Description
These Apple Fritter Bites are a delicious bite-sized take on the classic apple fritter, featuring tender baked dough packed with cinnamon-spiced apples and topped with a glossy apple cider glaze that caramelizes under the broiler for a perfect sweet finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 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 1/2 cups finely diced Honeycrisp or Gala apples (about 2 medium)
Apple Cider Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup + 2 tbsp apple cider or apple juice
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking sheet. Preheat your oven to 400°F (205°C) and lightly grease a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray to ensure the fritter bites don’t stick.
- Mix dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, kosher salt, and ground cinnamon until evenly combined.
- Combine wet ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk the melted unsalted butter with granulated sugar until smooth. Next, add the egg, vanilla extract, and unsweetened applesauce, whisking until the mixture is smooth and cohesive.
- Combine wet and dry, then add apples. Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredients, stirring gently just until combined. Fold in the finely diced apples carefully to distribute them evenly without overmixing.
- Scoop and arrange dough. Using a tablespoon measure, scoop portions of the batter and drop each about 2-3 inches apart onto the prepared baking sheet to allow space for spreading.
- Bake the fritter bites. Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes until lightly golden and set. Then remove from the oven and switch the oven to the broiler setting on high.
- Prepare the apple cider glaze. While the fritters bake, whisk powdered sugar together with the apple cider or juice until the glaze is thin and pourable.
- Glaze and broil for caramelization. Brush a generous layer of glaze over the warm fritter bites, letting it drip down the sides. Place the baking sheet under the broiler for 2 to 4 minutes, rotating frequently until the glaze bubbles and caramelizes.
- Final glaze coat. Remove the fritter bites from the oven and immediately brush the remaining glaze evenly over the tops for a shiny finish.
- Set glaze before serving. Allow the fritter bites to rest for 15 minutes so the glaze can set and firm up before serving.
Notes
- Use firm apples like Honeycrisp or Gala for the best texture and flavor.
- Make sure not to overmix the batter to keep the bites tender.
- Keep an eye on the fritters under the broiler to prevent burning; caramelization happens quickly.
- These bites are best enjoyed the day they’re made for optimal freshness.
- You can substitute apple cider with apple juice if preferred.
Keywords: apple fritter bites, apple dessert, baked apple fritters, cinnamon apple recipe, bite-sized fritters, homemade apple bites