These air fryer apple fritters are truly special. They take only minutes to make, and taste just like traditional apple fritters, except healthier! And the sticky sweet glaze really is the perfect finishing touch.
It's safe to say I am quickly becoming obsessed with air fryer desserts. I shared my cinnamon bites not too long ago and, since then, I keep tossing around different ideas. And because apple fritters are just delicious, I knew I had to make air fryer apple fritters happen.
My husband claims this is one of his favorite recipes, which is pretty bold. But I can totally see why! Not only are they gluten free, the air frying vs. deep drying makes them a little bit healthier.
These little guys have got the perfect texture, plus the flavors go really, really well together. We've got green apples, we've got applesauce (which also acts as an egg substitute), we've got cinnamon, and we've got a classic glaze.
So go ahead, whip up a batch of these fritters on a crisp Autumn day and enjoy (ideally with a large cup of coffee)! Good luck having just one though!
Why You'll Love These Air Fryer Apple Fritters...
- Because they taste JUST like traditional apple fritters. Seriously, no one will know they're gluten free AND air fried.
- They come together in no time at all. You don't even need an electric mixer, we're mixing it all up by hand!
- That glaze is everything. Truly. The sweetness from the glaze pairs perfectly with the tartness from the apples.
What You'll Need...
- Flour (I always use Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 flour)
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Sugar
- Melted butter
- Unsweetened applesauce
- Whole milk
- Vanilla extract
- Peeled and diced apples (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp)
How To Make...
To make my air fryer apple fritters, we'll start by combining our dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Give that a quick whisk and set it aside.
Next, grab a larger bowl and stir the sugar with the melted butter. Add in the applesauce, milk, and vanilla and keep stirring.
Now add the dry ingredients right into the wet ingredients and stir until combined. That's pretty much it! Fold in your diced apples and, you're ready to get air frying!
Lightly spray the basket of your air fryer and preheat to 400ºF. Once the air fryer is ready, scoop out about ¼ cup of batter per fritter and arrange in the basket in a single layer. Cook for 5-6 minutes, then transfer to a plate to cool.
While the fritters are cooking, make your glaze. All you have to do here is stir together the powdered sugar and milk until you have a drizzling consistency. For a thinner glaze, add more milk, one tablespoon at a time.
Drizzle the glaze over the fritters while they are still warm. For best results, I recommend enjoying the fritters the day you made them, but they can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Tips For Making The Best Gluten Free Apple Fritters...
- As always, I highly recommend using a scale to weigh the flour. This will ensure accuracy, as using measuring cups can sometimes inadvertently lead to adding in too much flour. We'll need 222 grams of flour for this recipe.
- All air fryers are different. When I preheat mine, I just set it to the desired temperature and set a timer for 2 minutes. This usually warms it up just enough.
- Make sure not to overcrowd your air fryer basket! Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may have to work in batches. You want the fritters arranged in a single layer and not piled on top of each other.
- For a smooth glaze, you'll want to sift your powdered sugar. I will be the first to say that I don't think this is always necessary in every recipe but I did find that it works better here.
- And when it comes to glaze, I always recommend adding the milk one tablespoon at a time, so you can really control how thin or thick it gets. If you do accidentally thin it out with too much milk, go ahead and add more powdered sugar, one tablespoon at a time.
Ingredient Substitutions...
- For vegan apple fritters, you will need to substitute your favorite non-dairy butter and milk. I haven't tested it but it should work. Please let us know in the comments if you do try this!
- While I recommend whole milk, you should be able to get away with using 2% milk.
- I love Granny Smith apples, so that's my apple of choice for this recipe. If you'd like, you can use Honeycrisp instead.
Did you try my air fryer apple fritters? Leave me a comment below or tag me on Instagram @justastastyblog and #justastastyblog!
Just As Tasty: Gluten-Free & Eggless Baking Through the Seasons
Be sure to check out my cookbook for tons of festive and easy-to-make gluten-free treats! From Valentine's Day and Easter to the holiday season and every celebration in between, this book has got you covered.
For More Gluten Free Apple Recipes, Try My...
Air Fryer Apple Fritters - Gluten Free, Eggless
Ingredients
For the fritters:
- 1 ½ cups (222g) gluten free flour blend
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅓ cup (67g) granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter melted
- ½ cup (128g) unsweetened applesauce
- ¼ cup (60ml) whole milk room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large apple peeled and diced
For the glaze:
- 1 ½ cups (180g) powdered sugar sifted
- 2-3 tablespoons whole milk
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon together. Set aside.
- In a separate bowl, mix the sugar with the melted butter. Add the applesauce, milk, and vanilla extract and stir to incorporate. Stir in the dry ingredients until combined. Fold in the apples.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Once preheated, arrange mounds of batter, each measuring about ¼ cup, in the basket. Do not overcrowd the fritters. Cook for 5-6 minutes. Glaze while the fritters are still warm.
To make the glaze:
- In a medium bowl, stir the powdered sugar and milk together. Drizzle a generous amount of glaze over the warm fritters.
Notes
- All air fryers are different, but I typically only preheat mine for 2-3 minutes.
- Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may want to work in batches. Just be sure you're not overcrowding the fritters.
Laurin says
Hi! Can these be deep fried or put in the oven instead?
Taleen Benson says
Hi! I'm honestly not sure, as I haven't tested that myself. You may be able to bake these in the oven. Maybe try 350F for 10-12 minutes? Good luck, please let me know how it goes!