BIG APPLE FRITTERS

Ingredients:

Apple Fritters:

• 1 1/2 cups of your favorite all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup white sugar, granulated
• 2 tsp. of power-packed baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. of fine-grain salt
• 1 1/2 tsp. of warm cinnamon spice
• 1/3 cup of fresh milk
• 2 farm-fresh eggs
• 3 tablespoons of smooth applesauce
• 2 large, juicy Granny Smith or Honey Crisp apples, peeled, cored, and finely diced
• Canola oil, for the ultimate frying experience

Glaze:

• 2 cups of sweet confectioners’ sugar
• 1/4 cup of fresh milk
• 1/2 teaspoon of pure vanilla essence

Instructions:

Start by arranging cooling racks over wax-paper-lined baking sheets.

In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, fine-grain salt, and warm cinnamon. Give these dry ingredients a good whisk.

Create a little hollow in the middle of your dry ingredients. Pour in the fresh milk, crack in the eggs, and spoon in the smooth applesauce. Stir the mixture gently, being careful not to overdo it.

Welcome the apples into the bowl, folding them into the mixture until well incorporated.

Fill a heavy cast iron skillet, Dutch oven, or deep fryer with 1 ½ – 2 inches of canola oil and heat it to a sizzling 375°F.

For each fritter, gently drop about 1/4 cup of the dough into the hot oil. Spread it out as it starts to fry.

Fry each side of the fritters until they’re golden brown; this should take about 2 minutes per side.

Transfer the perfectly fried fritters to paper towels to get rid of excess oil.

Making the Glaze:

In a large bowl, combine fresh milk, confectioners’ sugar, and pure vanilla. Whisk these ingredients together until smooth.

Immerse each fritter in the glaze, making sure both sides are covered.

Let them rest on the wire racks, allowing excess glaze to drip off and air to circulate.

Pro Tips:

Avoid over-mixing the dough to ensure a tender bite.

Fry in batches to ensure even cooking and maintain oil temperature.

A candy thermometer can be your best friend in maintaining the oil at the right temperature.

A Dutch oven or cast-iron skillet is ideal for maintaining oil temperature.

Keep a steady heat of around 375° F. Adjust the heat as necessary when adding or removing fritters.

Once fried, always drain the fritters on paper towels.

To keep them fresh longer, store cooled fritters wrapped loosely in paper towels inside a brown paper bag.