Very Quick and Fluffy Apple Fritters in the Air Fryer
How to get comfort food in a few minutes? These very quick and light apple fritters, cooked in the air fryer without frying, are just like pan-fried fritters but lighter and low-calorie. They will win you over at the first bite.
Ideal for Carnival, but delicious anytime of the year.
These air-fried apple fritters are truly indulgent and light. I couldn’t believe it until I saw the photos: you can obtain soft and pillowy apple rings without them being greasy or saturated with oil.
The advantages of air-fryer cooking are many: you don’t have to preheat the oven, cooking is generally faster, cheaper and healthier (very little fat is needed), you don’t dirty many pots and dishes, and there is less smoke and lingering odors.
Please note that temperature and cooking times are approximately indicative, because much depends on your specific air fryer. In any case, the recipes on my blog are all previously and carefully tested by me, so they are well tried and trusted. I still recommend checking the cooking occasionally to adapt time and temperature to your appliance.
To cook these apple fritters – without dirtying my air fryer – I used very useful sheets of air-fryer parchment paper WITHOUT HOLES that are very thin so the hot air still circulates well. They are ideal for oily or dripping foods (like the batter for these fritters). They are disposable, oil- and water-resistant, non-stick, do not burn and can also be used in a regular oven. You can find them on Amazon (see Buying Tips below).
I often also use this handy perforated parchment paper FOR AIR FRYER, non-stick and easy to clean, which can also be used in a conventional oven. Also available on Amazon at a good price (see Buying Tips below).
If you’re looking for other air-fryer recipes (sweet or savory), click my Special: “Air Fryer Recipes“
You might also be interested in:
- Cinnamon Caramelized Apples in the Air Fryer. Healthy, Quick Comfort Food.
- My Grandmother's Quick and Light Fritters. Egg- and Lactose-Free.
- Baked Donuts with Cinnamon and Divine Maple Syrup Glaze.
- Light Lenten Anise Donuts, without Butter or Eggs and Without Frying.
- Failproof Apple Strudel. Ortisei Recipe.
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very inexpensive
- Rest time: 35 Minutes
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 6 servings
- Cooking methods: Air frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons, Carnival
- Energy 268.03 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 54.99 (g) of which sugars 26.88 (g)
- Proteins 7.08 (g)
- Fat 3.04 (g) of which saturated 1.21 (g)of which unsaturated 1.00 (g)
- Fibers 3.14 (g)
- Sodium 125.29 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 80 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Very Quick and Fluffy Apple Fritters in the Air Fryer
- 2 Golden apples
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup + 1 tbsp (about 60 g) cup granulated sugar (+ as needed for coating)
- 1 cup + 2 tbsp (about 140 g) cup 00-style all-purpose flour (I use Caputo classic, sifted)
- 1/3 cup + 1 tbsp (about 100 ml) cup whole milk (+ as needed for brushing the surface)
- 2 tsp baking powder (sifted)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- as needed extra virgin olive oil (spray for air fryer)
- 1 lemon
- 1/4 tsp fine salt ((about 1 g))
Tools for Very Quick and Fluffy Apple Fritters in the Air Fryer
- Bowls various sizes
- Apple corer with sharp blades
- Mixer electric
- Air fryer Cosori, roomy (5.7 L) even cooking
- Air fryer parchment trays no holes, very thin
- Grids non-stick, heat-resistant
- Tongs set of 3 different sizes
Steps for Very Quick and Fluffy Apple Fritters in the Air Fryer
Peel the apples, remove the cores and slice them into not-too-thin rings, then toss them with the juice of one lemon to prevent browning.
Now prepare the batter: break the egg into a bowl and beat it with electric beaters (or by hand), then add the sugar and whip for about 5 minutes. Next add the vanilla, cinnamon, flour, salt and sifted baking powder, alternating with the milk. Mix until you get a fairly thick batter.
Let the batter rest covered with plastic wrap in the fridge for about 35 minutes.
Dip the apple slices into the batter, ensuring they are well coated with the mixture.
Place an air-fryer parchment tray WITHOUT HOLES (see “Buying Tips” below) in the basket, spray a little oil on the bottom of the tray, arrange the apple slices in a single layer without overlapping.
Set the air fryer to 356°F for about 20 minutes, flipping them after 10 minutes of cooking and spacing them apart.
As soon as they are cooked and still hot, brush the apple fritters with whole milk and immediately toss them in a mixture of granulated sugar and cinnamon.
These delicious apple fritters are best eaten fresh, but you can store them in the refrigerator for about 3 days (and reheat before serving).
Alternatively, once cooked you can also freeze them in food bags and reheat in the oven at 392°F for about 10 minutes.
The photos show how soft and tender these apple rings are, even inside.
Buying Tips!!!
Personally I’m very happy with the Cosori air fryer, with a roomy 5.7-liter basket, provides optimal hot-air circulation that makes foods crispy outside and soft inside.
A healthier way to cook, because it separates and captures excess fat (healthy and tasty dishes with up to 97% less fat). It halves cooking times compared to a conventional oven, saving both time and energy. The individual components are removable and dishwasher-safe. Highly recommended!
These air-fryer parchment trays WITHOUT HOLES are very useful: they don’t dirty the air fryer and, being very thin, hot air still circulates. They are oil- and water-resistant, non-stick, won’t burn and can also be used in a regular oven.
I also often use this handy perforated parchment paper for air fryer, which is non-stick and easy to clean and can also be used in a conventional oven.
Also, if you want to keep your air fryer clean and protected from scratches and abrasions (e.g. from tongs), these reusable non-stick heat-resistant grill mats are very useful.
Very handy is this apple corer with sharp blades and automatic ejection.
You can buy all the items I recommend above on Amazon at a good price — just click directly on the links provided.
FAQ (Questions & Answers)
Which parchment paper should I choose for the air fryer?
If you use the air fryer for foods that drip (for example, batter), it’s better to use air-fryer parchment trays WITHOUT HOLES (the paper is very light and hot air still circulates).
If the foods to be cooked in the air fryer are dry and don’t drip, it’s preferable to use perforated parchment paper.What can I use to keep the air fryer clean without scratching it?
Reusable non-stick grill mats that are heat-resistant, for the air fryer.
