Amazing 18 baked apple fritters joy

When that craving hits for something cozy, warm, and wonderfully spiced, nothing beats the nostalgia of an apple fritter. But let’s be honest, cleaning up the oil after deep frying just isn’t my idea of pure cooking joy, especially after my corporate burnout days. That’s why I’m so excited to share these incredible baked apple fritters with you! We get all that amazing fall flavor and that perfect texture—tender inside, just a little crisp on the edges—but we skip the deep fryer completely. Trust me, these are my go-to for a lighter take on a classic, finished with the quickest, sweetest cinnamon glaze imaginable. It’s comfort food, simplified! If you want to learn more about my journey from demanding spreadsheets to finding my peace in the kitchen, you can check out my story over at the About Me page.

Why You Will Love These Easy Baked Apple Fritters

I truly believe these are some of the best home-baked treats I’ve ever developed. They hit all the right notes without any of the hassle. You’re going to adore making these because:

• They deliver that classic fall flavor explosion with warm spices and sweet apple chunks.
• They are genuinely healthier apple fritters since we are baking them—that’s right, fritters without frying!
• The texture is just right: soft, cake-like insides and slightly caramelized, wonderfully sweet edges.
• Cleanup afterward is unbelievably simple; no heavy grease to deal with at all.

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Gathering Ingredients for Your Baked Apple Fritters Recipe

Okay, let’s talk ingredients! This baked apple fritters recipe comes together with staple pantry items, but the quality of your apples really makes a difference here. You definitely want firm apples—think Honeycrisp or Granny Smith—so they hold their shape and don’t turn to mush when they bake. Make sure those 2 large apples are peeled, cored, and diced nice and small before we do anything else. Having everything on hand makes the mixing process totally seamless, which is what we love!

For the Cinnamon Sugar Apple Fritters Batter

We need to keep our dry and wet stuff separate for mixing, just like in the old days. Here’s what you’ll pull out:

• 2 large apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and diced small
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Sweet Glaze

This glaze is simple magic! It’s what gives you those glossy, sweet sweet glazed apple fritters we’re after. Be warned: you might want to double this part!

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk (Keep extra on hand—we’ll adjust this!)
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Expert Tips for Perfect Baked Apple Fritters

Alright, this is where we separate the good oven baked fritters from the truly amazing ones. Since we aren’t deep frying here, we need to trick the oven into giving us that lovely contrast—crisp edges and a wonderfully soft, cake-like center. It takes just a couple of little nudges to our technique, but they make all the difference in the world. If you want to up your baking game, stop by the Pure Cooking Joy Blog for more deep dives!

Apple Preparation Secrets for Tender Baked Apple Bites

We tossed those diced apples with a tiny bit of sugar and cinnamon right at the start, remember? This isn’t just for flavor! Coating them first draws out a little bit of natural moisture prematurely. When that moisture hits the hot oven, it helps steam the apples slightly as they bake, ensuring they turn into those perfectly soft pockets of goodness inside your tender baked apple bites instead of staying hard.

Avoid Overmixing the Batter

This is a lesson I learned the hard way with muffins, and it applies perfectly here for our easy apple fritters. Once you add those wet ingredients to the flour mixture, stop stirring the second you don’t see any more dry streaks of flour. Seriously, stop! If you keep going, you’ll develop the gluten, and instead of a light, tender fritter, you’ll end up with something tough and chewy. Nobody wants rubbery apples!

Oh, and one more thing I love to do—if you want those edges to really shine, give the tops of the batter in the tin a super light spray right before they go in. It helps create a bit of that crispness we miss from frying!

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Step-by-Step: How to Make Baked Apple Fritters

Making these baked apple fritters is surprisingly straightforward when you follow the sequence. Getting the oven hot and prepping the tin first are non-negotiable starting points, just like any good baking project. We want everything ready to go so we can mix quickly and get these **warm apple treats** into the heat as soon as that batter is ready. Don’t worry about perfection here; just stick to the order, and you’ll get those beautifully uniform little donuts!

