Baked White Chocolate Apple Fritters are a delightful dessert or breakfast/brunch treat, one that will earn you rave reviews. I have been craving apple sweets lately and this recipe fit the bill beautifully.
Traditionally fritters are fried in oil but I am thrilled to share a healthier alternative by baking them! Delicious and a bit better for you, I call these a winner!
Today’s White Chocolate Apple Fritters are a study in balance. Regular apples are too sweet for most baking projects. Using tart apples (like Granny Smith) offsets the sweetness of the white chocolate and sugar. You will get a perfect bite with the bright apples and creamy white chocolate wrapped in a beautifully spiced batter.
Baking these lowers the fat content yet they are still pleasingly crispy on the edges, tender on the inside. You will love the variety of textures in every bite.
There is some debate over why fritters are not considered a doughnut. They are both made from a dough but doughnuts are typically made with a yeast risen dough and fritters use baking powder as the leavener, similar to a quick bread.
You can use either a cookie scoop or a quarter cup measure to portion the batter onto the baking sheet but a scoop is much easier and neater. I own several sizes of scoops for various baking projects.
These white chocolate apple fritters are definitely best eaten on the day you bake them, so plan accordingly. Because they can be made in about 30 minutes, you can get them ready and baked before anyone is even awake!
I chose to use apple schnapps as the liquid in my glaze, but you can use apple cider if you don’t want the alcohol or are baking for children. They are both delicious.
If you are looking for a delightful apple dessert, I hope you give these incredible Baked White Chocolate Apple Fritters a try. They are easy and quick to make and true crowd pleasers. Old world flavor in a healthier package.
If you try this recipe, let me know! Leave a star rating, comment below, and don’t forget to snap a pic and tag it #theheritagecook on Instagram! Seeing your creations makes my day. I love hearing from you!
Ingredients needed for Baked White Chocolate Apple Fritters:
- Fritters: flour, brown sugar, baking powder, apple pie spice, cardamom, salt, butter, milk, egg, vanilla, apples, white chocolate chips
- Glaze: confectioners’ sugar, apple schnapps or cider, vanilla
PRO Tip:
Resist the urge to over mix this batter. You don’t want it perfectly smooth. And don’t pack the scoop or cup too tightly, extra crags hold onto the glaze better.
PRO Tip:
Do not skip the broiling step during glazing. This time under the heat will finish the baking process and give you lovely fritters!
How to make Baked White Chocolate Apple Fritters:
- Fritters: Whisk together the flour, xanthan gum if using, brown sugar, baking powder, the spices, and salt. Cut the butter in with a pastry cutter or two knives until you have coarse crumbs.
- Whisk together the milk, egg, and vanilla. Add the liquids to the dry ingredients and stir until just combined. Fold in the apples and white chocolate chips.
- Drop eight 1/4-cup (4 tbsp; 59ml) balls onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake 11 to 13 minutes at 400°F (204°C) until the bottoms are golden brown and the centers are set. Move the baking sheet to a wire rack and turn the oven to broil.
- The Glaze: Whisk together 1 cup (113g) confectioners’ sugar, apple schnapps or cider, and vanilla until smooth. Use a pastry brush to cover the tops with a thin layer of the glaze. Place under the broiler with the door ajar and broil for about 2 minutes watching carefully until the tops start to turn golden and the glaze bubbles.
- Remove from the oven and place the baking sheet on a wire rack. Whisk the remaining 1 cup (113g) of the confectioners’ sugar into the remaining glaze to thicken it, whisking until smooth. Brush the thicker glaze over each of the fritters, allowing the glaze to harden before serving.
PRO Tip:
Leave them perfectly rounded and resist the urge to flatten them slightly. You’ll get beautifully shaped fritters, perfectly cooked through.
Recommended Tools (affiliate links; no extra cost to you):
- Kitchen scale
- Chef’s knife
- Pastry cutter (dough blender)
- Baking sheet pan
- Parchment sheets
- Large cookie scoop
- Pastry brush
Gluten-Free Tips:
* You can adjust any baking recipe to gluten-free by using 120 grams per cup of my favorite gluten-free flour blend. If you are using another brand of gluten-free flour, whisk the mix, spoon it lightly into a measuring cup until mounded, level off the top with the back of a knife, and weigh the flour left in the cup. Use that weight as your standard per cup of that specific flour. Do this for each flour blend you use. Commercial blends such as Pamela’s All-Purpose Artisan Blend, Bob’s Red Mill 1-to-1, or King Arthur Measure for Measure are all good choices.
