• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Fearless Dining
  • New? Start Here
  • Recipe Index
  • Cookbooks
  • GF Resources
    • Pantry
  • Welcome! Are You Ready To Start Living Gluten Free?
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Start Here!
  • Recipes
  • My Pantry
  • Cookbooks
  • About
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Start Here!
  • Recipes
  • My Pantry
  • Cookbooks
  • About
×

Home » Recipes » Dessert Recipes

Sweet Gluten Free Apple Fritters

Published: Aug 18, 2021 · Modified: Sep 7, 2021 by Sandi Gaertner · 10 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links

  • Facebook
  • Yummly
Jump to Recipe
a pinterest collage of gluten free apple fritters

If you are gluten free you will love these gluten free apple fritters! Fresh apples, gluten free flour blend, cinnamon, and more come together in a super easy apple fritters recipe. 

Each sweet bite is full of apple cinnamon flavors! They cook in just minutes in your air fryer. (I also include frying directions for those who don't have an air fryer!)

an apple fritter on a white plate
Jump To:
  • Why this recipe is great:
  • Ingredient notes:
  • Recipe step by step directions:
  • Oil frying directions:
  • Tips and Recipe Q&A:
  • More gluten free apple recipes to try:
  • Recipe
  • Comments

This gluten free apple fritter batter is easy to whip up. It will give you that light and fluffy texture of a fritter you would like. These air fryer apple fritters taste amazing being served fresh and warm. 

I tried to modify an old recipe of my grandmother's...my version isn't quite the same but I used her process. This is an old-fashioned apple fritter recipe. The only difference is I adapted it to be gluten free. This made it perfect for our family and allowed for that classic flavor we all know and love. 

If you love apples as much as we do, check out all of my incredible Gluten Free Apple Recipes!

Why this recipe is great:

One of the things I love most about this gluten free apple fritters recipe is how adaptable it is. You can make in in a traditional way by frying them in a light oil or make them low-fat by cooking them in your air fryer.

You can also use or add different fruits like peaches or blueberries for even more flavor. If you air fry them, they will be a lot healthier than if you deep fry them, but again...you have options! If you love having healthier options, you will want to try my Paleo Apple Cinnamon Donuts recipe too!

a plate full of gluten free apple fritters

I made my apple fritters in my Air Fryer in order to cut down on calories and fat. You can easily fry these fritters and I include directions down below. Many often ask which air fryer I use, right now I primarily use my Ninja Foodi Air Fryer. If I need a larger basket area for a recipe, I use my Corsori Air Fryer.

Ingredient notes:

gluten free apple fritters ingredients
  • Gluten free flour blend - I tested this recipe using Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 Gluten Free Flour Blend and King Arthur's Measure for Measure Gluten Free Blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
  • Xanthan gum - If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
  • Apples - The best apples to make these gluten free fritters are the more sweet tart apples like Granny Smith, Fuji, and Pink Lady. Peeling the apples is optional.
  • Sugar - Feel free to use plain sugar like I did, or use brown sugar.

Recipe step by step directions:

Gather your ingredients and preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes at 375º F. Keep the air fryer closed after preheating to keep the heat in.

photos of steps 1 and 2 making apple fritters

Step 1: Add the dry apple fritter ingredients to a bowl and whisk to blend.

Step 2: Melt your butter so it is warm, not hot, and add the other wet ingredients. Whisk to blend.

photos of steps 3 and 4 making apple fritters

Step 3: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and add your apple chunks.

Step 4: Mix the wet and dry ingredients into a batter.

HINT: Do not overmix your dough or your fritters will turn out denser.

photos of steps 5 and 6 making apple fritters

Step 5: Spray a piece of parchment paper with a coconut oil spray. Use a cookie scoop to drop balls of apple fritter dough onto the piece of parchment paper. If you are frying, see below for the oil frying directions.

Step 6: Take a pair of scissors and cut around each fritter. You want to do this so that air can circulate all around each fritter. They will fry more evenly this way.

apple fritter dough in the air fryer

Step 7: Place the fritters into your air fryer basket. My air fryer has two sections so I can fry 6 at a time with the two baskets. Spray the tops of the fritters with the same coconut oil spray.

Step 8: Air fry the fritters at 375º F for 10 minutes. Open the air fryer and look to see if they are done. They should look golden on the outsides. (These will take between 10-12 minutes to cook. This time greatly depends on how large your fritters are.)

photos of steps 8 and 9 making apple fritters

Step 8: Add the glaze ingredients to a bowl.

