Soft, cinnamon-spiced Apple Fritter Bites, loaded with juicy Honeycrisp apples and coated in a crackly apple cider glaze—everything you love about apple fritters, but in bite-sized form!
If you’ve ever stood in line at a bakery, staring at the golden, glistening apple fritters behind the glass, debating whether you really need one (spoiler: you always do), then you get why I love them.
The problem? Traditional apple fritters are messy—sticky fingers, crumbling pieces, and sometimes, way too much oil. Plus, frying? At home? Not happening on a random Wednesday afternoon.
So, I started thinking… what if I could turn my favorite bakery indulgence into something smaller, easier, and way less messy? Something I could grab in two bites but still get that warm, cinnamon-apple goodness?
And just like that, these Apple Fritter Bites were born. They’re baked instead of fried, still crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy inside, and absolutely drenched in a sweet, crackly apple cider glaze that tastes like fall in every bite.
The first time I made these, I ate one. Then another. Then… well, let’s just say I intended to share, but things got out of control real fast. So, fair warning: these are dangerously good.
Why You’ll Love This Apple Fritter Bites Recipe?
- No frying required. Zero oil splatter, zero stress. Just pop them in the oven!
- Perfectly snackable. No forks, no plates—just grab and go.
- That apple cider glaze. It hardens into the most perfect, slightly crunchy coating.
- Soft inside, crispy outside. A little crunch, a little fluff, a lot of magic.
- Your kitchen will smell like a fall festival. Seriously. It’s next-level cozy.
Ingredient Notes:
Let’s break down the key players in these Apple Fritter Bites.
- All-Purpose Flour – The foundation that keeps them soft yet sturdy enough to hold all the apple goodness.
- Baking Powder – Helps create that light, airy texture.
- Cinnamon – Because is it even an apple fritter without a warm hit of cinnamon?
- Unsalted Butter – Adds richness and depth of flavor.
- Granulated Sugar – Sweetens the dough without overpowering the apples.
- Egg – Holds everything together while adding just the right amount of fluffiness.
- Vanilla Extract – Brings warmth and enhances the flavors.
- Applesauce – Keeps the fritters extra moist while doubling down on the apple flavor.
- Honeycrisp Apples – Crisp, slightly tart, and perfect for baking. They hold their shape beautifully!
- Powdered Sugar – The base for that heavenly apple cider glaze.
- Apple Cider (or Apple Juice) – Brings a bold apple punch to the glaze and takes everything up a notch.
Pro Tip: No Honeycrisp apples? No worries. Try Granny Smith for a little extra tartness or Fuji for a naturally sweeter bite.
How To Make Apple Fritter Bites?
Step 1: Prep Your Baking Sheet
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a baking sheet with nonstick spray or line it with
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together 1 ½ cups flour, 2 tsp baking powder, ½ tsp salt, and 2 tsp cinnamon. This ensures everything gets evenly distributed—no clumps, no weird surprises.
Step 3: Make the Wet Mixture
In another bowl, whisk together ¼ cup melted butter and ¼ cup sugar until smooth. Add 1 egg, ½ tsp vanilla extract, and ½ cup applesauce, whisking until fully combined.
Step 4: Combine & Add Apples
Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture, stirring gently just until everything comes together. Then, fold in 1 ½ cups diced Honeycrisp apples. (Pro tip: Don’t overmix—overworked batter = tough fritters.)
Step 5: Form the Fritters & Bake
Scoop tablespoon-sized mounds of batter onto the baking sheet, spacing them about an inch apart. They’ll puff up slightly, so give them room.
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Bake for 10 minutes, until golden brown and just set. They should look slightly puffy and smell incredible.
Step 6: Make the Apple Cider Glaze
While the fritters are baking, whisk together 2 cups powdered sugar and ⅓ cup + 2 tbsp apple cider (or apple juice). The goal? A pourable but not runny glaze—think pancake syrup consistency.
Step 7: Glaze & Broil
Once the fritters are baked, remove them from the oven and switch it to broil.
Brush each fritter generously with the glaze, then return them to the oven for 2-4 minutes, watching closely. The glaze should start bubbling and caramelizing slightly—not burning!
Step 8: Glaze Again & Cool
Take them out, give them one more coat of glaze, and let them sit for 15 minutes so the glaze sets. Then? Eat immediately and try not to inhale the whole batch.
