gluten free apple fritters

A nostalgic autumn/winter dessert, these gluten free apple fritters are the perfect warming pud with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. Or simply eaten freshly fried with a hot chocolate or cup of tea.

I remember having them a lot when I was a child, simply dusted with caster sugar, but for these I’ve added a little cinnamon twist to the coating. To really up those autumn vibes!

These gluten free apple fritters are deep fried (easily done in a pan, you do not need a deep fryer for these), giving them wonderful crispy edges and incredibly soft apple inside.

They are best enjoyed warm and freshly fried, as they will soften up once cooled (due to the moisture content in the apple). Still delicious, but if you want that crisp, eat them while hot!

plate of apple fritters

Are These Fritters Also Dairy Free, Egg Free & Vegan?

Yes this recipe happens to be naturally dairy free and vegan, as I’ve simply used water, gluten free flour and baking powder to make the batter. Then dusted them with cinnamon and caster sugar and the centre is simply apple.

I find using water actually produces a crisper batter than milk for these fritters.

Can I Make Them in Advance of Serving?

No you should definitely eat these when freshly fried, as per all apple fritters. However, you can prep the apples and batter in advance.

For the apples, you’ll need to toss them in a little lemon juice to stop them going too brown (however, as they’ll be coated in batter this doesn’t matter too much). Cover with cling film and pop in the fridge.

For the batter, make it per the recipe then cover the jug with cling film and leave to sit until needed. Then give it a really good whisk with a fork before you coat and fry the apple rings.

apple fritters

Gluten Free Apple Fritters Recipe

Okay, let’s crack on with the delicious gluten free apple fritters recipe! As I am sure your mouth is watering and you are ready to get cooking.

In terms of serving the fritters, you could either enjoy them plain, with some lovely ice cream or with a big drizzle of salted caramel sauce!

Any questions while you are making these gluten free apple fritters, please do message me on social media (@myglutenfreeguide) or email me at laura@mygfguide.com. I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

If you enjoy the recipe, please do leave a review on the recipe card below. It makes a world of difference to me :). And you can also share photos of your home creations in my Cooking Club on Facebook.

Thanks so much! Laura xxx

Gluten Free Apple Fritters
Yield: Makes 16 fritters (serves 4)

Gluten Free Apple Fritters

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

A perfect atumn-winter warmer dessert, of apples fried with a gluten free batter and tossed in cinnamon sugar. Delicious with ice cream, caramel sauce or a big ol' cuppa.

Ingredients

  • 4 large eating apples
  • 200g plain gluten free flour (I used FREEE by Doves Farm)
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 200ml chilled sparkling water
  • 30g caster sugar
  • 0.5 tsp cinnamon
  • Vegetable oil for frying (approx 750ml, depending on the size of your pan)

Instructions

  1. Peel and core the apples, then cut into rings, approx 1.5cm thick (I got 4 rings from each apple). Set them aside on kitchen paper, to help soak up the excess moisture.
  2. Fill a saucepan with vegetable oil until it is about 8cm deep, ensuring the pan is no more than two thirds full. Slowly heat the oil to 170-180C, keeping a careful eye on it while you prep the batter.
  3. Now make the batter by mixing together the gluten free flour and baking powder, until well combined. Then add 150ml of the sparkling water, stirring until you have a thick smooth paste. Then add the rest and stir through until smooth.
  4. In a wide, shallow bowl, mix the caster sugar and cinnamon together. Set aside.
  5. Once your oil is at temperature, use a fork to dip an apple ring in the batter, then carefully transfer it to the hot oil. Cook for about 2.5 minutes, turning halfway through cooking. Be really careful of any hot oil that may splatter while you are frying - long sleeves are best for this. Once cooked, lift the apple fritter out of the oil with a skimmer or slotted spoon and place on kitchen paper on a wire rack.
  6. Repeat until you've a lovely batch of crispy fritters (you should be able to cook 2-3 at a time, depending on the size of your pan, best not to overcrowd it though). Dip and toss the fritters in the cinnamon sugar on the plate, then serve immediately while still hot. I often serve them up in batches, so everyone can tuck in while I am still frying, and the fritters and beautifully crisp. Enjoy!

For more delicious gluten free desserts, there’s an incredible chapter full of them in my cookbook Eat & Enjoy Gluten Free (which you can order here). Or try these yummy recipes:

Enjoy! Laura xxx