Easy Air Fryer Apple Fritters Recipe (Gluten-Free)

Easy air fryer apple fritters are a delicious apple dessert for fall! This air fryer dessert is so simple to make during apple season. They are healthier than the traditional recipe, but just as delicious! Enjoy them with a cup of coffee!

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Why You'll Love This Recipe

• Gluten-free and bursting with apple cinnamon flavor.
• A fun mix of an apple donut and apple pie.
• Classic apple flavors that are great for fall and apple season!
• A fun apple dessert recipe and a delicious sweet treat.
• Easy recipe to make.
• The perfect dessert recipe to use up extra apples.
• Simple and basic ingredients.
• No mixer is required.
• A healthy alternative to deep frying - no vegetable oil.
• Want more easy apple desserts for fall? Try this cake mix apple cobbler, healthy apple nachos, or healthy apple crisp.

Ingredients You Need to Make This Recipe

Here are the ingredients you need to make this recipe. Reference the recipe card at the bottom for exact measurements and the notes below for substitution ideas.

Dry Ingredients

Gluten-free baking flour like King Arthur flour gluten-free all-purpose flour blend provides the binding for these air fryer apple fritters.

Use oat flour as a substitute. If using oat flour, you may need to add milk or almond milk to thin the batter.

Brown sugar adds a bit of sweetness to the dough.

Baking powder helps to create the structure of the fritter and allows the donut-like cake to rise.

Salt gives flavor and helps to balance the sweet flavors.

Pumpkin spice adds a warm and cozy flavor. Use cinnamon as a substitute.

What are the best apples for fritters?

Fresh apples like Honeycrisp apples work well for this recipe. Alternatives would be Pink Lady, Jonagold, or Braeburn apples.

I prefer sweet apples over more tart Granny Smith apples, but you can use either. It will depend on your preferred balance of sweetness versus tartness.

Wet Ingredients

Lemon juice helps to balance out the sweetness of the apples, along with preventing them from browning.

Melted butter adds a little bit of richness and coats the apples, helping to keep them intact.

Eggs provide structure and binding to keep the apple fritters together. Use aquafaba for an eggless recipe.

Vanilla extract provides a warm and cozy flavor.

Optional Glaze Ingredients

Powdered sugar is the base of this sweet glaze, providing a creamy topping.

Almond milk or regular milk turns the glaze liquid.  Adding less milk makes the glaze thicker while adding more milk makes the glaze thinner.

Use any kind of milk to make the glaze.  Skim milk and whole milk all work.

Taste and Texture

Air fryer apple fritters taste like a mix between an apple donut and apple pie.  The texture is chunky because of the apple pieces.

Apple chunks are the most forward texture in this recipe. The batter is to keep them together.

A soft donut-like cake binds together the tender apples. The fritters’ texture should be similar to a soft cakey cookie with apple chunks.

How to Make Apple Fritters in the Air Fryer

Below are step-by-step instructions for how to cook this recipe. The recipe card at the bottom shows the exact cooking time and temperatures.

Step 1

Preheat the air fryer to 400F for 5 minutes.

Step 2

Peel, clean, and chop the apples.  In a medium bowl, gently stir them with the lemon juice and melted butter.

Step 3

In a separate mixing bowl, stir together the dry ingredients.

Step 4

In a large bowl, add two eggs and gently beat them.  Stir in the vanilla extract.

Step 5

Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture.  Gently mix until just moistened.  Gently fold in the apples until just mixed.

Step 6

Spray the air fryer basket with coconut oil spray.  Do not use cooking spray as it will damage the basket.

Use a spoon to measure out heaping spoonfuls of apple fritters and place them into the basket in a single layer. Spray the tops with coconut oil spray.

Step 7

Air fry for 4 minutes.  Use a spatula to gently flip them and spray the other side with coconut oil spray.  Air fry for an additional 4 minutes.

Allow the air fryer apple fritters to cool on a wire rack for a few minutes before glazing.

Step 8

If making the glaze, combine ½ cup almond milk with ½ to 1 tablespoon powdered sugar in a small bowl. 

Place a piece of parchment paper under the cooling rack. Drizzle the glaze over the top of the fritters.

How to Store Air Fryer Apple Fritters

Before storing, allow the fritters to cool completely on a cooling rack.

For the best flavor and texture, store apple fritters in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Freeze the cooled air fryer apple fritters in a freezer bag or freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.

Eat leftovers cold from the fridge or reheat apple fritters in the air fryer at 370F for 2-3 minutes. 

Other Expert Tips

If the dough seems too stiff, add a teaspoon of milk (more if needed) to make the batter more workable.

Spray the tops with coconut oil spray to help achieve a deep golden brown on the outside.

Test one of the apple fritters in the air fryer before making the entire batch. This will help to gauge how long they need to be air-fried and if the temperature is correct according to your air fryer model.

If your air fryer has shelves rather than a basket, you will need to use a silicone mat to ensure that the fritters do not seep through the shelves.

For easy cleanup, use a silicone mat or a piece of parchment paper to line the air fryer basket.

Recipe FAQs

Other Healthy Apple Recipes for Dessert!

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