Air Fryer Apple Fritters

These air fryer apple fritters are a healthier take on apple fritters that are traditionally fried in oil! Using an air fryer also results in less mess than frying in oil as there will be no grease splatter. Whether you would like to serve these apple fritters as an afternoon snack or for a dessert dusted with powdered sugar, they will be the perfect treat!

To make the apple fritters, you make a batter with flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, salt, egg yolk, milk, sour cream, and butter. Then, you mix that batter with diced apples before dolloping portions of it on a parchment-lined air fryer basket. Once they are baked, they are puffed and golden with a fluffy texture and studs of diced apple.

What are Air Fryer Apple Fritters?

Air fryer apple fritters are a variation on traditional fried apple fritters. Apple fritters are a type of doughnut involving a batter and plenty of diced apple. Normally, this batter is dolloped into hot oil to cook them, but this version involves air frying the fritters instead. This results in golden apple fritters that are no less delicious, but are substantially lower in calories since they aren’t cooked in oil.

Pro Tips

• Use apples that will hold their shape easily during cooking such as Golden delicious, Cortland, Macintosh, or Spartan.
• Feel free to add more cinnamon to the apple fritter batter if you prefer lots of cinnamon. You could also experiment and add other spices like nutmeg, allspice, or cloves.
• If you are on a dairy-free diet, you could make these dairy-free by replacing the milk, sour cream, and butter with plant-based alternatives.
• Feel free to replace the apples with pears if you have plenty of those on hand instead.
• Consider serving these fritters with a dipping sauce such as chocolate or caramel.

What to Serve with Air Fryer Apple Fritters?

These air fryer apple fritters can be served with a dusting of icing sugar and coffee. However, they would also be wonderful rolled in cinnamon sugar or served with chocolate sauce or caramel for dipping.

Can I Make Apple Fritters Dairy-Free?

Yes, you definitely could! If you are looking for a dairy-free apple fritter, simply replace the milk, sour cream, and butter with plant-based versions of those products.

Can I Replace the Apples With Pears?

Yes, you could! Since pears have a similar texture to apples, they make a wonderful replacement for apples in any baked recipe. Just make sure the pears are ripe before you use them in this recipe.

Can I Use Other Types of Flour in Air Fryer Apple Fritters?

Since baking is a science, it isn’t recommended to replace the all-purpose flour with other types of flour or gluten-free flour, as the recipe may not work. However, you may be able to get away with replacing part of the white flour with whole wheat flour if you would like to add more nutrition into your apple fritters recipe. Whole wheat flour will also add a nuttier flavour to the fritters.

How to Store Apple Fritters

These apple fritters should store well at room temperature if they are kept in a sealed container. They are best enjoyed within 2 to 3 days for the best quality.

How to Make Air Fryer Apple Fritters

Step 1

Step 1

In a bowl, mix the flour with the sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until combined.

In a bowl, mix the flour with the sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until combined.

Step 2

Step 2

In another bowl, mix the egg yolk with the milk, sour cream, and melted butter until combined.

In another bowl, mix the egg yolk with the milk, sour cream, and melted butter until combined.

Step 3

Step 3

Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, and mix until combined.

Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, and mix until combined.

Step 4

Step 4

Stir the batter with peeled diced apples until combined.

Stir the batter with peeled diced apples until combined.

Step 5

Step 5

Dollop portions of the batter into a parchment-lined air fryer basket. Air fry them at 340 F/170 C for 12 minutes. Allow them to cool.

Dollop portions of the batter into a parchment-lined air fryer basket. Air fry them at 340 F/170 C for 12 minutes. Allow them to cool.

Step 6

Step 6

Serve the apple fritters dusted with powdered sugar.

Serve the apple fritters dusted with powdered sugar.