When the first chill of autumn hits the air here in Asheville, I find myself reaching for my mixing bowls and my basket of freshly picked apples. There’s something so deeply comforting about baking with apples — the smell of cinnamon, the warmth of the oven, the way your kitchen fills with the scent of sweet nostalgia.
One of my all-time favorite fall recipes is these Baked Apple Fritters. They’re everything you love about the traditional fried version — crisp edges, tender apples, that sticky-sweet glaze — but with a lighter twist. Instead of deep frying, we bake them to golden perfection. You still get the same cozy comfort but without the mess (or the extra oil).
I started making these a few years ago when my son asked if we could have apple fritters for breakfast but I didn’t want to start my day with a pot of hot oil. So I experimented — and after a few tries, I landed on this easy baked version that’s become a seasonal staple in my home bakery, Sweet Magnolia.
Whether you’re serving them for breakfast, bringing them to a fall brunch, or sneaking one for dessert after dinner, these baked apple fritters are pure joy — warm, cinnamon-spiced, and bursting with apple flavor.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love Baked Apple Fritters
There’s a reason I come back to this recipe every single fall (and sometimes in February when I need a cozy pick-me-up).
- All the flavor, none of the frying. You still get that classic fritter texture — a golden crust outside and fluffy inside — without the greasy mess.
- Quick and easy. From start to finish, these are ready in under 30 minutes. Perfect for spontaneous baking sessions.
- Lighter and healthier. Baked instead of fried means less fat but still big flavor.
- Apples shine through. You get real apple chunks in every bite — not mushy, not too sweet.
- Smells like a bakery. The aroma alone is worth making them for. Cinnamon, vanilla, and caramelized apples fill the air while they bake.
- Perfect for any time of day. Breakfast? Dessert? Afternoon coffee treat? Yes to all.
- Family favorite. Even picky eaters love them. They taste like warm apple donuts fresh from the oven.
Ingredients
You don’t need anything fancy — just a handful of pantry staples and a few good apples.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 2 medium apples (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Granny Smith), peeled and chopped
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup milk (or almond milk)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp melted butter (or coconut oil)
Optional glaze:
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tbsp milk
- ¼ tsp vanilla extract
If you want to make them extra special, add a touch of lemon zest or drizzle with homemade caramel sauce for that caramel apple twist.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Let’s make these together. Grab your whisk — it’s time to fill your kitchen with the scent of fall.
1. Preheat your oven.
Set it to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Mix the dry ingredients.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
3. Combine the wet ingredients.
In another bowl, whisk together the egg, milk, melted butter, vanilla extract, and both sugars until the mixture is smooth and slightly frothy.
4. Mix it all together.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and gently fold them together. The batter should be thick but spoonable.
5. Fold in the apples.
Add your chopped apples and stir until they’re evenly distributed throughout the batter.
6. Shape the fritters.
Spoon the batter onto your prepared baking sheet in heaping tablespoons, leaving a little space between each one (they’ll spread slightly as they bake).
7. Bake.
Bake for 15–18 minutes or until golden brown on top. The edges should be crisp and the centers fluffy.
8. Glaze (optional but heavenly).
While they’re still warm, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Drizzle over each fritter and let it set for a few minutes.
That’s it — no oil splatters, no deep-frying, just pure fall bliss from your oven.
How to Serve Baked Apple Fritters
The first time I made these, I ate one straight off the baking sheet — still warm, sweet glaze melting into the nooks and crannies. Pure perfection.
For breakfast, I love serving them with a steaming cup of coffee or a mug of hot apple cider. The flavors of cinnamon and apple pair beautifully with anything cozy and spiced.
For brunch, you can dust them with powdered sugar and arrange them on a platter — they look bakery-ready but homemade.
If you’re serving them as dessert, try topping them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce. The contrast of warm fritter and cold ice cream is absolutely dreamy.
They also make wonderful grab-and-go snacks. I often tuck a few into a basket lined with a napkin for weekend picnics or road trips.
And if you love apples as much as I do, you might also like my Apple Pie Dump Cake Recipe or this cozy Apple Mug Cake. Both capture that same cinnamon-apple magic.
How to Store Baked Apple Fritters
If you have any leftovers (a rare occurrence in my kitchen), these fritters keep beautifully.
