Vegan Apple Fritters are such a delicious way to enjoy apples! This recipe is easy to make and these bites fry up perfectly sweet, tender, and packed with the most wonderful flavor. Top with powdered sugar and enjoy for breakfast or dessert!
If you've never tried homemade apple fritters, you're in for a real treat! These taste like a cross between an apple cider donut and a funnel cake. And, oh my goodness they are incredible! They're also easier to make than you might think. This recipe is completely vegan and easily adapted to gluten free too!
Ingredients needed
Here's everything you'll need to make this easy apple fritters recipe:
- Vegan butter: Used in the batter and also for frying the fritters. You can substitute with regular butter.
- Plant-based milk: To keep this recipe vegan and dairy free, we recommend using almond milk or oat milk. Feel free to use any milk variety you prefer.
- Brown sugar: Gives the fritters a nice warm sweetness.
- Vanilla extract: For added flavor. We recommend pure vanilla extract and not imitation.
- Cinnamon: Adds warmth and compliments the apple flavor.
- Sea salt: Like most sweet recipes, a small amount of salt balances the taste.
- Baking powder: Gives these little nuggets a nice fluffiness.
- Flour: For best results use all-purpose flour or for gluten-free apple fritters, use King Arthur Measure for Measure gluten-free flour. Please don't substitute any other flour such as almond flour, baking flour, etc.
- Apples: Any apple variety can be grated and added to the batter. We like gala, fuji, and honey crisp apples best.
- Powdered sugar: The perfect finishing touch!
How to make this recipe
Step 1: Begin by making the vegan apple fritter batter. Mix the melted vegan butter, almond or oat milk, purecane brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder together.
Step 2: Use a fork to mix in the regular or gluten free all purpose flour until a thick batter forms.
Step 3: Peel and grate an apple until you have about 1 cup of grated apple. I used honey crisp. Fold the grated apple into the vegan apple fritter batter.
Step 4: Bring a skillet with 2 tablespoon of vegan butter to medium low. Once the butter is sizzling, use a tablespoon measuring spoon to scoop one tablespoon of dough, per fritter, into the skillet. Be careful not to make your fritters too large or they won't cook all the way through. Fill the skillet with the fritters and fry until golden (about 3 minutes). Flip and continue until golden on all sides.
Step 5: Once the fritters are golden on both/each side, remove from the skillet and rest on a paper towel or parchment lined plate. Repeat until all of the vegan apple fritter dough is fried. Top with purecane powdered sugar and enjoy warm.
Expert tips
- Best apples to use. Keep in mind that if you choose to use a less sweet apple, like Granny Smith, these won't be as sweet.
- Don’t over mix the batter. Over-mixing the batter can yield flat, dense fritters. Fold the grated apple into the dough just until combined.
- Don’t overcrowd the pan. For perfectly crispy fritters, only add as much dough to the pan that will fit without touching. See pictures above for a visual.
Frequently asked questions
This recipe for vegan apple fritters is made with a combination of common baking ingredients. You'll need flour, butter, milk, grated apple, sugar, salt, baking powder, and vanilla. We're keeping these vegan and dairy free by using plant-based butter and milk.
Fritters and donuts are very similar! Both include sweet dough that is fried. The main difference between the two is that donuts are round with the middle cut out and fritters are little clumps of dough.
This specific apple fritter recipe is for frying on the stovetop in butter. For best results, we do not recommend baking these fritters.
Storage recommendations
These delicious apple fritters are best enjoyed when warm and not long after being fried. However, if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week.
You can freeze these in an airtight freezer safe bag for up to 3 months.
To reheat, warm in the oven, on the stovetop or in the microwave.
More apple recipes
Apple Fritters
Ingredients
- ½ cup melted vegan butter
- ¾ cup unsweetened almond or oat milk
- 3 tablespoon purecane brown sugar or regular brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 cup regular or gluten free all purpose flour If gluten-free, I recommend King Arthur Measure for Measure gluten-free flour. Please don't substitute any other flour such as almond flour, baking flour, etc.
- 1 cup freshly grated apples
- purecane powdered sugar or regular powdered sugar
- vegan butter for frying
Instructions
- Begin by making the vegan apple fritter batter. Mix the melted vegan butter, almond or oat milk, purecane brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder together. Then, use a fork to mix in the regular or gluten free all purpose flour until a thick batter forms.
- Peel and grate an apple until you have about 1 cup of grated apple. I used honey crisp. Fold the grated apple into the vegan apple fritter batter.
- Bring a skillet with 2 tablespoon of vegan butter to medium low. Once the butter is sizzling, use a tablespoon measuring spoon to scoop one tablespoon of dough, per fritter, into the skillet. Be careful not to make your fritters too large or they won't cook all the way through. Fill the skillet with the fritters and fry until golden (about 3 minutes). Flip and continue until golden on all sides.
- Once the fritters are golden on both/each side, remove from the skillet and rest on a paper towel or parchment lined plate. Repeat until all of the vegan apple fritter dough is fried. Top with purecane powdered sugar and enjoy warm.
Notes
Nutrition
The recipes on Peanut Butter and Jilly can easily be adapted to fit a vegan lifestyle, a gluten-free lifestyle, or both depending on the ingredients you use. Please review the ingredients lists carefully and refer to our recommendations in the Notes of the recipe card to make this recipe compatible with your needs. Nutrition information provided is an estimate, and will vary based on specific brands of ingredients used and cooking methods.
Melanie says
Can the dough be made ahead of time?
Jillian Glenn says
Hi Melanie! I haven't tried this but I'd imagine it would work as long as you seal the dough well and store in the fridge.