These apple fritters with apple pie filling are one of my favorite apple recipes, with a crispy outside and a tender inside. They make a great Sunday morning breakfast or brunch.
I made these apple fritter donuts after a really snowy day when my youngest son was visiting. He was busy clearing all the snow from my car and driveway, and I wanted him to have a treat when he finished. I used my mom's home-canned apple pie filling, a recipe I've made since growing up in New York State.
Quick Summary
- Small fried apple fritter donuts that make 8 servings, with each batch frying in about 3 minutes.
- Made with my mom's home-canned apple pie filling, or a store bought can if that's what you have.
- Tips for golden fritters that aren't greasy.
- It costs less to make at home than buying apple fritters at the donut shop.
Jump to:
Key Ingredients
- Apple pie filling: I make my mom's recipe for homemade apple pie filling.
- Cinnamon and nutmeg: Give added flavor to the apple fritters.
- Vanilla extract: Adds flavor.
- Butter: Adds moisture and flavor.
- Crisco: A solid vegetable shortening for deep frying.
Instructions
Chop the apples in the pie filling into smaller pieces before they go into the batter. Whisk the dry ingredients in one bowl and the wet in another, then stir them together.
Heat the oil to 350°F, drop the batter in with a small cookie scoop, and fry until golden on both sides, flipping once. Drain the fritters on paper towels and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.
Substitutions
- Use 1½ teaspoons of this Apple Pie Spice in place of the cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Swap the apple pie filling for 1 cup of chopped fresh apples. Honeycrisp or Granny Smith are good crisp apples to use.
- For a deeper caramel-like flavor, use brown sugar instead of granulated sugar.
Variations
- Cherry Fritters: Use cherry pie filling in place of the apple pie filling, almond extract for vanilla extract, and eliminate the spices.
- Glazed Apple Fritters: In a small bowl, mix 2 cups powdered sugar with enough milk to make a thick glaze, then dip the fritters into the glaze and place them on a wire rack to dry. Set parchment paper under the rack to catch the drips.
Top Tip
- Instead of paper towels, you can place the fried fritters on a paper bag-lined baking sheet or a wire rack to prevent grease from soaking into them.
Storing and Reheating Apple Fritters
Store in an airtight container on the counter up to 3 days, or in the freezer up to 3 months. To reheat, place in an air fryer or oven at 350°F for 10 minutes, until hot.
Serve with...
I love to serve each apple fritter donut hot, dipped in maple syrup.
You May Be Wondering
Yes. I use my mom's home-canned apple pie filling, but a store-bought one like Lucky Leaf works too.
No, these are best fried.
Keep the melted shortening at an even 350°F. I check it with a candy thermometer. Any hotter and they'll be raw inside; any cooler and they'll turn out greasy and soggy.
Related Recipes
If you're in the mood for more apples or donuts, here are a few more to try.
When you make this recipe, please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating comment below to let me know what you think. I'd love it if you tag me on Instagram @grumpyshoneybunch so I can see your photos!
📖 Recipe
Apple Fritters with Canned Pie Filling
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Ingredients
- 1½ cups flour
- ¼ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup Mom's Apple Pie Filling
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons butter , melted
- 4 cups Crisco solid shortening , for frying
- cinnamon and/or confectioner's sugar, to sprinkle on top (optional)
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with paper towels and set aside. In a large bowl, sift flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- In a medium bowl, whisk milk, apple pie filling, vanilla, and melted butter. Add wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined.
- Heat the Crisco over medium-high heat in a large dutch oven to 350°F. Scoop donut batter with a small cookie scoop, carefully placing into hot oil. Cook for 1 minute, until fritters are brown on bottom side.
- Flip the apple fritters and cook another 2 minutes, until golden brown color and cooked on the inside. Remove the fritters from the hot oil with a slotted spoon and sprinkle with powdered sugar.
Val - Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids says
These sound perfect for a cool, fall morning. My family likes to make a big "breakfast" at some point on Sundays (it is served for actual breakfast but sometimes dinner after church or supper at night) and I think this would be a hit with my family.
Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm says
I make fritters at least once every apple season and I certainly want to make your Mom's pie filling so this will be my fritter recipe this Fall.
Carlee says
I have been looking forward to seeing these puppies ever since I saw the sneak peek picture! They look scrumptious! I too have an aversion to frying things... but am going to have to throw it out the window for a batch of these!