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These small batch apple fritters fry up crisp and golden with soft, apple-filled centers. One small apple and an egg-free batter make 4 homemade fritters for one or two in under 30 minutes.
Featured Comment
“These were so delicious! I was craving a simple dessert and these hit the spot…”
– Laura
Quick Look
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Equipment: 2-quart saucepan
- Cook Method: Deep fried in a saucepan on the stovetop
- Servings: 1 to 2
- Difficulty: Easy
- Flavor Profile: Sweet, cinnamon-spiced apple with a touch of molasses and a hint of nutmeg.
Single serving apple fritters are best eaten hot, straight from the pan, with powdered sugar still settling on top.
Why You’ll Love These Homemade Apple Fritters For One
Apple fritters are one of the quickest fried treats I make, and they come out looking like they belong in a bakery case.
Each one is crisp outside and soft inside, with apple and pecan in every bite. Finish them with a dusting of powdered sugar, or use a powdered sugar and milk glaze for something sweeter.
The batter takes ½ cup of flour and one small apple and makes 4 fritters, enough for one person, or two if you’re sharing.
I live in Hendersonville, North Carolina, and most of the state’s apples grow right here in Henderson County. I buy mine from the local orchards, and any variety works in these fritters.
Everything else comes from the pantry. Flour, baking powder, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and water go into one bowl, and the apple and pecans get folded in last. There’s no egg or milk, so you probably have everything on hand.
I fry them in a 2-quart saucepan with the oil halfway up the sides and heated to 350°F. The pan holds all 4 fritters at once, and they turn golden brown in about 4 minutes.
For more small batch apple recipes, try our small batch baked apple cider donuts, apple crisp for one, small batch fried apples, or a mini Dutch apple pie.
Ingredients
This old-fashioned apple fritters recipe uses one small apple and a short list of pantry ingredients. For ways to use any leftover ingredients, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
All-Purpose Flour: Flour is the base of the batter and gives the fritters their structure.
Baking Powder: Baking powder makes the fritters puff up as they fry. To check that yours is fresh, stir ¼ teaspoon into ½ cup of hot water. If it bubbles, it’s good.
Brown Sugar: Light or dark brown sugar sweetens the batter and adds a touch of molasses. If you’re out, you can make brown sugar at home with white sugar and molasses.
Kosher Salt: A pinch of salt balances the sugar and brings out the spices.
Cinnamon and Nutmeg: Cinnamon and nutmeg season the batter and pair naturally with apple.
Water: Water is the only liquid in the batter, and it’s all you need to bring the dry ingredients together.
Apple: You’ll need about ⅓ cup chopped, which is 1 small apple or half of a large one. Peel it and cut it into ¼-inch dice so the pieces cook through while the fritters fry. Any variety works. If you cut a large apple, use the other half in small batch morning glory muffins.
Pecans (Optional): Pecans add crunch. Walnuts work just as well, or you can leave the nuts out. Use extra pecans in a mini Italian cream cake or small batch brownies.
Oil: Canola, vegetable, or refined avocado oil works best for frying because each has a high smoke point.
Powdered Sugar: Dust powdered sugar over the fritters while they’re still warm, or whisk it with a little milk for a glaze to drizzle over them once they’ve cooled.
Recipe Variations
Use these swaps to change the topping, flavor, or flour in this apple fritters recipe.
Glazed Apple Fritters
Whisk 4 tablespoons of powdered sugar with 2 teaspoons of milk until smooth. Drizzle the glaze over the fritters once they’ve cooled.
Double Glazed Apple Fritters
For a thicker coating, double the glaze by whisking ½ cup of powdered sugar with 4 teaspoons of milk. Dip each cooled fritter in the glaze, let the first coat set, then dip it again.
Maple Glazed Apple Fritters
Whisk ¼ cup of powdered sugar with 1 tablespoon of maple syrup. If the glaze is too thick to drizzle, add milk ½ teaspoon at a time. Drizzle it over the cooled fritters.
Cinnamon Sugar Apple Fritters
Stir together 2 tablespoons of granulated sugar and ½ teaspoon of cinnamon in a small bowl. Toss the fritters in the cinnamon sugar right after they drain, while they’re still hot, so it sticks.
Apple Cider Fritters
Replace the ¼ cup of water with ¼ cup of apple cider for more apple flavor in the batter.
Gluten-Free Apple Fritters
Swap the all-purpose flour for the same amount of a 1-to-1 gluten-free flour blend.
How To Make Small Batch Apple Fritters
Follow these photos and steps to make easy apple fritters for one or two. You’ll find the ingredient amounts and full instructions in the recipe card below.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Stir in the water just until the batter is smooth, then gently fold in the diced apple and pecans.
- Pour enough oil into a deep 2-quart saucepan to reach halfway up the sides. Heat the oil over medium heat until it reads 350°F on a thermometer.
- Use a large metal spoon to carefully drop heaping spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil. The pan holds all 4 fritters at once. Fry for about 4 minutes, turning as needed, until they’re golden brown and crisp.
- Lift the fritters out with a slotted spoon and set them on a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Dust the warm fritters with powdered sugar and serve right away. If you’re glazing them instead, let them cool first, then drizzle the glaze over the top.
Expert Tips
Use a 2-Quart Saucepan: A deep 2-quart saucepan with oil halfway up the sides holds all 4 fritters at once and takes far less oil than a large pot.
Keep the Thermometer Tip Off the Bottom: Clip a candy or deep-fry thermometer to the side of the pan so the tip sits in the oil without touching the bottom. The bottom of the pan runs hotter than the oil and gives a false reading.
Hold the Oil at 350°F: The oil temperature drops when the batter goes in. Turn the heat up slightly if it falls below 350°F, and lower it if the oil climbs higher.
Mix the Batter Gently: Stir in the water just until the batter is smooth so the fritters stay light and fluffy.
Drain Right Away: Move the fritters to a paper towel-lined plate as soon as they come out of the oil so the towels soak up the excess.
Troubleshooting
If your fritters didn’t turn out quite how you wanted, here’s how to correct them.
Why are my apple fritters raw in the middle?
Apple fritters stay raw in the middle when the oil is too hot, so the outside browns before the center has time to cook. Keep the oil at 350°F, and lower the heat if the fritters turn dark brown well before the 4-minute mark.
Why are my apple fritters greasy?
Apple fritters turn out greasy when the oil is too cool, so the batter soaks up oil before it can crisp. The oil temperature drops when all 4 fritters go in, so turn the heat up slightly until it’s back at 350°F. Drain the fritters on paper towels as soon as they come out.
Why are my apple fritters dense?
Apple fritters come out dense when the batter is overmixed or the baking powder is old. Stir in the water just until the batter is smooth, and make sure your baking powder still bubbles in hot water.
Why did my apple fritters fall apart in the oil?
Apple fritters fall apart in the oil when the batter is too thin to hold the apple and pecans together. The batter should be thick enough to mound on a spoon. If yours runs off the spoon, stir in 1 more tablespoon of flour.
Serving Suggestions
Pair these single serving apple fritters with something sized for one or two.
- Ice Cream: Serve a warm fritter with a scoop of vanilla ice cream for dessert.
- Butter Pecan Ice Cream: Small batch butter pecan ice cream picks up the pecans in the batter.
- Caramel: Drizzle homemade caramel over the top in place of powdered sugar.
- Something Warm to Drink: A mug of mulled cider or coffee with pumpkin spice creamer makes it breakfast.
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. Many apple fritter recipes have no nuts, and the pecans in this recipe are optional. Leave them out for nut-free fritters, or use walnuts instead.
No, this small batch apple fritter recipe is made for frying. For a baked apple treat, try a single apple muffin or a small apple cake.
Yes, you can freeze apple fritters for up to 2 to 3 months, and they freeze best without the glaze. Let them cool completely before freezing. Reheat them in a 350°F oven, then add the glaze or powdered sugar.
Yes, this small batch apple fritter recipe doubles or triples. Fry the fritters in batches of 4 so the 2-quart pan doesn’t get crowded.
Store apple fritters in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven or a toaster oven to crisp them up.
After frying apple fritters, let the oil cool completely, pour it into a disposable container, seal it, and throw it away. To reuse it, strain the cooled oil through cheesecloth and store it. I find oil holds up for only one or two more uses.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
RELATED: Cooking For One Tips To Eat Healthy And Save Money
If you’ve tried this small batch apple fritters recipe, please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
Small Batch Apple Fritters
Equipment
- Candy or deep fry thermometer
Ingredients
For the batter
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ cup water
- ⅓ cup peeled and chopped red apple
- ¼ cup pecans – chopped
To fry
- canola oil or vegetable oil, for frying
To finish
- 1 teaspoon powdered sugar
For the glaze (optional)
- 4 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons milk
Instructions
For the batter
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Stir in the water just until the batter is smooth.
- Gently fold in the diced apple and pecans.
To fry
- Pour enough oil into a deep 2-quart saucepan to reach halfway up the sides.
- Heat the oil over medium heat until it reads 350°F on a thermometer.
- Using a large metal spoon, carefully drop 4 heaping spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil.
- Fry for about 4 minutes, turning as needed, until the fritters are golden brown and crisp.
- Lift the fritters out with a slotted spoon and drain them on a paper towel-lined plate.
To finish
- Dust the warm fritters with 1 teaspoon powdered sugar and serve right away.
For the glaze (optional)
- If you're glazing the fritters instead, let them cool first.
- Whisk 4 tablespoons powdered sugar with 2 teaspoons milk until smooth.
- Drizzle the glaze over the cooled fritters.
Notes
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
I tried the apple fritters and the banana upside down cake .Fritters was the best of the 2.
If you don’t like these recipes the best part is : you only wasted a small amount of ingredients and time
Joanie, I love all your recipes. Thank you for sharing. I’m wondering if this recipe for Apple fritters can be done in an air cryer, and if you have air fryer recipes that you will share.
Hi Betty, I haven’t tested this recipe in an air fryer but really don’t think it would work well in one.
Yum! The perfect thing for two people with a craving for apple fritters. So easy, too! Thanks so much for the recipe. I didn’t have any nuts so I left them out, and instead of powdered sugar or icing I drizzled ours with chai honey. Just perfect!
These were so delicious! I was craving a simple dessert and these hit the spot. I shared with my neighbor and she loved them as well. Will definitely make again…thanks for sharing…
Love all the recipes that I have tried unusual because I have tried recipes from other sites and some are good but a lot our in my option nasty so to say all I have tried keeps me coming back for more. I know that it is really difficult to downsize a bread recipe. But sure would like to have some yeast bread and rolls. I found after a long search the go back to biscuit recipe. Not like other recipes this one uses heavy whipping cream and I think it was from Deen’s recipe. But do need more recipe for bread. Please!
These are awesome . my husband and I really enjoyed them.
I made these this past weekend. They were delicious and very easy to make.
I’m so happy you enjoyed them. Thank you so much for your feedback.
Hi!
I was wondering if it possible to make these in an air fryer?!
I haven’t tested this recipe in an air fryer. If you try it, please let me know how it turns out for you.
How much oil to use
Add enough oil to come halfway up the sides of the pot you use.
Joanie I’d like to try this recipe but I don’t know what to do with the used oil. I’ve never deep fried anything. Help please. Lol
Hi Nickie, Allow the oil to cool and then transfer the cooled oil into a disposable container and seal it shut. You can simply throw the container away. If you would like to reuse the oil, strain the oil with some cheesecloth and store it until you are ready to use it again. I find that I can only reuse oil once or twice after the first time.
Will try these today, but was wondering no oil in the batter? Low fat recipe.
Oil is not necessary in the batter.
I made these. Delicious! I used walnuts because that’s what I had. I mixed a tiny bit of water to powdered sugar and drizzled over. Wonderful. Thank you!
They sound wonderful! I’m so glad you enjoyed the fritters.
I have made these apple fritters several times and enjoy them….thanks for sharing.
I’m so happy you are enjoying the recipe. Thank you so much for your feedback.
love all your recipes because I live alone and always find it hard to only cook for “1”….thanks for sharing…
Thank you so much!