Next Post
This post may contain affiliate links, please see our privacy policy for details.
Welcoming Friday and the autumn apples with these Cinnamon Spiced Apple Fritters with Vanilla Coffee Glaze. Sweet Honeycrisp apples in a light and airy batter with warming fall spices, fried and coated with a sweet vanilla coffee glaze. If you’re heading out apple picking this fall, make these fritters. They’re easy to make and beyond delicious. Truly the ultimate fall treat.
Before we get into today’s post, I want to take a minute to acknowledge the importance of this date. Nineteen years ago today so many lives were forever changed by terrorist attacks. I know that a lot of memorial events have been canceled this year, but as Alice M. Greenwald, head of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum stated, “This year, its message of hope, endurance, and resilience are more important than ever,”.
So please take a moment to remember all those we lost, to have hope for our future, and to be grateful for all that we have.
Apples…
For me, September is all about the apples. I know many of you are looking for pumpkin recipes right now (which I can see by the number of people making last year’s chocolate chunk pumpkin cookies). But it’s my thinking that we’ve got all of October and November to embrace all things pumpkin, so let’s leave September for the apples.
Enter these fritters. Oh, how I love them. I’ve been wanting to make apple fritters for the longest time and have had this recipe idea in the back of my head all summer long. Everything from the cinnamon spiced fritter to that sweet vanilla coffee glaze. I knew exactly how I wanted to create these, so when it was finally time, I couldn’t have been happier. Sounds dorky, I know, but I really love September apple season.
I’ve made fritters before, but it was many years back. And while the recipe was good, these are better and so much easier. My older recipe uses a yeasted dough. That’s great, but it’s much more time-intensive and will give you a fritter more like a doughnut. These on the other hand are quick and easy, light and airy, and just beyond good.
And the best part…these are so easy!
If you’ve made a basic pancake batter, you can easily make these fritters. The batter is basic – flour, eggs, milk, etc in a mixing bowl. But then what makes these fritters extra special?
First, the spices. Instead of just a plain fritter, I really wanted these to be warming and smell like our favorite spiced latte or apple cake baking away in the oven. I used a mix cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, which I always find to be the perfect autumn spice blend.
Second, the apples. As you guys have probably noticed, I love using Honeycrisp apples for both cooking and baking. I find them to have the best flavor, the perfect amount of sweetness, and always to be crisp. The other thing I do? I like to leave the skin on my apples. I know this is a little controversial, as some might say the skin adds an odd texture, but I find the skin to be one of the more delicious parts to the apple and never understood why you’d peel it away.
Of course, this is just my personal preference. If you already know you don’t enjoy apple skins in your baked apple treats, just peel them away. The recipe is great either way.
Moving along…
Once the batter is mixed up, simply fry the mixture in oil and you’ll have perfect apple fritters minutes later.
So I usually try to avoid frying at all costs. For instance, I love an “oven fry” when possible. But for a really good autumn apple fritter, you need to break out the oil and do a little fryin’.
Annoying? Yes, for sure.
But, worth it? Yes, for sure. Especially if you’ve just picked up a couple of buckets of fresh apples from your local farm or market.
As the apples are frying, you slowly start to get wafts of cinnamon and sweetness flowing through the air. If fall had a scent, this would be it. It’s delightful.
Now on to that glaze…it might just be my favorite.
So, I don’t love a straight powdered sugar glaze. I find it to be pretty bland and really, it’s just too sugary for my taste.
With this glaze, I wanted it to be exciting, but not overpowering. I wanted the flavors within the glaze to help highlight the flavors in the fritters. I’ve always loved anything with autumn spices and a side of coffee, so naturally, I thought the glaze needed to be one flavored with coffee. The perfect fritter pairing, right?
I used my favorite espresso powder, a nice splash of vanilla, and a drizzle of maple syrup, to create a coffee glaze. Not too strong, not too sweet, but just right. Especially when you dunk a warm fritter right into it.
Delicious.
So with that, can I encourage you all to go apple picking this weekend? Oddly I’m on Ohio right now for my cousin’s wedding. I’d love to hit up one of the local farms for their fresh from the tree apples. Unfortunately, I doubt we’ll have any time in between wedding festivities, but it would sure be fun!
Any of you who are close to an apple farm…or just have a market close by (so that should be all of us), let’s agree to make these fritters. And if not this weekend, sometime soon. I promise you guys, these are the fall breakfast, afternoon snack, or after-dinner dessert we’re all in need of most this season!
My suggestion? Apple picking on Saturday…then Sunday afternoon fritter making…with a side of your favorite latte. Such a perfect way to spend a fall weekend.
See you guys on Sunday for another favorites post.