At room temperature:
Store in an airtight container for up to 2 days. They stay moist but lose a bit of crispness.
In the refrigerator:
Keep for up to 5 days. Warm them briefly in the microwave (10–15 seconds) or oven (325°F for 5 minutes) before serving.
To freeze:
Place cooled fritters on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Transfer to a freezer bag or container. They’ll last up to 2 months.
To reheat:
Pop frozen fritters into a 350°F oven for 10–12 minutes, or until heated through.
They’ll taste just as amazing as the day you baked them.
Tips to Make Baked Apple Fritters
Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks to make these fritters foolproof:
- Choose the right apples. Firm varieties like Granny Smith or Honeycrisp hold their shape and don’t turn mushy.
- Don’t overmix. Stir just until combined — overmixing makes them dense.
- Brush with butter. For that irresistible golden crust, brush the tops with melted butter before baking.
- Add a little apple cider. Swap out some milk for apple cider to enhance the apple flavor.
- Make them gluten-free. Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend — they turn out beautifully.
- Extra crunch? Toss in chopped pecans or walnuts.
- For richer flavor. Use brown butter instead of regular butter — it adds a subtle caramel note.
Variations of Baked Apple Fritters
I love experimenting with this base recipe — here are a few of my favorite twists:
1. Cinnamon Sugar Coating
Instead of glazing, brush warm fritters with melted butter and roll them in cinnamon sugar. It gives them a doughnut-shop feel.
2. Maple Glaze
Mix powdered sugar with maple syrup and a splash of milk for a glaze that tastes like Sunday morning.
3. Apple Pie Fritters
Add a tablespoon of apple pie filling into each fritter mound before baking for extra gooey centers.
4. Baked Apple Fritter Muffins
Spoon the batter into a muffin tin — they bake up tall, fluffy, and portable.
5. Healthier Version
Swap in whole wheat flour and coconut sugar, or use Greek yogurt instead of butter. Still soft, still delicious.
And if you’re in the mood for more fall apple goodness, check out my Healthy Apple Crisp or indulgent Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars.
FAQs
1. Can I use any type of apple?
Yes! I love Honeycrisp for sweetness and texture, but Granny Smith adds a nice tart balance.
2. Can I make them ahead of time?
Absolutely. Bake the fritters, cool completely, and store. Reheat before serving for that fresh-from-the-oven feel.
3. Can I air-fry them?
Yes — air fry at 350°F for 10–12 minutes until golden brown.
4. Do I have to glaze them?
No, but it’s worth it! The glaze adds sweetness and shine. Powdered sugar dusting works too.
5. Can I double the recipe?
Yes! It doubles perfectly if you’re baking for a crowd.
Final Thoughts
These Baked Apple Fritters are my cozy love letter to fall — warm, spiced, and filled with the scent of apples and cinnamon that instantly makes any house feel like home.
They’re proof that you don’t need a fryer to make bakery-quality fritters. Just a mixing bowl, a few apples, and the joy of baking something that makes your family gather around the kitchen counter before they’ve even cooled.
Next time you’re craving something sweet but simple, give these a try — they’re everything comforting about autumn, one bite at a time.
Follow me on Facebook and Pinterest where I share cozy, easy-to-make baking recipes just like this one.
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Baked Apple Fritters
- Total Time: 33 minutes
- Yield: 10 fritters 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
These Baked Apple Fritters are a cozy fall treat — golden brown, lightly glazed, and full of real apple pieces and cinnamon flavor without the frying mess.
Ingredients
- 2 medium apples (Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Granny Smith), peeled and chopped
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup milk (or almond milk)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- Optional glaze: ½ cup powdered sugar + 1–2 tbsp milk + ¼ tsp vanilla
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
3. In another bowl, whisk egg, milk, melted butter, vanilla, and sugars.
4. Add wet mixture to dry ingredients and fold gently.
5. Stir in chopped apples.
6. Drop spoonfuls of batter onto prepared sheet.
7. Bake 15–18 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Drizzle with glaze while warm.
Notes
Use firm apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith.
Brush fritters with butter before baking for extra color.
Store in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
Freeze up to 2 months and reheat before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fritter
- Calories: 190
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 130mg
- Fat: 6g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 35mg