Mixing the Batter and Folding in Apples

First stop: preheat that oven to 375°F (190°C) and get your 12-cup muffin tin greased nicely—or use those liners if you’re feeling lazy, I won’t judge! Now, take those pre-sugared apples and set them aside. In your big mixing bowl, whisk the dry stuff (flour, baking powder, spices, salt). In a separate little bowl, whisk all your wet ingredients together: the remaining sugar, the egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla. Pour the wet bowl right into the dry bowl and mix with a spatula until *just* combined. I mean it, stop stirring when you still see a few flour specks! That keeps the texture light. Now, gently fold in those apple pieces. We are introducing them softly so we don’t knock all the air out we just worked so hard to create.

Baking and Cooling the Fritters

Spoon that apple-packed batter into your prepared cups, filling them about two-thirds of the way up. They need room to puff! Pop them into the hot oven for about 18 to 22 minutes. You’ll know they are done when they’re golden on top and a toothpick slid into the center comes out clean—not wet batter, just moist crumbs! Let them hang out in the hot tin for five minutes after they come out. This slight rest helps them set up so they don’t fall apart when you try to move them. After that, carefully transfer them onto a wire rack to cool down just enough before we hit them with that sweet glaze. If you’re looking for more foolproof baking advice, I cover a lot of my best methods in my guide on making moist apple bread, too!

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Creating the Perfect Sweet Glazed Apple Fritters Finish

Okay, the baking is done, the kitchen smells absolutely heavenly, and now we move onto my favorite part: the glorious, sticky, sweet topping! The glaze is truly what elevates these from just ‘baked apple treats’ to full-on comfort food status. Remember, the secret to that beautiful sheen, that little crunch of hardened sugar on the outside of these sweet glazed apple fritters, is timing. We don’t wait for them to cool completely!

While the fritters are still warm—not piping hot, but definitely warm to the touch—you want to drizzle that glaze over them. If they’re too cold, the glaze just sits on top in stiff blobs. If they’re too hot, the glaze melts right into the fritter and disappears! We want that perfect moment where the warm fritter slightly melts the glaze just enough so it drips down the sides beautifully.

Mixing it is super easy; you just whisk together the powdered sugar, cinnamon, and just enough milk until it flows slowly off the whisk. If you accidentally make it too thin—don’t sweat it! It happens to me all the time. I just whisk in a spoonful more of powdered sugar until it thickens back up. For some extra zing, sometimes I toss a tiny pinch of orange zest in there, too. If you ever need inspiration for other fantastic toppings, I have a whole post dedicated to easy icing recipes right here. Drizzle generously and watch the magic happen!

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Serving Suggestions for Your Apple Fritter Breakfast

These baked apple fritters are honestly fantastic all on their own, especially when they are still warm from the oven and the glaze is perfectly sticky. But if you’re looking to turn them into a real weekend spread—maybe for Sunday brunch or an easy holiday breakfast—I have a couple of ideas!

They are wonderful served right alongside a warm cup of coffee or spiced apple cider, making them the ultimate cozy fall dessert or morning treat. If you’re looking for a more substantial breakfast spread, seriously consider pairing these alongside some of my fluffy French toast. That combination of soft, eggy bread and warm spice fritters is just unbeatable. Just make sure you eat them fast; warmed apple treats are best enjoyed right away!

Storage and Reheating Instructions for Baked Apple Fritters

Listen, I know these are best enjoyed fresh, straight from the cooling rack when that glaze is still a little shiny, but what if you have leftovers? Don’t panic! These little guys hold up surprisingly well. Store any unglazed or fully cooled glazed fritters in an airtight container at room temperature. They should stay nice for about three days. If you glazed them, they might get a *little* sticky after the first day, but that’s just more sugar, right?

Now, for reheating! I seriously recommend avoiding the microwave if you can, because it makes them soft all over. If you want to bring back some of that lovely texture, pop them straight onto a baking sheet and heat them in a 300°F oven for about five to seven minutes. That gentle heat warms them through and crisps the edges just a bit. If you’re in a huge hurry, 15 seconds in the microwave is fine, but plan on them being a bit softer!