** The major gluten-free organizations have declared that distilled alcohols are gluten free. If you don’t want alcohol in the dish or are baking for children, use apple cider.
All recommended ingredients are gluten-free as of the writing of this article. Always check to be sure the products haven’t changed and are still safe to consume.
Baked White Chocolate Apple Fritters (Gluten Free)
These incredible Baked White Chocolate Apple Fritters are easy and quick to make and true crowd pleasers. Old world flavor in a healthier package. They are a delightful dessert, or breakfast/brunch treat, one that will earn you rave reviews.
Ingredients
Fritters
- 1-1/2 cups (180g)* gluten-free all-purpose flour blend or all-purpose flour
- 1/8 tsp xanthan gum (only if your GF blend doesn’t already contain it)
- 1/2 cup (107g) brown sugar, firmly packed
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp apple pie spice**
- 1/4 tsp ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 6 tbsp (85g) cold butter, cut into small chunks
- 1/2 cup (113g) whole milk
- 1 large egg (50g)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla paste
- 1 cup (about 113g) peeled and finely chopped tart apples (from about 2 medium apple such as Granny Smith)
- 1/2 cup (85g) white chocolate chips
Glaze
- 2 cups (227g) confectioners’ sugar, divided (113g each)
- 1/4 cup (57g) apple schnapps liqueur*** or apple cider
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). Line a baking sheet with a sheet of parchment paper.
- Make the Fritters: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, xanthan gum if using, brown sugar, baking powder, the spices**, and salt. Use a pastry cutter or two knives to cut in the butter until the mixture is the texture of coarse crumbs.
- Whisk together the milk, egg, and vanilla. Add the liquid mixture to the dry ingredients and stir with a fork until just combined. Fold in the chopped apples and white chocolate chips.
- Using a cookie scoop or measuring cup, drop eight 1/4-cup (4 tbsp; 59ml) balls onto the parchment-lined baking sheet at least an inch apart. Leave room for spreading. Bake for 11 to 13 minutes, or until the bottoms are golden brown and the centers are set. Remove from the oven and transfer the pan to a wire rack.
- Turn the oven to broil.
- Prepare the Glaze: While the fritters are baking, whisk together 1 cup (113g) of the confectioner's sugar, apple schnapps or cider, and vanilla until smooth. Brush a thin layer of the glaze over the hot baked fritters. Place under the broiler with the door ajar. Broil for about 2 minutes watching closely until the tops start to turn golden and the glaze bubbles. Mine were ready almost immediately – watch carefully!
- Remove from the oven and set the pan on a wire rack. Whisk the remaining 1 cup (113g) confectioners’ sugar into the remaining glaze to thicken it, whisking until smooth. Brush the glaze over the warm fritters. Allow glaze to harden and serve. They are best eaten the day they are made.
- Store, covered, in the refrigerator. Reheat in the
microwave for about 15 seconds or in the oven at 350°F (177°C) for 5 to 10 minutes.
Recipe found at www.theheritagecook.com
Notes
* You can adjust any baking recipe to gluten-free by using 120 grams per cup of my favorite gluten-free flour blend. If you are using another brand of gluten-free flour, whisk the mix, spoon it lightly into a measuring cup until mounded, level off the top with the back of a knife, and weigh the flour left in the cup. Use that weight as your standard per cup of that specific flour. Do this for each flour blend you use. Commercial blends such as Pamela's All-Purpose Artisan Blend, Bob's Red Mill 1-to-1, or King Arthur Measure for Measure are all good choices for general baking.
* * To make your own apple pie spice blend, combine 2 tbsp ground cinnamon, 3/4 tsp ground nutmeg, 1/4 tsp ground allspice, 1/2 tsp ground ginger, and 3/4 tsp ground cardamom. This will give you more than enough for this recipe. Store the rest in an airtight container like a glass jar. It is also delicious in any autumn baking projects, stirred into oatmeal, a latte, or mixed with sugar for a new and wonderful cinnamon toast.
* * * The major gluten-free organizations have declared that distilled alcohols are gluten free. If you don’t want alcohol in the dish or are baking for children, use apple cider.
If your batter is thin due to extra moist apples, add an extra couple of tablespoons flour so that it holds its shape when placed on the baking sheet.
Adapted from recipes by A Kitchen Addiction and My Baking Addiction
All recommended ingredients are gluten-free as of the writing of this article. Always check to be sure the products haven’t changed and are still safe to consume.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 330Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 47mgSodium: 251mgCarbohydrates: 48gFiber: 2gSugar: 10gProtein: 6g
The nutritional information for recipes on this site is calculated by online tools and is merely an estimate.
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