Crispy on the outside, soft and packed with apples on the inside, these Applesauce Fritters are a nostalgic, sweet treat that tastes like fall in every bite.
Recipe: $3.04 | Per Serving: $0.30 | Servings: 10
With their golden crisp edges and soft, tender centers, these little donuts are irresistibly good. With a little powdered sugar sprinkled on top or turned into a glaze, they still come together in under 30 minutes. No eggs, no dairy, no fuss, just comforting dough and crisp apples in every bite.
Whether you're craving a bakery favorite or just want something cozy and homemade, this easy recipe dares you to stop at just one. They're such a great twist on the traditional apple fritters.
We always seem to have a pantry full of applesauce because my son brings it home from school in his snack bags, but I remember getting it on WIC as well, which led me to realize many people probably have some in their cupboards looking for inspiration.
While my Applesauce Custard Pie is fabulous and perfect for gatherings, these applesauce drop donuts are perfect for smaller occasions and lazy weekends. They're also great for using up homemade Instant Pot Applesauce too!
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🍯 Why This Recipe Works
- Applesauce as a Star Ingredient: Using applesauce not only infuses the fritters with rich apple flavor but also adds moisture, eliminating the need for additional fats.
- Self-Rising Flour Simplifies the Process: By using self-rising flour, which contains leavening agents, the recipe becomes simpler, meaning you can make fluffy fritters without extra ingredients.
- Fresh Apple Pieces for Texture: Adding small chunks of fresh apple provides a delightful contrast in texture, offering bursts of juiciness in every bite.
🥘 Ingredients
Applesauce- Provides moisture and a deep apple flavor, enhancing the overall taste of the fritters. I recommend using sweetened applesauce, but if you only have unsweetened, you can add up to ¼ cup of granulated sugar to this recipe for added sweetness.
Apples- Having made this recipe with Granny Smith and Gala apples, we found that they disappeared much more quickly when we chose the sweeter of the two. I recommend using a baking-quality apple, but you can choose whichever profile you want- sweet or tart.
For specific ingredients and measurements, please see the recipe card below.
🧾 Substitutions
Self-Rising Flour- Don't have self-rising flour on hand? Make some yourself! Just combine 2 cups of all-purpose flour with 3 teaspoons of baking powder and ½ teaspoon of salt to replace the two cups of self-rising flour in this recipe.
🔪 Instructions for Applesauce Fritters
Step 1: Fill a deep-sided pan or pot with 2 inches of vegetable oil and set it over medium-high heat on the stove. You want it to reach about 350°F to 370°F before use.
Step 2: While the oil is preheating, measure and add your applesauce, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla to a large mixing bowl. (Image 1). Whisk together until well combined. (Image 2). Do not add any additional applesauce.
Step 3: Peel one large or two small apples and dice into small chunks roughly ¼ -½ inch big. (Image 3). Add the apples to your dough mixture. (Image 4).
Step 4: Stir the apples into the dough to evenly distribute them. (Image 5).
Step 5: Check your oil's temperature using a thermometer and double check that it's ready by adding a small piece of dough into the oil. It should start to rise to the surface as the oil bubbles quickly. If it doesn't, the oil isn't hot enough.
Step 6: When the oil is ready, work in batches to cook 1-2 Tablespoon-sized scoops of dough at a time. You need enough space for them not to touch, or else they'll grow together. (Image 6). I use a 1.5 Tablespoon cookie scoop.
Step 7: Fry them on each side for about 2-3 minutes or until a deep golden brown. (Image 7). Try not to rush them because they need this time to cook the centers. If the outsides are cooking faster than the centers or ending up burnt, that's a sign your oil is too hot.
Step 8: Once the fritters are fully cooked, remove them from the oil and place them onto a plate lined with paper towels. (Image 8).
Optional Step 9: Dust the tops of your warm (not hot) apple fritters with powdered sugar or mix 2 cups of powdered sugar and 3-4 Tablespoons of water to create a thick glaze to coat them. (Images 9 & 10).