Frequently Asked Questions About Oven Baked Fritters

I always get the same few questions when people try making these oven baked fritters for the first time. When you move away from frying, your instincts might shout at you, but trust me, these steps ensure you get that perfect result every time! I want you to feel totally confident baking these amazing **apple cinnamon dessert** treats.

Can I make these apple cinnamon dessert fritters ahead of time?

You absolutely can! I often mix the batter the night before, cover it up, and keep it in the fridge. Just pull it out for about 20 minutes before baking so it warms up slightly. Here’s the big rule for make-ahead: do *not* glaze them until you are ready to serve them. If you glaze them too early, the beautiful cinnamon sugar texture gets soggy overnight. Bake them, let them cool completely, store them airtight, and then glaze them fresh before serving!

How do I get my baked apple fritters crispy without frying?

This is the number one goal when moving to the oven! Two things are crucial here. First, make sure your oven is fully preheated to 375°F. We need that blast of heat. Second, remember that little trick I mentioned earlier? Give the tops of the batter cups a very light spritz of cooking spray just before they go in. That tiny bit of extra fat on the surface helps them brown up and get those lovely slightly crisp edges that mimic frying so well. It makes all the difference for achieving those crispy baked fritters!

What is the best apple to use for baked apple fritters?

If you use a super soft apple, like a McIntosh, it’ll dissolve into applesauce during the baking process, and we want those nice substantial chunks of apple in our baked apple fritters! I stick to Granny Smith because they hold their shape beautifully and provide a fantastic tart counterpoint to all that sweet glaze. Honeycrisp or Fuji apples are also excellent choices because they stay relatively firm and keep that lovely little chewiness we love in every bite.

Sharing Your Baked Apple Fritters Creations

When you bake these apple fritter donuts, I genuinely want to see what you created! Please come back and leave a star rating right here on the recipe card—it helps me know I nailed the texture for you. If you have any last-minute ideas or changes you loved, drop them in the comments below; I read every single one!

If you snap a picture of your beautiful, glazed treats, tag me over on Facebook! I absolutely love seeing my recipes appear in your homes. You can find me and share your snaps at Pure Cooking Joy on Facebook. If you need to send a private message or have a specific question, don’t hesitate to reach out via the Contact page!

Easy Baked Apple Fritters with Cinnamon Sugar Glaze

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You deserve warm, comforting sweets that taste great without much fuss. Make these easy baked apple fritters in your oven for a lighter take on the classic treat. They are tender inside, slightly crisp outside, and covered in a sweet cinnamon glaze.

• Author: purejoyalex
• Prep Time: 15 min
• Cook Time: 22 min
• Total Time: 37 min
• Yield: 12 fritters 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American
• Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 2 large apples (like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and diced small
• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup milk
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• For the Glaze: 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

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Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Lightly grease a standard 12-cup muffin tin or line it with paper liners.
2. In a medium bowl, combine the diced apples with 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of the cinnamon. Set aside.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, remaining 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
4. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar, egg, 1/2 cup milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until combined.
5. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix gently with a spatula until just combined. Do not overmix; a few lumps are fine.
6. Gently fold the sugared apple pieces into the batter.
7. Spoon the batter evenly into the prepared muffin cups, filling each about two-thirds full.
8. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
9. While the fritters bake, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl, whisk together the powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon until smooth. Add more milk, a drop at a time, if the glaze is too thick.
10. Let the fritters cool in the pan for 5 minutes before transferring them to a wire rack.
11. Drizzle the warm fritters generously with the cinnamon sugar glaze. Serve warm for the best texture.

Notes

• For crispier edges, you can lightly spray the tops of the batter with cooking spray before baking.
• You can substitute half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour for a slightly heartier fritter.
• If you prefer a stronger apple flavor, toss the diced apples in 1 teaspoon of lemon juice before adding them to the batter.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 fritter
• Calories: 220
• Sugar: 25g
• Sodium: 150mg
• Fat: 7g
• Saturated Fat: 4g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 38g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 3g
• Cholesterol: 30mg