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Apple Fritter Bites Recipe

4.8 from 149 reviews

These Apple Fritter Bites are a delightful twist on classic apple fritters, featuring tender, cinnamon-spiced dough loaded with diced Honeycrisp or Gala apples, baked to golden perfection and topped with a sweet apple cider glaze that caramelizes under the broiler for an irresistible finish.

Ingredients

Scale

Dry Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 tsp baking powder
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 2 cups powdered sugar

Wet Ingredients

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
  • 1/3 cup + 2 tbsp apple cider or juice

Fresh Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups finely diced Honeycrisp or Gala apples (about 2 medium)

Other

  • Nonstick cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Preheat and prepare: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) and grease a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray to prevent the fritter bites from sticking.
  2. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, kosher salt, and ground cinnamon until well combined.
  3. Combine wet ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the melted unsalted butter with granulated sugar until combined. Then whisk in the egg, vanilla extract, and unsweetened applesauce until the mixture is smooth.
  4. Combine wet and dry: Add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients and stir gently just until combined to avoid overmixing. Then carefully fold in the finely diced apples.
  5. Portion batter: Use a tablespoon to scoop out portions of batter and drop them a few inches apart onto the greased baking sheet.
  6. Bake: Bake the bites in the preheated oven for 10 minutes until set and lightly golden.
  7. Prepare glaze: While the bites bake, whisk together powdered sugar and apple cider or juice until the glaze is thin and pourable.
  8. Glaze and broil: Remove the baking sheet from the oven and switch the oven to broil on high. Brush some of the glaze over the warm fritter bites, letting it drip down the sides. Return to the oven and broil for 2-4 minutes, rotating the pan frequently, until the glaze bubbles and caramelizes.
  9. Final glazing: Remove the bites from the oven and brush the remaining glaze evenly over the tops to finish.
  10. Set and serve: Let the apple fritter bites sit for 15 minutes to allow the glaze to set before serving.

Notes

  • Use firm apples like Honeycrisp or Gala for the best texture and sweetness.
  • Do not overmix the batter to keep the fritters tender and light.
  • Watch the fritters closely while broiling to prevent the glaze from burning.
  • The apple cider glaze can be substituted with apple juice if desired.
  • For a dairy-free version, substitute butter with a plant-based alternative.

Keywords: apple fritter bites, baked apple fritters, mini apple pastries, cinnamon apple dessert, apple cider glaze