Chef John's Apple Fritters

I didn't think I liked apple fritters, but turns out I just don't like chunks of almost raw apple, surrounded by a doughnut. Maybe I've just been going to the wrong shops, but I've never enjoyed the texture, and always wanted to try them with cooked apples.

• Preparation Time: 15 mins
• Cooking Time: 10 mins
• Total Time: 25 mins
• Calories: 248 Calories

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon white sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup white sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
• ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon butter
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• 2 cups vegetable oil for frying
• 2 large Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and cut into 1/4-inch dice
• ½ cup sparkling apple cider
• 1 tablespoon sparkling apple cider, or as needed to make glaze
• ½ cup confectioners' sugar, or more as needed

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Melt butter over medium-high heat and cook until it turns golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add apples and cook over medium-high heat until apples just begin to soften around the edges, 3 to 4 minutes. Sprinkle in 1 tablespoon sugar and continue cooking another 2 minutes. Remove from heat. Drain in a strainer; let cool to room temperature.

Step 2

Whisk flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg together in a mixing bowl until well combined.

Step 3

Whisk egg, 1/4 cup sugar, and melted butter together in a separate mixing bowl. Add cooled apple pieces and sparkling apple cider; add the flour mixture. Stir just until flour is incorporated.

Step 4

Heat oil in a deep-fryer or large saucepan to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Spoon about 2 tablespoons batter per fritter, into hot oil, slightly flattening them out. Cook in batches. Fry on one side until small bubbles appear on the surface, about 2 minutes. Carefully flip fritters over and fry the other side until richly browned, about 2 more minutes.

Step 5

Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain grease. Cool slightly before glazing.

Step 6

Whisk powdered sugar and cinnamon in a mixing bowl. Add enough apple cider, 1 teaspoon at a time, to form a smooth glaze that is just runny enough to drizzle over fritters.