Apple Fritters Recipe
Apple Fritters transforms Honeycrisp apple rings into shatteringly crisp golden rings through rice flour-cider batter fried 375°F then immediately dusted cinnamon sugar — state fair perfection served hot with melting vanilla ice cream. From A IS FOR APPLE “Apple and Anchovies,” hosted by Lauren Gulyas, these 6 dramatic rings showcase bubbly 6% apple cider creating lacy tempura-style crust while >¼-inch thickness prevents soggy cores.
The Inspiration
From county fair deep fryers to German apfelküchle evolution, apple fritters endure through batter geometry — here, pancake-thin consistency prevents doughnut density while single-finger buoyancy technique ensures flat frying position. Gulyas emphasizes no-more-than-2-at-a-time rule (temperature stability), immediate sugar coating (sticky melt), and vanilla ice cream service (temperature contrast). Episode’s apple-anchovy theme finds sweet counterpoint; 6 fritters serve intimately or stack for sharing. Recipe scales perfectly — double batter for 12 rings, pear variation maintains crispness.
Ingredients
- 2 large honey crisp apples
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) white sugar
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) ground cinnamon
- 1 cup (250ml) all-purpose flour for dredging
- Vegetable oil for frying approximately 4 cups (1liter)
- Vanilla ice cream
Batter
- 1 cup (250ml) all-purpose flour
- ½ cup (125ml) rice flour
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) baking powder
- 1 ¼ cup (310ml) bubbly apple cider (6%)
Method
- Peel the apples and using an apple corer remove the core.
- Cut rounds of apple a little thicker than a ¼ inch (.25cm). Place in a bowl. You should have 6 rings.
- In a separate bowl sift the flour, rice flour and baking powder.
- Add the apple cider to make a slightly thin pancake batter.
- Preheat vegetable oil to 375F (190°C).
- Mix the white sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
- Place the 1 cup (250ml) flour in a bowl large enough to dip an apple ring in.
- Place apple ring in flour and toss to coat and shake off excess.
- Dip into batter holding the ring in the center and coat. Shake off any extra batter.
- Place in oil slowly so it floats holding it with your finger. Let go when half of the fritter has buoyancy.
- Cook until one side is golden brown and crispy.
- Flip and repeat for the other side.
- Remove from oil using a spider or slotted spoon and place on paper towel-lined tray to drain.
- Immediately sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture while hot so the sugar will stick.
- Continue cooking apples no more than 2 at a time.
- Serve hot with vanilla ice cream
Serving Suggestions
Stack Apple Fritters towering with vanilla ice cream cascade filling ring centers, drizzling salted caramel for decadence escalation, or serve canal-style single fritters afloat bourbon ice cream lake — episode’s apple-anchovy theme begs salted anchovy toffee alongside providing umami shock while cider caramel sauce doubles deliciously. Brunch towers feature whipped mascarpone cloud; fall festivals convert to paper boat service. Pair crisp Chenin Blanc cutting oil or milk stout embracing malts; deconstruct into sundae where chopped fritters layer with apple butter and candied pecans. County fair replication uses candy thermometer precision; freezer storage maintains crispness vacuum-sealed.
Final Thoughts
Apple Fritters recipe from A IS FOR APPLE “Apple and Anchovies,” hosted by Lauren Gulyas, transforms Honeycrisp apple corer rings into 6 shatteringly crisp carnival masterpieces battered in bubbly apple cider-rice flour tempura fried 375 yielding lacy golden lattice around tender fruit cores then immediately coated cinnamon sugar served under vanilla ice cream melt — flour dredge adhesion and finger-buoyancy frying guarantee perfect flat crispness serving intimately or shared festival-style. Slightly >¼-inch thickness prevents sogginess while state fair technique scales effortlessly from kitchen treat to county fair replication with salted caramel providing essential decadence balance.
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