Looking for other sweet apple recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Salted Maple Apple Tarte Tatin with Cinnamon Pumpkin Seeds
Sweet and Salty Chocolate Drizzled Cider Caramel Apples
Double the Streusel Apple Butter Bars
Lastly, if you make these Cinnamon Spiced Apple Fritters with Vanilla Coffee Glaze be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Spiced Honeycrisp Apple Fritters with Vanilla Coffee Glaze
Servings: 20
Calories Per Serving: 131 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Watch the How-To Reel
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ginger
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons salted butter, melted
- 1/2-3/4 cup whole milk
- 1 tablespoon real maple syrup
- 3-4 Honeycrisp apples, peeled (if desired) and chopped
Vanilla Coffee Glaze
- 1 1/3 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1-2 tablespoons real maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2-3 teaspoons instant coffee
- flaky sea salt
Instructions
- 1. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Add the eggs, butter, 1/2 cup milk, and maple, and mix until just combined, being careful not to over mix the batter. If the the batter feels thick, add 1/4 cup milk to thin. Fold in the apples.2. Heat 1-2 inches of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Drop tablespoons size balls of batter into the oil for 4-5 minutes or until golden and crisp on all sides. Remove and drain on a wire rack with paper towels underneath.3. To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, maple, vanilla, and coffee powder. Add a pinch of flaky seas salt. Drizzle the glaze over the warm fritters. Eat warm. And enjoy.
This post was originally published on September 11, 2020
These look totally amazing girl! Could I try baking in the air fryer instead of the oil? Can’t wait to try!
Hey Jen,
So sorry I do not own an air fryer so I am unsure of how these would turn out. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Do you need to cook the apples at all before adding them to the batter?
Hey Katie,
Nope, no need to precook the apples! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Made these tonight with fresh Honeycrisps from our farmers market!! SO satisfying on a fall evening!
Yes! I am really glad you enjoyed this, Laura! xTieghan
I have a question- can you skip the eggs? I can’t eat eggs right now or a egg replacer( Health thing??) Just curious. If you can’t, totally fine, i just have fresh HONEYCRISP apples from the orchard calling my name. And a latte.☕
Hey Johanna,
So sorry I haven’t tested this recipe without the eggs so I am unsure of the results. You could try a chia or flax egg:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Followed the recipe (cut in half since there is just the two of us) and came out with eight delicious apple fritters. I skipped the expresso since that isn’t something we ever have in the house but these were so good. And so easy. And for those that didn’t see it in the recipe… the melted butter goes in the batter with the milk and eggs….
Thank you so much Julie! xTieghan
Is there anything else I can substitute for the instant coffee in the glaze?
Hey Jess,
You could just omit the instant coffee. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These look delicious!! Gonna go buy apples! Can I ask if it’s possible to bake these instead of frying? Thank you!
Hey Monica,
If you were to bake these I would do them in a muffin tin, but please note you may not get the same texture and results as frying. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These look amazing!!! I’ve never fried things.. but I need to make these. Is it possible to fry in olive oil and without a thermometer?
Hey Alexa,
I like to use canola oil for this and I did not use a thermometer, just medium-high heat on the stove. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Could you use an air fryer for this recipe?
Hey Kay,
So sorry but I do not own an air fryer so I am unsure of what the results would be! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
These look amazing! I’ve never fried with oil before. Would it be possible to make these in an air fryer instead of frying on the stove top?
Hey Kari,
So sorry but I do not own an air fryer so I am unsure of what the results would be. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I noticed in the instructions it mentioned butter, but I don’t see that in the ingredients. Could you let me know how much butter to add? And, thank you so much for all of your recipes. My sister-in-law, Tami, is obsessed with your site, as am I. Every recipe I’ve made is THE MOST DELICIOUS! I have 2 grand daughters and they must have the homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal every morning. TY Diane
Hey Diane,
So sorry for the confusion, this recipe needs 2 tablespoons of butter:) Thanks so much for your kind message! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
Hi
The recipe instructions says butter but it’s not listed in the ingredients, do you mean buttermilk?
My email vanwallplnf7@aol.com. Please let me know my grandkids love everything Apple and the fritters will be perfect for breakfast
Thanks
Vanessa
Hey Vanessa,
You need buttermilk and 2 tablespoons of butter:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
What kind of oil do you use to fry them ? And can I know the recipe is probably going 10x better with whole milk but do you think I could use a higher fat non dairy milk like coconut milk instead ! Thanks ! I have been following you since 2014 and I love every single one of your post! Thanks for all you do !
Hey Melody,
I like to use canola oil for frying and then yes I think a non-dairy milk will work! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
What butter?? No butter in the ingredients but directions call for it
Hey Tammi,
You will need 2 tablespoons of butter:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
the fritters sound absolutely amazing! but……directions say to add butter. i don’t see butter listed in the ingredients? ?
Hey Kathy,
The recipe calls for 2 tablespoons of butter:) I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan