Description
Enjoy the flavor of classic apple fritters without the deep-frying mess. These baked fritters feature warm spices and soft apple pieces, topped with a rich brown butter-cardamom glaze for a tender, decadent treat.
Ingredients
- 2 medium apples (about 300g), peeled, cored, and finely diced
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom (for fritters)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter (melted and cooled)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- For the Brown Butter-Cardamom Glaze:
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 3/4 cups powdered sugar, sifted
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom (for glaze)
- 2–3 tablespoons milk or water
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pan: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk, egg, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Ensure butter is slightly cooled before adding to prevent scrambling the egg.
- Form the Batter: Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stir gently with a spatula until just combined. Avoid overmixing; a few lumps are fine.
- Fold in Apples: Gently fold the diced apples into the prepared batter until evenly distributed.
- Portion Fritters: Drop irregular mounds of batter (about 1/4 cup each) onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving approximately 2 inches between each fritter.
- Bake Fritters: Bake for 18-22 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and a skewer inserted into the center comes out clean.
- Make Brown Butter Glaze: While fritters bake, melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, stirring until it turns a rich golden brown and smells nutty (3-5 minutes). Immediately pour into a bowl to stop cooking.
- Finish Glaze: Add the sifted powdered sugar and cardamom to the brown butter. Whisk vigorously until smooth. Gradually add milk or water until the glaze is thick but pourable.
- Glaze and Serve: Let the fritters cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack set over parchment paper. Generously drizzle the warm fritters with the glaze and serve immediately.
Notes
To achieve a fluffy texture, be careful not to overmix the batter. Store cooled fritters in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or reheat them in an oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes to revive the texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fritter
- Calories: 270 calories
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 40mg