Air Fryer Apple Fritters with Apple Cider Glaze

Try homemade air fryer apple fritters with apple cider glaze. Deliciously crispy, filled with sweet apples, and dripping with glaze, you’ll love this healthier alternative to deep-fried bakery fare.

The perfect accompaniment to hot mulled cider, a salted caramel mocha, or just plain ice cold milk, air fryer apple fritters are an addictive finger-licking fall treat. Apple muffins, apple crisp, applesauce, apple dumplings … move on over, apple recipes, and make room for apple fritters.

I’ll be honest, I’m not a huge doughnut fan. I know, I know, I’m weird. Who doesn’t like donuts?! I just don’t care for the oily taste of deep fried bakery doughnuts. Plus, deep frying is such a big messy project.

Air fryer fritters, on the other hand, are right up my alley. Crisp, but not greasy, filled with nice sized chunks of real apple, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg, and covered with sweet cider glaze — what’s not to like?

About these air fryer apple fritters:

I don’t want to mislead you. Air fryer apple fritters aren’t an exact copycat of their bakery cousins. They’re really more like a muffin than a doughnut. You know how everyone likes the crisp top of a muffin? When you make these fritters, it’s like a crisp muffin top in every bite with the bonus of delicious glaze.

The batter is easy. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, apple cider, and vanilla. Add flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and nutmeg, and gently blend the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Fold in a chopped apple. I like Gala or Honeycrisp apples but you can use any firm apple.

Air fry the fritters for 6 minutes, flip, and fry for 4 more minutes. While the fritters are baking, make a simple glaze using powdered sugar, apple cider, cinnamon, and vanilla. Dip the fritters into the glaze and let them dry on a wire rack until the glaze hardens a bit.

So that’s it! My family totally loves these apple fritters and I’m sure yours will, too. Apple fritters are a snack to look forward to, or a welcome addition to breakfast or brunch. 

How to make these apple fritters your own:

• Don’t have an air fryer? No problem, you can make these in the oven, too. The recipe card has baking instructions.
• Make an apple fritter sundae. Crumble apple fritters into a bowl, top with vanilla ice cream, and caramel sauce for an over-the-top dessert.
• Try substituting cut-up peaches, apricots, or plums for the apples, or stir in blueberries or raspberries. 
• Rather have a savory fritter? Try these zucchini corn fritters by Diethood. They look fabulous!

Storage Tips

Like any bakery treat, apple fritters are best eaten the same day you make them. If you have leftovers, store them in a tightly covered container for up to a couple of days. 

Air fry vs. deep fry?

Well, there’s no question as to which one I prefer! Try:

 

• Air Fryer Sweet Potato Hash with candied bacon!
• Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
• Air Fryer Potatoes — crispy with hardly any oil
• Air Fryer French Fries — try them with homemade Fry Dipping Sauce
• Air Fryer Salmon
• Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets — breaded, or not breaded
• Air Fryer Mozzarella Sticks