Apple rings, apple doughnuts, apple fritters, apple beignets—no matter what you call them, one thing is certain: apple slices bathed in buttermilk batter and fried to golden brown perfection are, well, perfection. Add caramel sauce to the equation and suddenly Easy Homemade Glazed Doughnut Holes are facing fierce competition in the Best of Breakfast category.
This quick and easy recipe for apple fritter rings steers clear of yeast, so there’s no proofing (or waiting) required. And while homemade caramel sauce is a dunk-worthy addition to the recipe, you can also simply coat the fried apple rings in cinnamon and sugar for a faster finish to this fried delight.
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Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 1 1/4 cups buttermilk
- 4 large apples, such as Fuji or Gala
- Vegetable oil, for frying
- Homemade or store-bought caramel sauce, for serving
Equipment:
- Circular cookie cutters in graduated sizes; Deep-fry thermometer
Instructions
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, nutmeg, cinnamon, sugar and salt. In a separate large bowl, whisk together the egg and buttermilk and then whisk the egg mixture into the flour mixture just until combined.
- Slice the apples into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Using the cookie cutters, cut each apple slice into rings, discarding the center core.
- Add 3 inches of oil to a large heavy-bottomed pot set over medium heat. Line a sheet tray with paper towels.
- When the oil reaches 350°F on your deep-fry thermometer, begin by dipping each apple slice in the batter, shaking off any excess then carefully lowering it into the oil. Add several apple slices to the oil but do not overcrowd the pot. Flip the apple slices occasionally so that they brown on all sides then using tongs, transfer them onto the paper towel-lined baking sheet. Repeat the battering and frying process with the remaining apple rings.
- Serve the apple rings immediately with caramel sauce for dipping.
Kelly’s Notes:
- You can coat the fried apple rings in cinnamon and sugar rather than serve them with caramel sauce.
- It's important to shake off as much excess batter as possible to ensure the apple rings fry quickly.
- The moisture in the apples results in the apple rings having a soft, pancake-like texture rather than a crunch.
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Recipe adapted from Crumbs and Tales.
This recipe is so good! The fried apple ring tastes like a combination of a fried donut and apple pie! So good! Very easy to make. I used granny smith green apples and also fuji, to compare. For my taste, the granny smith were the most flavorful – has that great apple pie flavor, while the fuji was too mild, was hard to taste the apple flavor, although the batter is so good that it was still tasty. I also used cloves instead of nutmeg and added a half teaspoon of vanilla, plus almond milk and 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar instead of buttermilk, and I used gluten free flour. I also drizzled a little honey on top of the apple slices, it was delicious! It is a very forgiving recipe, even with all those substitutions, it was yummy! Perfect for breakfast or dessert! Saw someone asked how long to fry – about 5 – 7 minutes for both sides, but it does depend how thick you slice the apples. Thinner slices will fry quicker! Thanks for posting!
Amazing! I’m so thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Sue Ann!
can these be warmed up in oven ?
Hi Joan – I’ve never tried reheating them so I’m not sure if the breading would still be crispy. Let me know if you give it a shot!
Can this be made into gluten free?
Hi Heather! I’ve never tried this recipe with gluten-free flour, but my guess is that it would work!
Made these today using Ruby Jon apples and substituted swerve sugar substitutes- DELICIOUS!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe, Donna!
wondering how long it takes to fry???
Hi Kathy – It will only take a few minutes to fry the apple fritters. As I’ve noted in the recipe above for frying, flip the apple slices occasionally so that they brown on all sides.
Can I use granny Smith apples instead or will it taste different
Granny Smith apples would work great, Tabitha!
Fantastic Recipe! Made a batch, didn’t stand a chance. All devoured in 20 mins. Thanks for a great recipe!
You are so welcome, Laura! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the recipe!
Easy and so DELICIOUS! We dunked some in caramel sauce and others we rolled in cinnamon and sugar.
Thrilled you enjoyed the recipe, Patti!
Looks great plus it would be a great thing to make with my nephew for a kids snack as well plus easy snack for a get together with friends