Step 9: Mix well. You want your glaze to be a bit runny. Put your fritters on a wire rack and drizzle each with the glaze. Allow the glaze to dry and enjoy!

HINT: I drizzle the glaze while my fritters are still hot. This helps the glaze coat the fritters more evenly.

I love sweet fruity fritters, but I also recommend you try my Gluten Free Delicata Squash Cheddar Fritters recipe for something savory!

the top view of glazed apple fritters on a rack

Oil frying directions:

  • To fry these gluten free apple fritters in oil, heat a light oil in a Dutch oven. Be sure to use an oil that tolerates high heat like canola, coconut, or avocado oil.
  • Follow all of the steps to make the apple fritter dough.
  • When the oil is 165º F, drop spoon fulls of the batter into the hot oil. Fry on each side for 2 minutes. Remove when the fritters are golden all around and place them on a paper towel to absorb oil.
  • Follow the same directions to make the icing and drizzle over the fritters.

Tips and Recipe Q&A:

Can you bake apple fritters?

If you are trying to cut some of the calories out from frying, I personally recommend using the air fryer. This is going to give you the texture of fried but without the oil and the calories. 

What apples are best for apple fritters?

You can use any baking apple. You want a firmer apple so when you cook it up, that it holds up and doesn't get too mushy. Gala, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Courtland, and more are great options. 

Can I skip the powdered sugar glaze?

You don't have to but it does make it taste better. A little drizzle helps add the perfect amount of sweetness to these fritters. But, if you are not a fan just leave it off. 

Can I use different fruits?

Sure, you are welcome to make it a different flavor of fruits. Cherries, blueberries, or even strawberries could be a great swap in the recipe. 

How do you store fritters?

I find with the fresh apples in this recipe it is best to be stored in the fridge. It will help prolong the shelf life of these fritters. You can eat them cold or toss them in the microwave for a quick reheat for a fresh out of the oven taste. 

You can also freeze leftover fritters if you would like. This is a great way to meal prep down the line. I just recommend leaving off the powdered sugar glaze so it doesn't soften up the fritters. 

You may also love these Gluten Free Apple Dumplings with a Cinnamon Brown Sugar Syrup!

drizzling icing over an apple fritter

More gluten free apple recipes to try:

  • Gluten Free Apple Bundt Cake
  • Easy Gluten Free Apple Crisp
  • Fool-Proof Gluten Free Apple Cake
  • Gluten Free Apple Muffins

Recipe

an apple fritter on a white plate

Gluten Free Apple Fritters

Sandi Gaertner
Delcious homemade gluten free apple fritters that can be made in your air fryer or fried in oil.
4.91 from 10 votes
gluten free allergy icon
nut free allergen icon
soy free allergy icon
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
Prevent your screen from going dark
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 12 mins
Total Time 12 mins
Course Gluten Free Dessert Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 9 fritters
Calories 258 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 ¼ cups gluten free flour * see note
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ⅓ cup butter melted
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 2 eggs large
  • ½ cup apples peeled and chopped

For the Glaze:

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • ¼ cup butter melted
  • 1 tablespoon milk
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your air fryer to 375º F for 5 minutes. Leave it closed so it stays warm.
  • Add the dry apple fritter ingredients to a bowl and whisk to blend.
  • Melt your butter so it is warm, not hot, and add the other wet ingredients. Whisk to blend.
  • Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and add your apple chunks.
  • Mix the wet and dry ingredients into a batter. HINT: Do not overmix your dough or your fritters will turn out denser.
  • Spray a piece of parchment paper with a coconut oil spray. Use a cookie scoop to drop balls of apple fritter dough onto the piece of parchment paper. If you are frying, see below for the oil frying directions.
  • Take a pair of scissors and cut around each fritter. You want to do this so that air can circulate all around each fritter. They will fry more evenly this way.
  • Place the fritters into your air fryer basket. My air fryer has two sections so I can fry 6 at a time with the two baskets. Spray the tops of the fritters with the same coconut oil spray.
  • Air fry the fritters at 375º F for 10 minutes. Open the air fryer and look to see if they are done. They should look golden on the outsides. (These will take between 10-12 minutes to cook. This time greatly depends on how large your fritters are.)
  • Add the glaze ingredients to a bowl.Mix well. You want your glaze to be a bit runny. Put your fritters on a wire rack and drizzle each with the glaze. Allow the glaze to dry and enjoy!
  • See notes for air frying directions.

