Cardamom apple fritters are deep-fried to golden brown perfection and drizzled with a maple syrup glaze to create the perfect fall treat. Of course, you can enjoy these specialty donuts year-round for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!
If you’re looking for more delicious apple recipes, try my Easy Apple Cobbler next!
Apple is one of the quintessential flavors of the fall season; from apple picking to pies at Thanksgiving. When you find yourself with an endless supply of this fruit, cardamom apple fritters are a delicious option. Made with sugar, spice, and everything nice, you’re just 30 minutes away from indulging in the best apple fritters ever!
Why This Recipe Works
- Quick and Easy – The beauty of this cardamom apple fritters recipe is that it doesn’t have to be picture-perfect. You mix the wet and dry ingredients just enough and fry tasty clumps of dough and spiced apples.
- Made with Simple Ingredients – Chances are you already have most of what you need already stocked in your fridge and pantry.
- Shareable Snack – Apple fritters are meant to be shared! Make them for a special gathering or event and it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
Tools You’ll Need
What is Cardamom?
Cardamom is a spice from the cardamom plant. It is similar to spices like ginger and turmeric. It’s commonly used in Middle Eastern cuisine to spice both sweet and savory dishes.
It has a deep, warm, fragrant flavor that tastes earthy and herbal. It adds a depth of flavor to these maple-glazed cardamom apple fritters that’s absolutely divine.
Ingredients You Will Need for Cardamom Apple Fritters
- Honeycrisp apples – Peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes.
- Lemon juice – Use so the apples don’t brown. It also adds a light acidity that really balances out the flavors.
- Spices – I use a blend of cardamom, cinnamon, and nutmeg for both the filling and the dough.
- Butter – This is added to a pan and used to sauté the apples.
- Dry ingredients – All-purpose flour, cane sugar, baking powder, and kosher salt.
- Wet ingredients – Egg, whole milk, pure vanilla extract, and butter.
- Oil – I use avocado oil. Vegetable oil can be used instead.
Maple Glaze
Add the following ingredients to a skillet, simmer until golden brown and glossy, and pour over your cooked cardamom apple fritters.
- Powdered sugar
- Maple syrup
- Milk
- Kosher salt
How to Make Cardamom Apple Fritters with Maple Glaze
- Prepare oil: Add 4 cups of oil to a heavy-bottomed pot. Attach candy thermometer to the side and heat over medium heat. The oil needs to reach 360°F before frying fritters. Keep an eye on the oil and adjust heat as needed.
- Sauté apples: Add butter to a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Once skillet is hot, add cut apples, spices, and lemon juice and mix to coat apples in spices. Cook for 3 minutes, until apples just begin to gently soften. Remove from heat.
- Batter: Add dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine and set aside.
- In a separate medium bowl, add egg, milk, vanilla, butter. Whisk to combine and set aside.
- Create a well in the dry ingredients and pour in wet ingredients. Gently fold the mixture with a spatula until the wet and dry ingredients almost comes together. Add the apple mixture and fold again just until apples are coated. Do not overmix the batter or fritters will come out tough.
- Use a cookie dough scoop to transfer batter into oil. Fry no more than 4-5 at a time.
- Once golden brown on the bottom, flip using tongs or a spider strainer. Cook the cardamom apple fritters until golden brown.
- Transfer cooked fritters to a paper towel lined plate. Repeat until all batter is cooked.
- Maple Glaze: While fritters cool, add all maple syrup ingredients to a saucepan. Whisk until well combined, then bring to a low boil over medium heat. Drop the heat to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes or until golden brown and glossy.
- Top with Glaze: Finally, spoon glaze over fritters or dip the cardamom apple fritters into the glaze and allow to set.
