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Crispy Air Fryer Apple Fritters

Crispy air fryer apple fritters with spiced batter and tender diced apple chunks, then finished with a crunchy cinnamon streusel. Air-fried at 350°F for 12–14 minutes for a golden exterior and a soft, cooked-through center.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Total Time 44 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 230
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Apple fritter batter
  • 2 apples Peeled and diced into small chunks so they cook through evenly.
  • 1.5 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 0.3333333333 cup granulated sugar
  • 0.5 cup milk
  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tbsp melted butter
Cinnamon streusel topping
  • 0.5 cup flour
  • 0.3333333333 cup brown sugar
  • 0.25 cup cold butter Cut into small pieces and keep cold so it forms crumbs.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan
  • 1 air fryer

Method
 

Mix the batter
  1. Whisk the all-purpose flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and granulated sugar together in a mixing bowl until evenly combined, about 30 seconds. The dry mixture should look uniformly speckled with cinnamon.
  2. Whisk the milk, large egg, and melted butter together, then combine with the dry ingredients and stir just until no dry flour remains. The batter should be thick and cohesive, not runny.
  3. Fold in the diced apples until evenly distributed through the batter. You should see apple chunks throughout the mixture.
Make streusel and form fritters
  1. In a small bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, and cold butter until crumbly. Rub the mixture gently between your fingers until it resembles coarse crumbs.
  2. Scoop the batter into rounds and place them in the air fryer basket lined with parchment, leaving space between each fritter. Keep them in single layers and avoid crowding so they crisp properly.
  3. Sprinkle the crumbly streusel over each fritter so the topping is visible on top. Use a light, even layer rather than packing the crumbs down.
Air fry
  1. Air fry the fritters at 350°F for 12-14 minutes until golden and cooked through. The tops should look set and the edges should feel firm when pressed gently.

Notes

Pro tip: dice the apples small and similar in size so every bite has tender cooked fruit without any crunchy centers. Store cooled fritters in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes to re-crisp. Freezing is not recommended for best texture. For a lighter option, use low-fat milk and reduce granulated sugar by 1-2 tbsp without changing the bake time.