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A stack of golden brown, freshly glazed apple fritters on a floral patterned plate.

Soft Baked Apple Fritters with Warm Cinnamon Glaze

Indulge in these delightful soft-baked apple fritters, bursting with warm spiced apple chunks, then generously coated in a sweet, comforting cinnamon glaze. A perfect treat for breakfast, brunch, or dessert.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 18 minutes
Total Time 43 minutes
Servings: 12 fritters
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Snack
Cuisine: American
Calories: 250
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Soft Baked Apple Fritters
  • 2 cups All-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup Granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp Baking powder
  • 1 tsp Ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp Ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 tsp Salt
  • 1 Large egg room temperature
  • 3/4 cup Milk room temperature
  • 4 tbsp Unsalted butter melted
  • 1 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 2 medium Apples e.g., Honeycrisp or Granny Smith, peeled, cored, finely diced
For the Warm Cinnamon Glaze
  • 1.5 cups Powdered sugar
  • 3 tbsp Milk or heavy cream
  • 1 tbsp Unsalted butter melted
  • 1/2 tsp Vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp Ground cinnamon

Equipment

  • Large Mixing Bowl
  • Medium Mixing Bowl
  • Whisk
  • Spatula
  • Baking Sheet
  • Parchment Paper
  • Apple Peeler/Corer
  • Measuring Cups
  • Measuring Spoons
  • Small saucepan
  • Wire Rack

Method
 

Prepare the Apple Fritters
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, and set aside.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
  3. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together the room temperature egg, milk, melted butter, and vanilla extract until smooth.
  4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Mix with a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps in the batter are perfectly fine.
  5. Gently fold in the finely diced apples until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
  6. Using two spoons or a small ice cream scoop, drop spoonfuls of the batter (about 2-3 tablespoons each) onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving approximately 2 inches between each fritter. They should have a rustic, irregular shape.
  7. Bake for 15-18 minutes, or until the fritters are golden brown around the edges and cooked through. To check for doneness, a toothpick inserted into the center of a fritter should come out clean. While the fritters are baking, prepare your glaze.
Prepare the Warm Cinnamon Glaze
  1. In a small saucepan, combine the powdered sugar, milk (or heavy cream), melted butter, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon. Whisk constantly over very low heat until the mixture is smooth and warm. Remove from heat immediately once smooth to prevent it from becoming too thick.
  2. Once the fritters are out of the oven, let them cool on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes.
  3. Carefully dip each warm fritter into the warm glaze, coating both sides generously, or drizzle the glaze over the fritters using a spoon. Place the glazed fritters on a wire rack set over parchment paper to catch any excess drips.
  4. Serve your Soft Baked Apple Fritters with Warm Cinnamon Glaze immediately and enjoy!

Notes

For the best flavor and texture, use firm, sweet-tart apples like Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, or Granny Smith. These fritters are best served warm on the day they are made. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Reheat briefly in the microwave or a warm oven for a soft, fresh-baked feel. Avoid overmixing the batter, as this can result in tough fritters. If your glaze becomes too thick, you can add a tiny splash more milk (1/2 teaspoon at a time) and whisk until the desired consistency is reached.