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Apple Fritter Donuts Recipe

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★★★★★

4.9 from 128 reviews

These Apple Fritter Donuts are soft, fluffy, and bursting with warm cinnamon-spiced apple filling. Fried to golden perfection and finished with a sweet apple vanilla glaze, they offer a delightful twist on a classic treat perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 1 cup 2% milk, warmed (about 120º-125º Fahrenheit)
  • 1/2 cup salted butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 4–4 1/2 cups bread flour
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons Red Star Platinum Superior Baking Yeast (instant yeast)

Apple Filling

  • 6 cups Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped (about 6 medium apples)
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup apple juice
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon salted butter

Glaze

  • 1 1/4 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup apple juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla bean paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt

Frying

  • 1 quart vegetable oil

Instructions

  1. Make the Dough: Pour warm milk, eggs, melted butter, sugar, and salt in the bowl of a stand mixer. Add two cups of flour and yeast and mix until just combined. Add two more cups of flour, mixing gently again and let rest for 5 minutes to allow flour to absorb liquids. Replace the beater with a dough hook and knead on medium speed for 5-7 minutes, adding up to 1/2 cup more flour if needed, until dough is elastic and smooth but tacky.
  2. First Rise: Transfer dough to a greased large bowl, cover with towel or wax paper, and set in a warm place to rise until nearly doubled in size.
  3. Prepare Apple Filling: In a medium saucepan, cook chopped apples with sugar over medium heat for about 10 minutes until they begin to soften. Mix together apple juice and cornstarch to make a slurry, then stir it into the apples. Add cinnamon and butter, stirring until mixture thickens. Remove from heat and cool completely, refrigerating to speed the process if desired.
  4. Assemble the Doughnuts: Turn risen dough onto a floured surface and pat into a 2-inch thick rectangle. Spread half the cooled apple filling in the center, then fold top and bottom over the filling. Rotate the dough so folded edges are on the sides, pat out into another 2-inch thick rectangle. Spread remaining apple filling and fold top and bottom over it again.
  5. Form Fritters: Let dough rest while heating oil. Pat dough out to 1/2-inch thickness and cut into 1-inch squares with a pizza cutter. Gather and re-cut dough pieces as needed. Using floured hands and surface, form the dough pieces with filling into a 14-inch long log. Slice into about 14 pieces and shape each into a ball that holds together. Let fritters rest while oil heats.
  6. Heat Oil: Heat vegetable oil in a large Dutch oven or deep fryer to 375°F, monitoring temperature carefully with a thermometer.
  7. Fry the Fritters: Carefully lower 4 or 5 fritters at a time into the hot oil without overcrowding. Fry about 3 minutes on one side until golden brown, then turn and fry an additional 4-5 minutes until fully golden and cooked through. Remove fritters with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels over a drying rack. Repeat frying remaining batches, ensuring oil temperature returns to 375°F before adding more fritters.
  8. Make the Glaze: Whisk together powdered sugar, heavy cream, apple juice, vanilla bean paste, and salt until smooth and runny enough for coating. Adjust consistency by adding more apple juice if needed.
  9. Glaze the Fritters: After each batch of fritters has rested about 5 minutes, dip them into the glaze, allowing excess to drip off before serving.

Notes

  • Ensure oil temperature stays at 375°F to achieve crispy, golden fritters and prevent greasy doughnuts.
  • Do not add too much flour when kneading; the dough should remain slightly tacky for best texture.
  • Cool apple filling completely before assembling doughnuts to prevent dough from becoming soggy.
  • Use Granny Smith apples for a tart and firm filling that holds up well during cooking.
  • Use a thermometer to monitor oil temperature accurately for safety and best results.

Keywords: apple fritter donuts, fried donuts, homemade apple fritters, cinnamon apple donuts, glazed apple fritters

Find it online: https://thefoodrecipe.com/apple-fritter-donuts-recipe/