🍎 Cozy Fall Recipe: Apple Fritters

I'm always team apple fall.

When I was a kid, apple fritters were one of my favorite fall treats — so this recipe was born out of nostalgia. I wanted a cleaned-up, allergy-friendly version that my whole family could enjoy. These can be made gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined-sugar-free, and they come together quickly.

They’re best eaten fresh when they’re still crispy, but if you have leftovers, just pop them in the air fryer at 400°F for 5–8 minutes to bring them back to life.

---

Ingredients

• 1 cup arrowroot flour

• 1 tbsp maple sugar

• ¼ tsp salt

• 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• ⅓ cup milk of choice (I used whole milk)

• 1 egg

• 2 honeycrisp apples, peeled and chopped into small pieces

• Coconut oil (for frying)

Topping Options:

• Sprinkle maple sugar on top

• Sprinkle powdered sugar or Lakanto monk fruit sweetener* on top

• Make a glaze using powdered sugar or monk fruit sweetener + a splash of milk or water

---

Instructions

1. Prep the Apples:
   Peel and chop the apples into small pieces so the batter sticks to them easily.

2. Heat the Oil:
   Add coconut oil to a pan deep enough for frying (about 1 inch of oil). Heat on medium until it reaches 350°F — use a thermometer for best results.

3. Mix the Batter:
   In a medium bowl, whisk together arrowroot flour, maple sugar, salt, baking powder, and cinnamon.

4. Add Wet Ingredients:
   Stir in the milk and egg, whisking until smooth.

5. Fold in Apples:
   Gently fold the chopped apples into the batter.

6. Fry the Fritters:
   Use a large cookie scoop to drop batter into the hot oil. It will spread a bit like funnel cake. Once the edges turn golden brown, flip and cook the other side. These cook quickly — watch carefully!

7. Top and Serve:
   While warm, sprinkle with maple sugar or powdered sugar.
   For extra sweetness, whisk together a quick glaze (powdered sugar or monk fruit + a splash of milk) and drizzle over the fritters.

---

My Notes

I like to keep these on the less-sweet side and simply sprinkle with maple sugar. If you’re using monk fruit sweetener, keep in mind it’s much sweeter than regular sugar, so start with less and adjust to taste.

---

Want More Allergy-Friendly Family Recipes?

If you love this recipe, you’ll love my Efficient Kitchen Blueprints — my step-by-step system for planning, shopping, and prepping so dinner doesn’t feel like a daily scramble. It’s designed to help busy moms feed their families well without spending all day in the kitchen. Click here to check it out and make your weeknights easier.