Air Fryer Apple Fritters

Apple fritters are one of those treats that feels like it belongs in a glass case at a bakery counter — the kind you point at and say “one of those, please” before you’ve even looked at anything else.

The problem? Deep frying at home is a whole production. Hot oil, splatter, the lingering smell that sticks around for days. Most people love fritters but don’t love making them.

That’s where the air fryer comes in. You get that golden, crispy exterior and soft, cinnamon-spiced apple interior with a fraction of the mess. These come together fast, taste incredible warm, and disappear even faster.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

No deep frying means no giant pot of hot oil to babysit or dispose of afterward.

The batter comes together with pantry staples you probably already have on hand, and fresh apples do most of the heavy lifting on flavor.

These fritters are best eaten warm, which means they’re a genuinely great option for a weekend breakfast, a fall dessert, or an afternoon snack when you want something that feels a little special without a lot of effort.

The glaze is simple but makes them look and taste like something from a real doughnut shop. You can skip it if you prefer a dusting of powdered sugar, but I’d recommend trying it at least once.

Ingredients

For the Fritters:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp nutmeg
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2 tbsp granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• ½ cup whole milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and diced small
• Cooking spray or oil spray

For the Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2–3 tbsp milk
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat your air fryer to 375°F for 3–5 minutes.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and granulated sugar.

In a separate smaller bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until just combined — a few lumps are totally fine. Don’t overmix.

Fold in the diced apples until they’re evenly distributed throughout the batter.

Line your air fryer basket with a small piece of parchment paper and spray it lightly with cooking spray. This step makes cleanup much easier and prevents sticking.

Scoop about ¼ cup of batter per fritter and drop it into the basket, gently flattening each one slightly. Work in batches and leave space between them — don’t crowd the basket.

Spray the tops of the fritters lightly with cooking spray.

Air fry at 375°F for 8–10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the fritters are golden brown and cooked through.

Transfer to a wire rack and let them cool for 5 minutes before glazing.

While the fritters cool, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla in a small bowl until smooth. It should be thick but pourable — add milk a little at a time to get it right.

Drizzle the glaze over the warm fritters and let it set for a couple of minutes before serving.

Tips & Notes

Apple variety matters. Granny Smith gives you a tart contrast to the sweet glaze. Honeycrisp is sweeter and holds up well. Either works great — it mostly comes down to what you prefer.

Don’t skip the parchment. The batter is sticky and will cling to the basket without it.

Reheat leftovers at 350°F in the air fryer for 2–3 minutes. They won’t be quite as good as fresh, but they’re still very good.

Powdered sugar swap: If you want to skip the glaze entirely, a simple dusting of cinnamon sugar right out of the air fryer works beautifully too.

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