🍎 Air Fryer Apple Fritters with Brown Butter Glaze 🍎
Ingredients
For the Fritters:
1½ cups all-purpose flour
¼ cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon fine sea salt
1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
⅓ cup whole milk (or dairy-free alternative)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 large eggs
2 medium firm apples (such as Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), peeled, cored, and finely diced
Neutral oil (like canola or avocado), for light coating
For the Brown Butter Glaze:
4 tablespoons (½ stick) unsalted butter
1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
1 to 2 teaspoons milk (as needed for consistency)
Instructions
1. Brown the Butter:
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Continue cooking, swirling the pan occasionally, until the butter foams, then turns golden amber with brown specks and emits a nutty aroma—about 3–5 minutes. Immediately transfer to a heatproof bowl to stop cooking and let cool slightly.
2. Prepare the Glaze:
To the warm (not hot) browned butter, whisk in the sifted powdered sugar and vanilla. Add 1 teaspoon of milk at a time until the glaze reaches a smooth, pourable consistency. Set aside.
3. Preheat the Air Fryer:
Set your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) and preheat for 3–4 minutes.
4. Make the Batter:
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. In a separate small bowl, combine milk, vanilla, lemon juice, and eggs. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry mixture and stir just until no dry streaks remain. Gently fold in the diced apples.
5. Cook the Fritters:
Line the air fryer basket with a parchment round or reusable liner. Lightly coat with oil using a spray bottle or brush. Scoop ¼-cup portions of batter into the basket, spacing them well apart (usually 2–3 fritters per batch, depending on basket size). Lightly mist the tops with oil.
Air fry at 400°F for 4–5 minutes, or until deeply golden. Carefully flip each fritter and cook for another 3–4 minutes until crisp and cooked through.
6. Glaze and Serve:
Transfer cooked fritters to a wire rack. While still warm, generously drizzle with the brown butter glaze. Serve immediately for the best texture and flavor.
Yield: 10 fritters
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes