Bourbon Apple Fritters | Karyl's Kulinary Krusade (2024)

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Bourbon Apple Fritters are bites of golden fried deliciousness! The easy batter gets a kick with a touch of bourbon and diced tart apples, and the fritters are finished with powdered sugar and/or an easy glaze.

This recipe was featured in Stillwater Living Magazine

I’m all or nothing when it comes to apples. I either eat them every single day, or I buy them, they sit on the counter for weeks, and then I don’t buy any more for a couple of months. There’s no in-between.

Which is funny because I love apples. They’re low calorie, high in fiber, vitamins, and minerals. And they’re a great snack when you want something a little sweet.

My first apple recipe is a co*cktail (no surprise), Apple Cinnamon Rum Punch. Last year I made Baked Apple Cider Donut Holes, and they’re a hit with my friends. And a few weeks ago I added Apple Cinnamon Waffles to the mix.

So next up on the list is another appetizer, Bourbon Apple Fritters

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS

• They’re perfect bite-sized treats, and great for a crowd
• You can make the batter ahead and fry them up as needed
• It’s an excuse to buy lots of apples!

ALL ABOUT THE APPLES

The most important thing is to use apples that won’t get mushy. I tried it with Gala apples (my personal favorite for eating) and they didn’t hold up very well.

To me, Honey Crisp or Granny Smith are the best for Bourbon Apple Fritters. Even though Granny Smith is pretty tart when you eat them plain, the batter and cooking make that bite a little milder.

Dice the apple into pieces all about the same size, so they cook evenly. I do a dice of about 1/2″ and they soften, but still hold their shape.

Add fresh lemon juice to the apples once diced. This prevents them from starting to turn brown, and adds another layer of flavor.

FRYING TIPS

I recommend using vegetable, canola, or peanut oil for Bourbon Apple Fritters. They all have a high smoke point and are flavorless, so the food shines through.

The oil temperature is important! I like to cook my Bourbon Apple Fritters at about 350°. If the oil is too hot, the outside will burn and the inside will be under-cooked. If the oil is not hot enough, the fritters will absorb a lot of oil and will be greasy.

Use a deep-fry thermometer to regulate the temperature. If you don’t have a Deep-Fry Thermometer, I highly recommend that you get one! They’re inexpensive, and it will save you lots of frustration and guessing.

The temperature will drop when you add the batter and then rise again when you take out the fritters. And the fritters cook pretty quickly, so keep an eye on the temperature and adjust as needed.

Don’t overcrowd the pot. You want the batter to float freely to cook properly.

MAKING & FINISHING THE FRITTERS

I went through a lot of trial and error to determine the best size scoop for these Bourbon Apple Fritters.

• 1/4 cup – too big for me, looked like lumps of nothing, too easy to overcook
• 2 Tablespoon measure – better, but still not quite what I wanted
• cookie scoop – the perfect bite-sized treat

I use a 1 5/8″ Cookie Scoop, and they’re so easy to scoop and drop into the oil. Besides, with this bite-sized version, I can justify eating more…

I make a simple glaze of Powdered Sugar, Pure Vanilla Extract, water. Then after the fritters cool for a couple of minutes, I drizzle them with glaze and sprinkle generously with powdered sugar.

STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS

Add the diced apples to a bowl and add fresh-squeezed lemon juice.

Add the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt to a large bowl, and whisk together.

In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together. Add the melted butter, milk, bourbon, and vanilla extract, and combine fully.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and fold together with a spatula or a wooden spoon.

Fold in the apples.

Add the oil to a skillet or Dutch oven and heat to 350 degrees.

While the oil heats, add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, water and bourbon to a small bowl and whisk to combine. Set aside.

Using a large cookie scoop, carefully drop the balls of batter into the oil.

Remember: do not overcrowd the pot! You want space for the fritters to float and cook properly.

Watch carefully, because the fritters only take 3-4 minutes to cook. Also, keep an eye on the temperature and adjust as needed.

Transfer the finished fritters to a baking rack placed over paper towels.

Drizzle the glaze over the fritters and finish with a generous of powdered sugar. Serve warm.

LEFTOVERS AND MAKE-AHEAD OPTIONS

Bourbon Apple Fritters are best eaten while they are still warm.

I do not recommend leftovers or reheating. They will get kind of soggy and lose a lot of flavor.

Make-ahead: prepare the batter and store in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Return the batter to room temperature, and fry the fritters.

MORE DELICIOUS APPETIZERS

• Baked Green Bean Fries
• Homemade Sausage Rolls
• Bacon Wrapped Chicken Meatballs
• Crispy Pan Fried Tofu
• Homemade Falafel

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Bourbon Apple Fritters

Yield: 30 Fritters

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes

Bourbon Apple Fritters are bites of golden fried deliciousness! The easy batter gets a kick with a touch of bourbon and diced tart apples, and the fritters are finished with powdered sugar and/or an easy glaze.

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 large eggs, room temperature
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1/4 cup bourbon
• 3-4 Granny Smith (or Honey Crisp) apples peeled, cored, and cut into 1/2" pieces (yield about 4 cups)
• 2 teaspoons fresh-squeezed lemon juice
• Canola oil or Vegetable oil, for frying

Glaze

• 1/2 cup powdered sugar (also called confectioner's sugar)
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 2 teaspoons water

Instructions

1. Add the apples and lemon juice to a bowl and set aside.
2. In a large bowl combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk lightly with a fork
3. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs and sugar together. Add the milk, bourbon, vanilla extract, and butter. Whisk to fully combine
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Fold together with a spatula or wooden spoon until just combined.
5. Fold in the apples, making sure they are evenly distributed. Do not overmix, or the fritters will be dense
6. Add the oil to a skillet or Dutch oven and heat to 350 degrees. Use a candy thermometer to gauge the temperature
7. While the oil heats, add the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and water to a small bowl. Whisk together to combine and set aside.
8. Using a cookie scoop, carefully drop the balls of batter into the oil.
9. Do not overcrowd the pot! You want to make sure the batter can float freely and cook properly
10. Watch carefully, because the fritters only take 3-4 minutes to cook. Also, keep an eye on the temperature and adjust as needed to stay right around 350.
11. As soon as the fritters are done, transfer them to a baking rack.
12. Drizzle the glaze over the fritters and finish with a generous amount of powdered sugar
13. Serve immediately

Notes

FRYING TIPS

Use an oil with a high smoke point. I like to use Canola oil or Vegetable oil.

Don't overcrowd the pot. You want the batter to have space to float and fry properly

Use a candy thermometer to regulate the temperature.

• You want the temperature at about 350 degrees
• Too hot - the outside burns and the inside is undercooked
• Too cold - the batter absorbs too much oil and the fritters taste heavy

LEFTOVERS AND MAKE-AHEAD OPTIONS

Bourbon Apple Fritters are best eaten while they are still warm.

I do not recommend leftovers or reheating. They will get kind of soggy and lose a lot of flavor.

Make-ahead:prepare the batter and store in a sealed container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Return the batter to room temperature, and fry the fritters.

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 

  Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Signature Round Dutch Oven

• 

  Taylor PROkitchen Candy / Deep Fry Thermometer

• 

  Hiware Solid Stainless Steel Spider Strainer

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 15Serving Size: 2 fritters
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 158Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 238mgCarbohydrates: 24gFiber: 1gSugar: 11gProtein: 3g

Nutrient values are estimates only. Variations may occur due to product availability and food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients, etc