Enjoy!
🍴 Recipe Tips
- Finding the perfect size scoop. I used a 1 ½-tablespoon scoop for medium-sized fritters, but you can use half tablespoons for smaller ones, or 1-inch scoops for larger ones. Just add a minute or two of cook time to the larger ones. Help speed up the cooking by flattening them with the back of a spoon; larger fritters may need up to 5 minutes per side. Test one first to ensure it's cooked through.
- Do NOT air fry- Do not air fry the batter as it will not turn out well- they will be dense. You may be able to bake them in a silicone oven-safe donut mold, but they will still be on the heavier side.
- Safely Getting Rid of Frying Oil- Always let frying oil cool down completely before handling it, hot oil can be very dangerous.
- Never pour it down the drain. Instead, once it’s cool, carefully pour it into an old plastic bottle or a sealable sandwich bag. Then, just toss it in the trash.
- If the oil still looks pretty clear and doesn’t have burnt bits in it, you can reuse it. Just strain it, pour it into a clean bottle, and store it in a dark place. Try to use it within 1–2 months, and don’t reuse the same oil more than three times.
👩🏻🍳 Storage and Reheating
Storage: Store any leftover fritters in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Reheating: To retain crispiness, reheat fritters in a preheated oven at 325°F for about 10 minutes.
💭 Recipe FAQs
It's best to fry the fritters immediately after preparing the batter to ensure optimal texture and rise.
Be sure the oil is properly heated before adding the fritters, and avoid crowding the pan, too many at once can lead to uneven cooking. Also, give them enough time to fully cook through for the best texture.
Granny Smith apples work wonderfully in fritters thanks to their firm texture and tart bite, which contrasts nicely with the sweetness of the batter. You can also try Honeycrisp, Gala, or Fuji apples for a sweeter twist, or mix a few varieties to get the best of both worlds.
❤️ More Delicious Apple Recipes
If you tried these Applesauce Fritters, please leave a ⭐️ star rating and share your feedback in the 📝 comments section below. I would truly appreciate it!
📖 Recipe
Applesauce Fritters
Ingredients
- 2 cups (506 g) sweetened applesauce ($1.17)
- 2 cups (260 g) self-rising flour ($0.52)
- 1 ⅓ cups (160 g) apple pieces (peeled and cut into ½ inch by ¼ inch pieces) ($1.24)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon ($0.08)
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg ($0.02)
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ($0.01)
- vegetable oil for frying
- Powdered sugar for dusting *optional
Instructions
- Fill a deep-sided pan or pot with 2 inches of vegetable oil and set it over medium-high heat on the stove. You want it to reach about 350°F to 370°F before use. 360°F is ideal.
- While the oil is preheating, measure and add your applesauce, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla to a large mixing bowl. Whisk together until well combined. Do not add any additional applesauce.
- Peel one large or two small apples and dice into small chunks roughly ¼ inch big. Add the apples to your dough mixture. Stir the apples into the dough to evenly distribute them.
- Check your oil's temperature using a thermometer and double check that it's ready by adding a small piece of dough into the oil. It should start to rise to the surface as the oil bubbles quickly. If it doesn't, the oil isn't hot enough.
- When the oil is ready, work in batches to cook 1-2 Tablespoon-sized scoops of dough at a time. You need enough space for them not to touch, or else they'll grow together. I use a 1.5 Tablespoon cookie scoop.
- Fry them on each side for about 2-3 minutes or until a deep golden brown. Try not to rush them because they need this time to cook the centers. If the outsides are cooking faster than the centers or ending up burnt, that's a sign your oil is too hot.
- Once the fritters are fully cooked, remove them from the oil and place them onto a plate lined with paper towels.
- Dust the tops of your warm (not hot) apple fritters with powdered sugar or mix 2 cups of powdered sugar and 3-4 Tablespoons of water to create a thick glaze to coat them.
Nicole Durham says
We couldn't get eough of these tasty apple fritters! They've become a family favorite.