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4 Ingredient Apple Fritters

These healthier apple fritters need just 4 ingredients. No white flour, eggs, refined sugar, dairy, butter or oil. The fritters are also baked instead of fried.
Servings: 8 pieces
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 9 minutes
Total Time: 24 minutes
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Ingredients

  • 1 1/2 cups (360g) apple puree +1 cup (100g) finely chopped apples (1/8 inch cubes), see note
  • 2 cups (252g) whole wheat pastry flour or golden wheat flour, see note before starting
  • 4 tsp (12g) aluminum free baking powder
  • 2-3 tbsp (30-45ml) maple syrup

Instructions
 

  • These fritters are best if cooked in an air fryer but they can also be baked. If baking the fritters, preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Add a large cast iron skillet or metal baking dish filled halfway with water to the bottom rack of the oven while it preheats. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. If using air fryer, line the air fryer insert with parchment paper.
  • If making your own apple puree, add about 380 grams (about 3 1/2 cups) large cubed peeled apples into a blender. Blend until it becomes a mostly smooth puree (there should not be any apple chunks remaining though it is normal for the apple puree to have a grainy consistency like applesauce). Measure out 360 grams (1 1/2 cups) of puree, for the recipe.
  • In a large bowl, add the flour and baking powder and whisk until evenly combined. Add in the apple puree and maple syrup and stir with a spatula until you have a thick batter and all of the flour has been incorporated. Add in the finely chopped apples and fold until they are evenly distributed.
  • Use a 1/3 cup measuring cup to scoop the batter and release onto your parchment lined baking sheet or parchment lined air fryer insert, spacing the fritters 1.5 inches apart. If using an air fryer, you may need to do this in smaller batches. If needed, gently spread each mound into a 2½ to 3-inch circle. If you are using a measuring cup with about 2 1/2 inch wide base, you may not need to spread the mounds at all if they took the shape of the measuring cup. Optional step: Lightly brush the surface of the fritters with avocado oil. While they will still crisp up without it, they will be more golden and crispy with the avocado oil.
  • Oven instructions: Once oven is preheated, add the baking pan with the fritters to the oven rack right above the pan with the water and bake the fritters for about 20 minutes until they are puffed and cooked through. Then switch the oven to broil and cook for 1–2 minutes, until the fritters are crisp and golden on the outside.
  • Ari fryer instructions: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C). Cook the fritters for about 8-10 minutes or until golden on the surface and cooked through.
  • Allow the fritters to cool slightly before serving. Fritters are best enjoyed soon after they are done cooking and while still a little warm. The fritters are very lightly sweet on their own. If desired, you can dust the fritters with powdered sweetener or make a glaze. The glaze I used is shared in the recipe notes. Store uneaten fritters in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Notes

  • I recommend using aluminum-free baking powder to avoid any potential metallic aftertaste.
  • Apple puree note: To save time, you can use store bought unsweetened applesauce instead of making apple puree. You will need 1 1/2 cups of unsweetened applesauce (360 grams) for the recipe. 
  • Whole wheat flour note: Regular whole wheat flour is high protein and will make the batter very dry and tough. To keep the fritters soft, use a low protein whole wheat flour such as whole wheat pastry flour or golden wheat flour. You want to use a whole wheat flour with 3 grams of protein per 1/4 cup (30g) serving. I used Whole Foods 365 Whole Wheat Pastry Flour.* You can also use regular all purpose flour, if you don't like whole wheat flour. If using all purpose flour, make sure it has a regular amount of protein (3 grams per 1/4 cup serving).
  • *These product links are affiliate links. This means I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
  • Optional glaze. I used a classic glaze for the fritters in the photos. You can skip the glaze or use powdered sweetener instead of sugar in the glaze to keep these healthier. You can also dust the fritters with powdered sweetener to keep them healthier.
    • 1¼ cups powdered sugar
    • ½ teaspoon apple pie spice (optional)
    • 3 tablespoons water
    • Whisk together the powdered sugar, apple pie spice, and water until smooth. Adjust the water or sugar amount until the glaze reaches your desired consistency. Drizzle over the fritters.
  • Estimated nutrition does not include optional glaze.
Serving: 1piece, Calories: 149kcal, Carbohydrates: 35g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 1g, Saturated Fat: 0.02g, Sodium: 161mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 9g, NET CARBS: 29
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. This is not a comprehensive list of all the nutrients in the recipe (i.e., does not include vitamins, cholesterol, etc). I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
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