Description
Delight in these crispy, golden baked apple fritters made with cinnamon applesauce, fresh green apple cubes, and a sweet vanilla glaze. Perfectly small and tender, these fritters are baked to perfection and finished with a sweet almond milk glaze for a delightful treat that’s lighter than traditional fried versions.
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups Self-Rising Flour
- 1/2 cup Unrefined Cane Sugar
- 2 teaspoons Cinnamon (omit if using cinnamon applesauce)
Wet Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup Cinnamon Applesauce (if plain applesauce is used, add 2 tsp. cinnamon)
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Fresh Fruit
- 2 cups Green Apple Cubes (peeled, cored, diced in small cubes; about 3 green apples)
Glaze
- 1 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
- 2–3 tablespoons Almond Milk
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheets: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Line two large baking sheets with silicone mats or baking paper safe for oven use and generously oil the paper to prevent sticking. Set aside.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the self-rising flour, sugar, and cinnamon (if your applesauce isn’t cinnamon-flavored), ensuring a uniform mixture.
- Add Applesauce and Form Batter: Fold in the cinnamon applesauce and stir gently until a thick, moist batter forms. Be careful not to over-mix to maintain a tender texture.
- Incorporate Fresh Apples: Fold the diced green apples into the batter evenly, ensuring each fritter will have a good distribution of fruit.
- Shape and Arrange Fritters: Drop heaping tablespoons of batter onto the prepared baking sheets, spacing them with about a thumb’s width apart. Aim for small fritters, around 27 total, to optimize texture and even baking.
- Bake Fritters: Place one baking sheet in the center rack of the oven at a time, and bake for 18-21 minutes or until fritters are golden brown. Keep the second sheet at room temperature while baking the first.
- Prepare Glaze: While fritters bake, mix powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and almond milk until smooth and pourable.
- Broil for Crispiness: After baking, brush a light coating of the glaze onto each warm fritter. Broil them on the top rack at 420°F (210°C) for 2-3 minutes, watching carefully to avoid burning, to achieve a crisp, glossy finish.
- Cool and Glaze: Remove fritters from the oven and let them cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Then dip each fritter in the glaze and return to the rack to allow excess glaze to drip off and set.
Notes
- Use small-sized fritters for the best texture and even cooking; large fritters may become soggy inside.
- If plain applesauce is used, increase cinnamon to 2 teaspoons for optimal flavor.
- Oiling the baking paper helps prevent sticking and makes cleanup easier.
- Watch fritters closely during broiling as they can burn quickly.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 21 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: baked apple fritters, cinnamon applesauce fritters, healthy apple fritters, baked fritters recipe, fruit fritters, gluten free option, vegetarian dessert
