Apple Fritter Bites with Apple Cider Glaze Recipe
These Apple Fritter Bites are a delightful bite-sized twist on the classic apple fritter doughnuts. Soft, spiced with cinnamon, and packed with juicy diced apples, they are topped with a sweet and tangy apple cider glaze that caramelizes under the broiler for extra flavor and texture. Perfect as a snack or a festive breakfast treat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 30 fritter bites 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 1/2 cups finely diced Honeycrisp or Gala apples (about 2 medium apples)
Apple Cider Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/3 cup + 2 tbsp apple cider or juice
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C) and coat a baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, kosher salt, and ground cinnamon until well combined.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk the melted butter and granulated sugar until combined. Add in the egg, vanilla extract, and unsweetened applesauce, whisking until the mixture is smooth.
- Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures: Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and stir gently until just combined to avoid overmixing. Then gently fold in the finely diced apples to evenly distribute.
- Scoop Batter: Drop 1 tablespoon portions of batter spaced a few inches apart onto the prepared baking sheet to allow room for spreading.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes until the fritter bites are set and lightly golden.
- Prepare Glaze: While the fritters bake, whisk together powdered sugar and apple cider or juice until the glaze is thin and pourable.
- Glaze and Broil: Remove the fritters from the oven and immediately brush some glaze over them. Change the oven setting to broil on high. Place the baking sheet under the broiler for 2-4 minutes, rotating frequently, until the glaze caramelizes and bubbles up, adding a delicious crust.
- Final Glazing: Remove from the broiler and brush the remaining glaze evenly over the tops of the warm fritter bites.
- Cool and Set: Let the glazed fritter bites sit at room temperature for 15 minutes so the glaze can set properly before serving.
Notes
- For best flavor and texture, use crisp apples like Honeycrisp or Gala.
- If you don’t have apple cider, you can substitute with apple juice or a mild fruit juice.
- Watch closely when broiling to prevent burning; rotation of the baking sheet helps with even caramelization.
- These fritter bites are best served fresh but can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days.
- To make them vegan, substitute the egg with a flax egg and use a plant-based butter alternative.
Keywords: apple fritter bites, mini apple fritters, baked apple donuts, apple cider glaze, fall dessert, cinnamon apple treats