Description
Crispy on the outside and soft inside, these air fryer apple fritters taste just like glazed donut shop favorites but with less oil and mess. Perfect for a quick, sweet treat with real apple chunks and a shiny glaze.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour (180g)
- 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ cup sugar (50g)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- ½ cup milk (120ml), whole milk preferred or oat milk for dairy-free
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 medium apple, peeled and diced (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp recommended)
- Oil spray or neutral oil for greasing (avocado oil spray recommended)
- For the glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar (120g), sifted
- 2–3 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) and lightly spray the basket with oil to prevent sticking.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk the egg, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and slightly frothy.
- Gently fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until just combined; the batter should be thick but spoonable.
- Stir in the diced apple, distributing evenly but gently to keep the batter light.
- Portion the batter into the air fryer basket using a tablespoon or small cookie scoop, spacing fritters 2-3 inches apart to allow air circulation. Cook in batches if needed.
- Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 7-9 minutes, flipping halfway through at about 4 minutes, until golden brown and puffed.
- Check doneness by poking a fritter; it should feel springy and cooked through. If browning too fast but raw inside, lower temperature by 10°F and add 1-2 minutes cooking time.
- While fritters cook, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth to make the glaze. Adjust milk to achieve desired consistency.
- Once fritters are cool enough to handle but still warm, dip or drizzle glaze over them. Let glaze set for about 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Peel apples to avoid chewy skin in fritters. Let batter rest 5 minutes before frying to activate baking powder and hydrate apples. Spray air fryer basket well to prevent sticking. Flip fritters halfway for even browning. Adjust glaze thickness with milk or powdered sugar as needed. Eat warm for best taste. Store in airtight container up to 2 days at room temperature or up to 4 days refrigerated. Freeze for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 9 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fritter
- Calories: 150
- Fat: 4
- Carbohydrates: 25
- Fiber: 1.5
- Protein: 3
Keywords: apple fritters, air fryer recipes, glazed donuts, easy dessert, cinnamon apple, homemade fritters, healthy fried treats