Notes

  1. I have tested this recipe with King Arthur Measure for Measure GF and Bob's Red Mill 1 to 1 GF blend. That doesn't mean others will not work, I just have not tested other flours.
  2. Xanthan gum - If your gluten free flour blend doesn’t contain xanthan gum or guar gum, please add 1 teaspoon.
  3. To make this recipe dairy-free, substitute the butter for vegan butter.
  4. These fritters will keep up to 4 days in an air-tight container, or up to 4 months in the freezer.
  5. I made my fritters in my Air Fryer in order to cut down on calories and fat. You can easily fry these fritters and I include directions down below. Many often ask which air fryer I use, right now I primarily use my Ninja Foodi Air Fryer. If I need a larger basket area for a recipe, I use my Corsori Air Fryer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1fritterCalories: 258kcalCarbohydrates: 33gProtein: 3gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 186mgPotassium: 122mgFiber: 2gSugar: 20gVitamin A: 428IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 1mg
Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @FearlessDining or tag #FearlessDining!
Share by Text

Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

the cover image of my lemon e-cookbook.

If you love the recipes you find on my blog, I would love for you to sign up for my newsletter (and get my free gluten free lemon dessert e-cookbook!)

More Gluten-Free Dessert Recipes

  • Easy Gluten Free Tu B'Shevat Recipes
  • Gluten Free Chocolate Tart with Caramel
  • Gluten Free Chocolate Brownie Cake
  • Gluten Free Black Forest Cookie Cups
  • Facebook
  • Yummly

Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




  1. Elayne

    October 08, 2021 at 9:54 am

    Can I use egg replacer in this recipe? I don't eat eggs.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      October 08, 2021 at 12:01 pm

      Hi Elayne, I haven't tested any egg replacer, but as I mentioned in your other question on my cookie recipe, I would recommend Bob's Red Mill Egg Replacer.

      Reply
  2. Rebecca

    October 04, 2021 at 2:02 pm

    Can these be baked? I don't have an air fryer, and don't want the extra calories and fat oil frying would add.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      October 04, 2021 at 8:41 pm

      Hi Rebecca, they can be baked, but they won't have that fried outside crisp. It would probably be more donut like.

      Reply
  3. Stephanie Marko

    September 19, 2021 at 2:33 pm

    5 stars
    So delish! I made in my Ninja Foodi this morning. I used Melt dairy free butter and oat milk in the icing and they were a hit!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      September 19, 2021 at 4:11 pm

      I am so glad you enjoyed them, Stephanie. Thank you for letting us know what dairy-free butter you used!

      Reply
  4. Linda

    August 24, 2021 at 12:39 pm

    Would love to try this recipe. I don't see instructions for frying.

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      August 25, 2021 at 11:17 am

      Hi Linda, Frying instructions are in the post. if you go to the table of contents at the top, you can click on Oil Frying, you will be taken to the directions.

      Reply
  5. Sabine

    August 21, 2021 at 9:06 am

    4 stars
    The first cool, rainy day of the summer, so it was a perfect day to try this recipe. It is very easy to work with thanks to the terrific instructions. My fritters turned out a bit more with a bisquit texture. In saying that 10 minutes may have been a bit long in my air fryer as they were ‘very’ golden. Next time I will try less time. The fritters were still very tasty and I really loved the icing!

    Reply
    • Sandi Gaertner

      August 21, 2021 at 12:40 pm

      Hi Sabine, It may be the air fry time needs to be different. It will vary by the size of the fritters everyone is making. Did you spray the tops of each dough ball with oil?

      Reply

Primary Sidebar

  • Amazon
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • TikTok
A picture of my face standing in front of landscape bushes

Welcome to my blog! I am so glad you are here. I have created hundreds of delicious, family-friendly gluten free recipes with easy step-by-step directions. Many recipes are also dairy-free. A gluten free lifestyle has never been easier!

More about me →

GF Resources:

  • Living Gluten Free and My Best Tips
  • My Gluten Free Pantry Essentials
  • My Best Gluten Free Baking Tips
  • The Best Gluten Free Flour
  • Gluten Free Living on a Budget
  • Safe Gluten Free Dining And How To Stay Safe

More Resources!

A glass bowl filled with my gluten free flour blend.

Try My DIY Gluten Free Flour Blend Recipe! It is also gum-free!

a photo that states

Trending Gluten Free Recipes:

  • The Best Gluten Free Bread Machine Bread {Dairy Free Too!}
  • How to Make a Homemade Gluten Free Pie Crust
  • Grandma's Chicken Soup From Scratch
  • The Best Flaky Gluten Free Biscuits

Footer

^ back to top

About

  • About Me
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Accessibility Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up!

Contact

  • Contact
  • Work With Me
  • Web Stories

Copyright © 2014-2023 Fearless Dining