If you’re craving a sweet treat that tastes like a warm hug on a chilly morning, then this recipe for Air Fryer Apple Fritters With Warm Glaze is about to become your new best friend. These fritters are perfectly crispy on the outside yet soft and juicy inside, loaded with tender chunks of crisp apple, and finished with a luscious apple butter glaze that melts beautifully over each bite. Using an air fryer keeps them light, less greasy, and effortlessly quick to make – perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert that feels like an orchard escape. Trust me, once you experience this delightful combination, these fritters will find a permanent spot on your recipe rotation.

Air Fryer Apple Fritters With Warm Glaze - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe keeps things wonderfully simple, relying on a handful of pantry staples and one fresh apple to shine. Each ingredient serves a key purpose, whether it’s building the perfect cinnamon-spiced dough, adding moisture and tang with buttermilk, or complementing the apples’ natural sweetness with a warm glaze.

All-purpose flour: The foundation for a tender, fluffy fritter with just the right structure.
Granulated sugar: Adds subtle sweetness and helps balance the tartness of the apples.
Baking powder: Gives the fritters their lovely puff and light texture.
Cinnamon: Infuses that classic autumnal warmth that pairs perfectly with apples.
Milk (2% or higher): Creates a tender batter and, combined with lemon juice, forms a buttermilk substitute for extra fluffiness.
Lemon juice: Adds brightness and tenderizes apples while activating the baking powder in the batter.
Vanilla extract: Enhances the dough with a delicate, sweet aroma.
Egg: Binds everything together for a cohesive batter that holds the apple chunks in place.
Crisp apple (like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp): Provides juicy, sweet-tart bursts of flavor and delightful texture throughout.
Melted butter: Key for the glaze’s rich, buttery finish that ties everything together.
Icing sugar: Creates a smooth, sweet glaze that’s perfect for coating each fritter.
Apple butter: Adds concentrated apple flavor and depth to the glaze for that extra cozy touch.

How to Make Air Fryer Apple Fritters With Warm Glaze

Step 1: Prepare the Cinnamon Dough

Start by whisking together all your dry ingredients—flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt—in a medium bowl. This mix gives your fritters the perfect hint of warming spice balanced by sweetness. Then, in a small cup, combine milk with lemon juice and let it sit for a few minutes to create a quick buttermilk. Add vanilla extract and a beaten egg to this mixture, blending until smooth. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients, folding gently until a thick batter forms. Finally, fold in your diced apples, ensuring each morsel is wrapped in cinnamon-spiced batter. This step guarantees every bite is juicy and flavorful.

Step 2: Mix the Apple Butter Glaze

While your batter rests, whip up the glaze by combining icing sugar, melted butter, apple butter, and a little lemon juice. The lemon juice is key here—it thins the glaze just enough so that it spreads easily without dripping off. The blend of apple butter and butter adds a rich depth that complements the fritters perfectly. Set this aside for glazing after frying.

Step 3: Air Fry the Apple Fritters

Preheat your air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Line the basket with parchment paper, then lightly spray it with a cooking spray to prevent sticking. Drop 2-3 tablespoons of batter per fritter onto the liner, making sure to leave space between each one. Spray the tops lightly with oil to help them crisp beautifully. Air fry for about 4 and a half minutes, then carefully flip each fritter, spray again, and continue air frying for another 4 and a half minutes. When they puff up, crackle, and edges turn golden brown, you know they’re ready.

Step 4: Glaze and Cool

Place a sheet of parchment under a cooling rack to catch any drips. Once the fritters have slightly cooled but are still warm, spoon the apple butter glaze onto each fritter and spread it evenly. The glaze will set as it cools, giving each fritter a shiny, delectable finish that invites you in. Your Air Fryer Apple Fritters With Warm Glaze are now ready to enjoy!

How to Serve Air Fryer Apple Fritters With Warm Glaze

Garnishes

To elevate your apple fritters even further, sprinkle a dusting of powdered sugar or a pinch of cinnamon on top. For a fresh pop, add a few thin apple slices or chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for added texture and nutty flavor. A dollop of whipped cream or vanilla yogurt on the side will also add a creamy contrast that everyone will love.

Side Dishes

These fritters pair wonderfully with hot drinks like spiced chai tea, cinnamon coffee, or a cup of creamy latte. For a brunch spread, serve alongside crispy bacon or scrambled eggs for a mix of savory and sweet. A fresh fruit salad adds a refreshing balance, making the entire meal feel complete and satisfying.

Creative Ways to Present

For a charming presentation, stack the fritters in a rustic way and drizzle an extra swirl of apple butter glaze over the top just before serving. You can also thread smaller fritter bites onto skewers for a fun appetizer or party treat. If you’re feeling fancy, serve with a side of warm caramel sauce or a sprinkle of granola for crunchy delight.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Once fully cooled, store leftover apple fritters in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. If you prefer to keep them in the fridge, they will last about 3-4 days but may lose some crispiness.

