Crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, these Air Fryer Apple Fritters are a quick and easy dessert with sweet cinnamon apples and a golden finish.
Air Fryer Apple Fritters are a quick and easy way to enjoy a classic fall treat without deep frying. These fritters are golden and crispy on the outside, tender and sweet on the inside, with cinnamon-spiced apples adding a warm, comforting flavor.
Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or an afternoon snack, these apple fritters come together in just minutes. Using the air fryer makes them lighter than traditional fried versions while still delivering all the rich, sweet, and cozy flavors you love. It’s one of our favorite 51 Easy Apple Desserts.
If you love air fryer recipes, also try Air Fryer Pizookie.
What's in this post: Air Fryer Apple Fritters
Why We Love This
- Quick and easy: Ready in just minutes without the mess of deep frying for the perfect recipe.
- Crispy and tender: Perfectly golden on the outside, soft and flavorful on the inside.
- Warm, comforting flavors: Cinnamon-spiced apples make every bite cozy and delicious.
- Versatile: Great for breakfast, dessert, or a sweet snack anytime.
- Healthier twist: Air frying gives you that classic fried taste with less oil.
Ingredients
Fritters
- All-purpose flour: Forms the structure of the fritters, giving them a soft, tender texture.
- Granulated sugar: Adds sweetness to the batter and balances the tartness of the apples.
- Baking powder: Helps the fritters rise and stay light and fluffy.
- Salt: Enhances the flavor of the apples and spices.
- Ground cinnamon: Adds warm, aromatic flavor that complements the apples perfectly.
- Whole milk: Moistens the batter for a tender, soft texture.
- Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and provide structure to the fritters.
- Vanilla extract: Adds depth and a subtle, sweet aroma to the batter.
- Lemon juice: Prevents the diced apples from browning and adds a hint of brightness.
- Unsalted butter, melted: Adds richness and helps keep the fritters tender.
- Apples, peeled, cored, and diced: The star ingredient. Soft, sweet, and juicy pieces that make the fritters deliciously fruity.
Glaze
- Powdered sugar: Creates a smooth, sweet glaze that adds a classic finishing touch.
- Whole milk: Thins the powdered sugar to the perfect consistency for drizzling.
- Vanilla extract: Adds warm, aromatic flavor to the glaze.
- Unsalted butter, melted: Gives the glaze a rich, glossy finish and a slight buttery flavor.
Find the complete list of air fryer apple fritter ingredients at the bottom of the post.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. Get out a large mixing bowl and whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
Step 2. You will need a separate bowl for the wet ingredients. Whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla, and lemon juice until combined.
Step 3. Combine the wet ingredients into the dry mixture. Then add the melted butter. Stir until just combined.
Step 4. Gently fold in the diced apples until evenly distributed.
Step 5. Go ahead and preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Don’t forget to line the basket of your air fryer with a piece of parchment paper and lightly coat with nonstick spray. Drop the batter by ¼-cup portions into the basket, cooking about 4 fritters at a time. If your air fryer is smaller, you may have to do more batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
Step 6. Allow the fritters to air fry for 8 minutes. Then carefully flip and cook for another 3 minutes, or until deep golden brown and cooked through. Air fryer cooking times can vary so keep a close eye on the fritters.
Step 7. Place the fritters on a wire cooling rack set over a baking sheet. Continue with remaining batter until all the fritters are prepared.
Step 8. Combine the glaze ingredients in a medium bowl. Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Then add melted butter and whisk until glossy. Dip the tops of slightly cooled fritters into the glaze, letting the excess drip off. Place back on the wire rack to allow the glaze to set.
Storage
Room Temperature: Store cooled fritters in an airtight container for up to 1 day. They are best eaten fresh for optimal crispiness.
Refrigerator: Keep fritters in an airtight container for up to 2-3 days. They may lose some crispiness but can be reheated in the air fryer or oven to restore texture.
Freezer: Place cooled fritters in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until firm. Transfer to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 1 month. Reheat directly from frozen in the air fryer or oven until warmed through and slightly crispy.
Tips For Perfect Air Fryer Apple Fritters
- Preheat the Air Fryer: If your air fryer does not have a preheat option, run it for 5 minutes at 375 degrees F to ensure it is properly heated.
- Even Apple Pieces: Cut apples into even-sized pieces so the fritters cook uniformly.
- Choose the Right Apples: Use slightly tart apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith for a balanced flavor.
- Prevent Sticking: Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Cook in Batches: Don’t overcrowd the basket; this ensures even crispiness.
- Flip for Even Browning: Don’t forget to flip the fritters so they cook evenly.
- Add Extra Flavor: Sprinkle cinnamon or powdered sugar over the fritters after cooking.
- Cool Slightly Before Glazing: Let these easy air fryer apple fritters cool for a few minutes before drizzling with glaze to prevent it from melting off too quickly.
More Apple Desserts
- Easy Fried Apple Pies Recipe
- Apple Pie Tacos
- Cinnamon Roll Apple Pie Recipe
- Air Fryer Apple Fries
- Air Fryer Hand Pies
If you try this apple fritter recipe, don’t forget to leave a review and star rating! Your feedback helps others discover this easy, delicious recipe and lets us know how much you loved it.
Air Fryer Apple Fritters
Ingredients
For the Fritters:
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ⅓ cup whole milk
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 medium apples peeled, cored, and diced (about 2¾ cups.)
For the Glaze:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter melted
Instructions
For the Fritters:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla, and lemon juice until combined.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture, then add the melted butter. Stir until just combined, making sure no dry streaks remain.
- Carefully fold in the diced apples until evenly distributed.
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F. Line the basket with parchment paper and lightly coat with nonstick spray.
- Drop the batter by ¼-cup portions into the basket, cooking about 4 fritters at a time.
- Air fry for 8 minutes, then carefully flip and cook for another 3 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Air fryer cooking times can vary so keep a close eye on the fritters.
- Transfer fritters to a wire rack set over a baking sheet. Continue with remaining batter until all the fritters are prepared.
For the Glaze:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth. Add melted butter and whisk until glossy.
- Dip the tops of slightly cooled fritters into the glaze, letting the excess drip off. Place back on the wire rack to allow the glaze to set.
- Then the fritters are ready to serve and enjoy!
Can you make these in a large counter top oven with air fry function.
Priscilla – I have not tried it personally but as long as your oven has the air fryer option, it should work. Let us know if you try it!
So easy to make and the taste is great. I use honey crisp apple as there are favorite. Enjoy
Thank you, Lynn! So happy to hear you enjoyed this recipe.