With this easy recipe, you can make the best Dutch apple fritters at home, a true classic for New Year’s Eve. They’re ready in under 30 minutes, require no yeast or rising time, and are incredibly delicious. Crispy on the outside, soft and fruity on the inside.
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Why this Recipe Works
A true Dutch classic apple fritters recipe from my kitchen to yours! A family (and friends) favorite for sure.
After frying, we usually coat them in cinnamon sugar that’s left over from baking, but powdered sugar works just as well. Choose whatever you like best.
Dutch Apple Fritters vs American Apple Fritters
Although they share the same name, Dutch apple fritters are quite different from the American version. In the Netherlands, apple fritters (appelbeignets) are made from thick slices of apple dipped in a simple batter and deep-fried until golden. They’re light, crispy, and very apple-forward. These are traditionally eaten around New Year’s Eve, alongside oliebollen and other festive treats.
American apple fritters, on the other hand, are more like irregular donut-style pastries. The apple is chopped and mixed directly into a heavy dough, which is then fried and often finished with a glaze. They’re denser, sweeter, and closer to a donut than to a battered apple slice.
So while both are delicious, Dutch apple fritters are lighter, crispier, and all about showcasing the apple itself.
A New Year’s Eve Tradition
In the Netherlands, New Year’s Eve is all about sharing food. A table filled with sweet and savory snacks is tradition, and these apple fritters are a must-have. Their fresh, lightly sweet flavor makes them a perfect addition next to richer treats.
They’re also incredibly easy to make, which makes them ideal when you’re cooking for a crowd.
How to Reheat Apple Fritters
Did you make them ahead of time or have leftovers? No problem, here’s how to reheat them so they stay crispy:
- Oven: Preheat to 400°F (200°C) and heat for about 6 minutes.
- Airfryer: Preheat to 400°F (200°C) and heat for about 4 minutes.
- Microwave: Not recommended, they’ll turn soggy, and we definitely don’t want that.
Ingredients for Apple Fritters
- Apples: tart apples give the best flavor (we used Goudreinettes; Granny Smith works well too); sweeter apples work too, but the fritters will taste less fresh and tangy.
- Self-rising flour: keeps the batter light; no self-rising flour? Use all-purpose flour + baking powder (about 2 teaspoons baking powder per cup of flour).
- Milk: regular milk works great; you can also use plant-based milk (oat or almond) if you want.
- Egg: binds the batter; you can try an egg replacer for an egg-free version, but the coating may be slightly less fluffy.
- Cinnamon: for that classic New Year’s Eve flavor; you can swap for pumpkin spice or add a pinch of nutmeg.
- Sugar: regular white sugar is classic; brown sugar also works for a deeper, caramel-like flavor.
- Frying oil: sunflower or peanut oil are ideal; canola/vegetable oil also works. Avoid olive oil for deep-frying.
How to Make Dutch Apple Fritters
Start by mixing the batter until smooth. In a separate bowl, stir together the sugar and cinnamon for the cinnamon sugar.
Heat your frying oil and peel the apples, remove the cores , and slice them into rings just under ½ inch (about 1 cm) thick. Coat the apple slices in the cinnamon sugar first, then dip them into the batter.
Carefully lower the battered apple rings into the hot oil and fry for a few minutes, turning once, until golden brown on both sides. Let them drain briefly, then roll them in any leftover cinnamon sugar or dust with powdered sugar. Serve warm for the best crispy bite.
Ingredients
- 3-4 medium apples (preferably tart, such as Goudreinettes or Granny Smith)
- 240 ml milk
- 200 g self-rising flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 100 g granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- Sunflower oil or peanut oil (enough for deep-frying)
Equipment
- Large frying pan
INSTRUCTIONS (how to make this recipe):
- In a bowl, mix the milk, self-rising flour, egg, cinnamon, and salt until smooth. The batter should be thick, similar to pancake batter.
- In a separate bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon to make the cinnamon sugar.
- Heat the oil in a deep fryer or heavy pot to 365 degrees Fahrenheit (185 degrees Celsius).
- Peel the apples, remove the cores, and slice them into rings just under ½ inch (about 1 cm) thick.
- Coat the apple slices in cinnamon sugar, then dip them into the batter.
- Carefully lower them into the hot oil and fry for a few minutes, turning once, until golden brown on both sides.
- Drain briefly on paper towels.
- Roll in any remaining cinnamon sugar or dust with powdered sugar if desired. Serve warm and enjoy!
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