Freezing

These fritters freeze beautifully! Lay them out on a baking sheet to freeze individually before transferring to a freezer bag or container. This prevents them from sticking together. They’ll keep well for up to two months. Just thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Reheating

To bring back their fresh-baked crunch and softness, reheat your fritters in the air fryer at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 3-4 minutes. This refreshes the crisp exterior without drying out the tender apple bits, reminding you of their freshly made glory.

FAQs

Can I use a different type of apple in the recipe?

Absolutely! While crisp apples like Granny Smith, Gala, or Honeycrisp are recommended for their firm texture and perfect balance of sweet and tart, you can experiment with whichever variety you have on hand. Just make sure the apples are fresh and not too soft to avoid soggy fritters.

Is the air fryer necessary, or can I bake these fritters in the oven?

The air fryer provides the perfect combination of a crispy outside and a tender inside without needing excess oil, making this recipe healthier and quicker. However, if you don’t have an air fryer, you can bake these fritters at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for about 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through to brown both sides.

How do I prevent my fritters from being soggy?

One common cause of soggy fritters is too much moisture in your dough, often from the apple pieces. To avoid this, pat diced apples dry with paper towels before mixing them into the batter. Also, don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket as this can steam the fritters instead of crisping them.

Can I make these fritters gluten-free?

Yes! Simply swap the all-purpose flour for a 1:1 gluten-free blend. You might need to add an extra tablespoon of milk to adjust the batter consistency, but the fritters will turn out just as delightful.

Can I prepare the dough ahead of time?

While it’s best to mix the batter fresh for optimal rising and texture, you can prepare the dough and store it in the refrigerator for a few hours if needed. Just give it a gentle stir before scooping the batter into the air fryer.

Final Thoughts

There’s something truly special about sinking your teeth into warm, homemade Air Fryer Apple Fritters With Warm Glaze. They’re the kind of comfort food that instantly lifts your spirits and brings a touch of cozy joy to your day. Whether you’re making these for weekend brunch, a special breakfast treat, or an easy dessert, these fritters are sure to become a beloved favorite. So grab your air fryer, gather those simple ingredients, and get ready to fill your home with the irresistible scent of cinnamon, apple, and buttery glaze. Your taste buds will thank you!

Air Fryer Apple Fritters With Warm Glaze

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These Air Fryer Apple Fritters are crispy on the outside, soft and juicy inside, perfect for a comforting breakfast or dessert. Made with fresh crisp apples, cinnamon-spiced batter, and finished with a sweet apple butter glaze, they bring warm flavors of the orchard right to your kitchen using the convenience of an air fryer.

Author: Mari
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 9 minutes
Total Time: 19 minutes
Yield: 7 apple fritters 1x
Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
Method: Air Frying
Cuisine: American

Instructions

Prepare the Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt ensuring all dry ingredients are fully combined.
Create Buttermilk Mixture: In a small cup, mix milk with 1 tsp lemon juice and let stand for about 3 minutes to curdle slightly, forming a buttermilk substitute. Add vanilla extract and break the egg into this mixture, beating lightly with a fork until uniform.
Combine Batter: Pour the wet ingredients into the center of the dry ingredients bowl. Using a spatula, mix until you have a thick batter.
Add Apples: Fold the diced apples gently into the batter until evenly distributed.
Make the Glaze: In a small bowl, combine melted butter, icing sugar, apple butter, and 2 tsp lemon juice. Stir well. If the glaze is too thick to spread, add lemon juice dropwise until you achieve a loose, spreadable consistency.
Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C) for 2-4 minutes.
Prepare Air Fryer Basket: Place an air fryer-safe parchment liner inside the basket and lightly spray with cooking spray such as avocado or any light oil spray.
Form Fritters: Spoon 2-3 tablespoons of batter per fritter onto the parchment liner, spacing them appropriately to allow room for puffing. You can usually fit 2-3 fritters per batch depending on your air fryer size.
Start Air Frying: Lightly spray the tops of the fritters with cooking spray. Air fry at 400°F for approximately 4.5 minutes.
Flip and Continue Cooking: Pause the air fryer, carefully flip the fritters over, spray tops again, and air fry for another 4.5 minutes. The fritters are done when edges turn golden brown and they appear puffed and crackling.
Cool Fritters: Remove fritters carefully and place on a cooling rack. Repeat the frying process with remaining batter.
Glaze the Fritters: Position a parchment-lined tray under a cooling rack to catch drips. Spoon glaze onto each fritter and spread evenly until coated.
Set Glaze and Serve: Allow glaze to set and solidify, then enjoy your crispy, tender, and flavorful Air Fryer Apple Fritters.

Notes

Use crisp, firm apples like Granny Smith, Gala, or Honey Crisp for the best fritter texture and flavor.
If your fritters turn out soggy, it may be due to excess moisture from softer apples. Pat diced apple pieces dry with a paper towel before mixing.
To make gluten-free fritters, substitute a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend and add an extra tablespoon of milk if the batter seems too thick.
This recipe is family-friendly but requires adult supervision during air frying due to hot surfaces and oil spray.