Baked Applesauce Fritters

A blue plate stacked with glazed cookies, each filled with chunks of what appears to be apple, resting on a striped cloth with a glass of milk in the background.

Baked apple fritters made in the oven instead of the fryer, soft in the center with warm spices and a bakery-style glaze brushed on twice. This baked apple fritters recipe is perfect for a cozy weekend brunch, no hot oil required.

Course Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine American

Diet Low Fat, Low Lactose, Vegetarian

Keyword baked, comfort food, quick, spiced

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Total Time 30

Servings fritters

Calories 169

Author Gina Dickson

Ingredients

For the Fritters

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
½ cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
¼ teaspoon allspice
¼ teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons butter very cold, cut into 6 pieces
1/4 cup milk regular
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup apples (tart variety such as Granny Smith or Macintosh, peeled, cored, and diced small)

Glaze Ingredients

1 cup confectioners’ sugar
2 tablespoons milk higher fat works best
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Preheat & Prep

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

Make the Dough

In a food processor bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and salt.
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour, ½ cup brown sugar, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ½ teaspoon nutmeg, ¼ teaspoon allspice, ¼ teaspoon salt
Add the cold butter pieces to the dry ingredients. Pulse until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. A pastry cutter and bowl works too.
6 tablespoons butter

Mix Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, applesauce, and vanilla.
1/4 cup milk, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 cup unsweetened applesauce
Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Stir just until combined.

Prepare Apples

Peel, core, and dice the apples into small, even-sized pieces.
1 cup apples
Gently fold the apples into the dough.

Shape & Bake

Drop 1/3 cup portions of batter onto the baking sheet, leaving a little space between each one.
Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, until the bottoms are golden and the centers are set.
Move the fritters to a wire cooling rack set over the baking sheet.

Glaze & Broil (Do not skip this step)

Turn the oven to broil.
In a small bowl, whisk together confectioners’ sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
1 cup confectioners’ sugar, 2 tablespoons milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Using a silicone pastry brush, brush a thin layer of glaze over the warm fritters.
Broil for 2 to 3 minutes, watching closely, until the tops turn golden and the glaze bubbles.

Final Glaze & Serve

Remove from the oven and let the fritters cool for a few minutes.
Brush the remaining glaze over the fritters.

Notes

Storage: Store in a sealed container on the counter for up to 3 days.
Reheating: Reheat in the oven at 300°F just long enough to warm through.
Freezing: These don't freeze well and are really at their best the day you make them.
Common Mistakes: Overmixing the batter will make the texture heavy. Stir just until combined. Skipping the glaze broil step skips the golden, bakery-style finish; don't leave it out.

Nutrition