Cardamom Apple Fritters Toppings
Although I love this maple glaze, there are other ways to coat these apple fritters. Here are a few:
- Apple cider glaze – powdered sugar, cinnamon, and apple cider
- Vanilla glaze – powdered sugar, milk, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt
- Pumpkin glaze – powdered sugar and pumpkin creamer
- Brown butter glaze – powdered sugar, brown butter, and vanilla extract
- Cinnamon sugar – If you don’t want to use a glaze, simply roll the apple fritters in a mix of cinnamon and sugar instead.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of apples do you use for cardamom apple fritters?
You can use any variety of apples that you enjoy eating. Honeycrisp is a classic choice but golden delicious and gala are tasty options too!
Why are my fritters not crispy?
Avoid putting the fritters too close together in the pan so they fry evenly and crisp up nicely.
Why is it important to keep the oil a certain temperature?
If the oil is not hot enough, you will end up with heavily-oiled and soggy pieces. If the oil is too hot, you will end up with crunchy and possibly overcooked batter with a raw center. For the perfect cooking temperature, aim for 360°F then maintain a range between 350°F – 365°F while cooking.
What goes well with fritters?
Enjoy warm apple fritters with a cup of coffee or a scoop of ice cream if you really want to indulge.
How to store leftovers?
Cardamom apple fritters are best the day you make them. However, you can place them in a paper bag and store them in the fridge for up to a week. When you are ready to reheat, place them in a pan with some butter to keep them crisp.
Looking for more Dessert Recipes?
- No-Bake Cheesecake Bars
- No-Churn Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream
- Easy Peach Cobbler
- Banana Creme Brulee
Loving this Recipe?
There’s a reason these Cardamom Apple Fritters with Maple Glaze are loved by all! Leave a comment below and share your love for this recipe on Instagram and Pinterest. We love to see you get down in the kitchen. Thank you for supporting Whisper of Yum and happy eating!
Cardamom Apple Fritters with Maple Glaze
Equipment
- Dutch oven, or heavy-bottomed pot
- Candy Thermometer
- Spatula
- Spider strainer
- Medium cookie scoop, 2 tablespoons size
- Tongs
Ingredients
Apples
- 1 pound honey crisp apple, peeled and cut into ½-inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ⅛ teaspoon cardamom
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 tablepsoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter
Apple Fritter Batter
Dry Ingredients
- 1¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 2½ tablespoons cane sugar
- 2½ teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon cardomom
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
Wet Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- ⅔ cup whole milk, room temp
- 1½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
Maple Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 1½ tablespoons whole milk
- ⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
For Frying
- 4 cups oil, I use avocado. Vegetable can be used.
Instructions
- Prepare oil: Add 4 cups of oil to a heavy-bottomed pot. Attach candy thermometer to the side and heat over medium heat. The oil needs to reach 360°F before frying fritters. Keep an eye on the oil and adjust heat as needed.
- Sauté apples: Add butter to a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Once skillet is hot, add cut apples, spices, sugar, and lemon juice and mix to coat apples in spices. Cook for 3 minutes, until apples just begin to gently soften. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 20 minutes.
- Batter: Add dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl and whisk to combine and set aside.
- In a separate medium bowl, add egg, milk, vanilla, butter. Whisk to combine and set aside.
- Create a well in the dry ingredients and pour in wet ingredients. Gently fold the mixture with a spatula until the wet and dry ingredients almost comes together. Add the apple mixture and fold again just until apples are coated. Do not overmix the batter or fritters will come out tough.
- Use a cookie dough scoop to transfer batter into oil. Fry no more than 4-5 at a time.
- Once golden brown on the bottom, flip using tongs or a spider strainer. Cook until golden brown.
- Transfer cooked fritters to a paper towel lined plate. Repeat until all batter is cooked.
- Maple Glaze: While fritters cool, add all maple syrup ingredients to a saucepan. Whisk until well combined, then bring to a low boil over medium heat. Drop the heat to a simmer and cook for 3 minutes or until golden brown and glossy.
- Top with Glaze: Spoon glaze over fritters or dip fritters into the glaze and allow to set.
- Enjoy!