Recipe

Bite-Size Fritters for Apple Season

Drizzled with a caramelized apple cider glaze, these crispy treats are full of fall flavors

Recipe by Maegan Brown

September 21, 2023

Photo: Kelsey Foster

An abundance of freshly picked apples at farmers’ markets across the South often serves as the harbinger of autumn, and if you’re searching for creative ways to utilize this fall bounty in your baking, try this fritter recipe from Maegan Brown’s new cookbook, Brilliant Bites. “These bites are crispy on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and have apple delight in every bite,” writes the Dallas-based food blogger and author. “Apple fritters are a fall favorite, and this version is baked, not fried, and so easy to make.”

Ingredients

(Yield: 30 fritters)
For the fritters
- Nonstick cooking spray, for greasing
- 1½ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp. baking powder
- ½ tsp. kosher salt
- 2 tsp. ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ tsp. vanilla extract
- ½ cup no-sugar-added applesauce
- 1½ cups peeled and finely diced Honeycrisp apples (about 2 medium apples)
For the glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ⅓ cup plus 2 tbsp. apple cider or apple juice

Preparation

Make the apple fritters: Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon until well combined. Add the melted butter to a large bowl, then whisk in the sugar followed by the egg. Once combined, stir in the vanilla and applesauce. Add the flour mixture and stir until well combined, then fold in the chopped apples. Scoop 1 tablespoon of batter into mounds a few inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove the fritters from the oven. Turn the broiler on high.

Make the glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together all the glaze ingredients. The glaze should be thin.

Glaze and broil: Brush some of the glaze over each fritter and let it drip down the sides. Return the fritters to the oven and broil for 2 to 4 minutes, until the glaze starts to caramelize the tops. Rotate the baking sheet every minute to ensure even caramelization. Be sure to carefully watch the fritters so they do not blacken and burn.

To serve: Brush the remaining glaze evenly over the broiled fritters. Let set on the baking sheet until the glaze hardens, about 15 minutes.

NOTES:

These bites can be made in advance and stored in an airtight container for up to 2 days at room temperature or up to 1 week in the refrigerator. Enjoy at room temperature or reheat in the oven at 350°F for 5 to 10 minutes or in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds.