I never wanted an apple fritter until I made salted apple fritters made with Honeycrisp apples.
Honeycrisp season is the best season. Those apples are juicy, crisp and taste like a bite of fall — for me they conjure up memories of caramel apples from childhood, even when I don’t actually use caramel. Their texture and bright sweetness make them perfect in a fritter: they stay tender inside the batter and still have enough crispness to contrast the soft interior.
This recipe is straightforward. The batter is embarrassingly easy: whisk dry ingredients, add the wet, fold in chopped Honeycrisp apples, then fry spoonfuls until golden. Finish the fritters with a simple vanilla glaze and a generous sprinkle of flaked sea salt. The salt amplifies the apple flavor and balances the sweetness in a way that makes these impossible to stop eating.
The results are salty and sweet, crisp on the outside and pillowy soft inside. If you love the sweet-savory combo of apples and cheddar, you’ll especially appreciate the way the flaked sea salt highlights the fruit’s sweetness. These fritters work for brunch, a snack, or a late-night dessert — although I won’t lie, they’re dangerously tempting at breakfast too.
Frying can seem intimidating, especially with kids underfoot, but this recipe is one of those times where the payoff makes the effort worthwhile. You only need a few inches of oil heated to about 350°F, a couple of minutes per side, and a slotted spoon. The batter holds together well and the apple pieces add texture and pockets of juicy flavor.
Can you even take that?!
My preference is usually for apple cider doughnuts, but these salted Honeycrisp fritters might just be a new contender. Each bite has contrast: warm fried batter, small tart-sweet apple pieces, smooth vanilla glaze, and a finishing crunch of flaked sea salt. They’re messy in the most satisfying way.
Serve them warm for the best texture and flavor. If you need to keep them a short while, place finished fritters on a wire rack over a sheet pan so they don’t steam and soften. Dip in glaze while still slightly warm so it adheres nicely, then sprinkle immediately with flaked sea salt.
Salted Apple Fritters
Salted Honeycrisp Fritters
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch of freshly ground nutmeg
- 2/3 cup milk
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups peeled and chopped Honeycrisp apples
- Vegetable or canola oil for frying
Glaze
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup milk (plus more if needed)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- Flaked sea salt for sprinkling
Instructions
- Heat a few inches of oil in a large saucepan over medium-low heat until it reaches about 350°F. Line a plate with paper towels for draining.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, eggs, melted butter and vanilla. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry just until combined; do not overmix.
- Fold the chopped apples into the batter so they are evenly distributed.
- When the oil is hot, drop about 1/4 cup of batter per fritter into the oil, frying only one or two at a time so the oil temperature remains steady. Fry until golden on both sides, about 3 to 4 minutes total, turning once or twice. Remove with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Repeat with remaining batter.
- To make the glaze: whisk powdered sugar, vanilla and milk together until smooth. If the glaze is too thick to dip, add milk 1 teaspoon at a time until it reaches a dippable consistency.
- Once fritters are slightly cooled, dip each into the glaze, place on parchment or a wire rack, and immediately sprinkle with flaked sea salt. Serve warm.
Notes
These fritters are slightly adapted from a classic apple fritter recipe. Use Honeycrisp apples for the best balance of sweetness and texture, and be generous with the flaked sea salt — it provides an excellent contrast to the sweet glaze.
The crunch from the flaked sea salt at the end is the finishing touch — it lifts the apple flavor and makes the whole fritter sing. These are perfect for sharing at a brunch, serving after a fall dinner, or enjoying whenever you want a special indulgence that tastes like autumn in every bite.