Description
Soft, cakey little fritters loaded with tender apple pieces and warm spices — no frying required. A simple vanilla glaze finishes them, and a quick blast under the broiler gives a lightly caramelized sheen. Perfect for cozy breakfasts or afternoon snacks.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit
- 1 cup chopped apples (use firm varieties; see notes)
Dry
- ¾ cup all-purpose flour
- ¾ cup white whole wheat flour
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground allspice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
Wet
- ½ cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Glaze
- 1 cup powdered (confectioners’) sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk (adjust for desired thickness)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Heat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment or a silicone mat.
- In a roomy mixing bowl, whisk together both flours, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt until evenly blended.
- Scatter the cold butter cubes over the dry mix and work them in with a pastry cutter, two knives, or your fingers until the mixture looks like coarse crumbs.
- In a separate bowl, beat the milk, egg, and vanilla until combined. Pour this into the dry ingredients and stir gently until a soft, slightly lumpy batter forms — don’t overmix.
- Fold the chopped apples into the batter so they distribute evenly.
- Using a spoon or small ice-cream scoop, place rounded mounds of batter onto the prepared sheet, spacing them so they can puff up.
- Bake for about 11–13 minutes, or until the fritters turn pale golden and spring back slightly to the touch.
- While they bake, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to make a smooth glaze; thin with a bit more milk if needed.
- Remove the pan from the oven and brush the warm fritters with the glaze. For a brûléed-style finish, set the oven to broil and watch the fritters closely while you broil them 1–2 minutes to caramelize the glaze.
- Allow the glaze to set for a few minutes, drizzle more if you like, then serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- These taste best the day they’re made but will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.
- For an extra-decadent treat, top a warm fritter with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.
- Try a mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples for a pleasant sweet-tart contrast.
- If your apples are very juicy, pat them dry on paper towels before folding into the batter to avoid soggy fritters.
- To make smaller, bite-size fritters, use a teaspoon or small cookie scoop and reduce bake time by a few minutes.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Category: Dessert