 941

Keyword apple recipes, donut recipe, fritters, homemade ice cream

4.84 from 6 votes (6 ratings without comment)

4 Comments

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Barbara

7 months ago

What would you say about using and air fryer to cook these instead of vegetable oil?

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Amanda

9 years ago

The history of the fritter is that it is made of leftover dough from other doughnuts that is why they are not perfect and round traditionally in doughnut shops. And that lumpy bumpy gives more surface area for crispy fried parts! I just love these. My local doughnut shop makes small apple fritter bites. I think they are better than one giant doughnut – you get more of that crispy outer area and perfect ratio of glaze and doughnut. Cannot wait to try this recipe. Thank you!