Storage Options:
If, by some miracle, you have leftovers, here’s how to keep them fresh:
- Room Temp: Store in an airtight container for 1-2 days.
- Fridge: Keeps for up to 4 days, though they’ll soften slightly.
- Freezer: Freeze for up to 2 months. To reheat, bake at 350°F for 5-7 minutes to bring back the crispiness.
Pro Tip: Want them warm again? A 10-second zap in the microwave works wonders.
Variations and Substitutions:
Want to mix things up? Here are a few fun ideas:
- Swap the apples. Try pears for a slightly different twist.
- Add nuts. Stir in some chopped pecans or walnuts for crunch.
- Make them dairy-free. Use coconut oil instead of butter.
- Cinnamon-sugar finish. Skip the glaze and roll them in cinnamon sugar while they’re warm.
What to Serve with Apple Fritter Bites?
These are perfect on their own, but if you want to go all out, try these pairings:
- A hot cup of coffee – Because apple and coffee together? Absolute perfection.
- Vanilla ice cream – Warm fritters + cold ice cream = life-changing.
- Caramel drizzle – Because more sweetness is never a bad thing.
- A mug of hot apple cider – Full-on autumn vibes.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I fry these instead of baking them?
Yes! Heat oil to 350°F and fry spoonfuls of batter until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side.
What if I don’t have apple cider?
Apple juice works just as well!
Can I make these ahead of time?
Absolutely! Just reheat them in the oven to bring back the crispiness.
These Apple Fritter Bites are proof that sometimes, the best things come in small packages. They’re crispy, soft, packed with cinnamon-apple goodness, and basically impossible to stop eating.
So, are you making these today? Tomorrow? Right now? (Same.) Let me know how they turn out—I love hearing from you!
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
<Remember it later>
Planning to try this recipe soon? Pin it for a quick find later!
Keep the Flavor Coming – Try These:
Apple Fritter Bites
Ingredients
For the Apple Fritter Bites:
- Nonstick cooking spray for greasing
- 1 ½ c all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ c unsalted butter melted
- ¼ c granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ c no-sugar-added applesauce
- 1 ½ c peeled and finely diced Honeycrisp apples about 2 medium apples
For the Glaze:
- 2 c powdered sugar
- ⅓ c plus 2 tablespoon apple cider or apple juice
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Lightly coat a baking sheet, with nonstick cooking spray.
- For the dry ingredients mix together 1 ½ cups of all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons of baking powder, ½ teaspoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of cinnamon in a medium-sized bowl using a whisk.
- In a bowl whisk together melted butter (¼ cup) and granulated sugar (¼ cup) for the wet ingredients.
- Add an egg to the mixture and whisk until smooth.
- Mix in vanilla extract (½ teaspoon). Applesauce (½ cup).
- Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until they are just combined.
- Stir in diced Honeycrisp apples (1 ½ cups).
- Drop tablespoonfuls of batter onto the baking sheet spacing them an inch apart.
- Bake for 10 minutes until they are set and have a golden color.
- While the fritters are baking, whisk together sugar (2 cups), with apple cider or juice (⅓ cup plus 2 tablespoons) to create a glaze that can be poured easily.
- Once baked remove the fritters from the oven. Switch it to broil mode. Apply the glaze to each fritter. Then put them back in the oven.
- Broil, for 2 to 4 minutes being attentive until the glaze starts to bubble and caramelize a bit. If needed rotate the baking sheet for even broiling.
- Take out the fritters. Give them one coat of glaze.
- Allow them to sit for 15 minutes until the glaze sets and becomes slightly firm.
- Now it's time to savor your Apple Fritter Bites! They are all ready to be served and enjoyed!
Notes
I’m Bitty, owner of nodashofgluten.com, where I share simple, delicious recipes for all tastes, including gluten-free. Check out my “About Me” page for more info!
2 Responses
Should the recipe have milk? Batter was very thick and could not incorporate the apples!
Hi Tamara! 😊 The recipe doesn’t actually call for milk – the applesauce helps keep the batter moist. If it felt too thick to mix in the apples, you could try adding a bit more applesauce or even a splash of milk to get it just right. Hope this helps, and happy baking!