I have been craving apple fritters for months and every time I get in the mood I’ve been missing one ingredient or another. When I got up early this morning, all the planets were in alignment and fritters were going to happen.
Apple fritters are normally an Autumn dish for me and I must confess that in my nearly all American heart, it IS Autumn. My head is filled with pumpkin carving ideas, pumpkin bread, Halloween goodies but then I look outside. It’s nearly 29C/84F, not a cloud in the sky, people paddling by on kayaks or heading to the ocean in big boats and I want apple cinnamon fritters for breakfast.
So that’s what I made.
- 1 cup flour
- ¼ cup white sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar, packed
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- Pinch of salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon butter, melted
- 1 egg, slightly beaten
- ⅓ cup milk
- 1½ cups finely diced apples (any type of apples you like)
- Canola oil, for frying
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk (may need more)
- drop of vanilla extract
- Place all dry ingredients into a large bowl and whisk together. (flour, sugars, baking powder, salt and cinnamon)
- Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients
- Add milk, butter, egg and vanilla.
- Stir just until combined.
- Gently fold in apples.
- Heat oil in large frying pan to about 350 F.
- Use a mini ice cream scoop or a spoon to scoop out small balls of dough and drop them into the hot oil. (large fritters might not cook in the center - small is better)
- Cook for about 1½ -2 minutes or until golden brown. Flip and let the other side brown for about a minute or so.
- Remove fritters from oil with a slotted spoon and place on paper towels to drain.
- Mix together powdered sugar, milk and vanilla to create the glaze.
- Dip each doughnut bite into the glaze, covering completely. Let excess glaze drip off.
- Place on a wire rack over wax paper and let sit until glaze has hardened.
Now for a family update.
A few people have asked how my in-laws are getting along in the nursing home. I’m pleased to report that Rob is as happy as can be. When he comes over for a visit or for a meal, he’s eager to get back to his friends and the carers who look after him. He tells us stories about what goes on there and there’s one carer who really likes him and shares all the gossip. Rob knows who’s moving in, what’s coming up in the entertainment area and where the next outings in the bus are going.
He sits outside in the sun every morning to have coffee and cake and his meals are in the dining room with his friends Maureen and Phil. The three of them enjoy a glass of wine with dinner while telling stories of their travels around the world. The dining rooms each only hold 16 people so it’s more like family than an institution.
Then we have Joan, John’s mother. She has severe dementia and she’s in a secure unit in the same nursing home. Nothing is good there, the food is awful, the staff are awful, the residents are awful and she has nothing to do. Her room is ugly and she can’t get out. She’ll tell us this every time we visit. She’s so far along in the disease that she takes one old memory and tacks it on to another old memory and then decides that it happened just outside her room yesterday.
I have to be honest–I’ve never deep fried anything. I made have to take the plunge with these though–they look delicious! my husband loves doughnuts and I love apples, so these would be perfect! Hope things improve with your mother-in-law.
Since I read the part about your in-laws last, I’ll comment on them first. So happy Rob is happy, that is wonderful. It sounds like a nice place but that is heartbreaking about John’s mom. I know that has to be so hard to see her like that. Makes me realize even more that I need to be thankful for so much I take for granted.
For the apple fritters – YUM!! I can almost smell the wonderful aroma. Good for you for following your American heart 🙂
I’m sorry that your mother-in-law’s dementia is making her so unhappy in her latter years. My own mother wasn’t never as bad though there were incidents of delusion before she was diagnosed and put on the appropriate medication that were quite frightening. The difference in their experience at the nursing home is dramatic.
The apple fritters you’ve made look delicious.
Dementia is such a dreadful disease – thoughts are with you both.
Anyway these fritters look as if they would be good anytime of year and just the thing to lift the spirits.
Don’t these look amazing! A wonderful, indulgent breakfast indeed 🙂
I’m glad Rob is enjoying his new home, it’s a shame Joan isn’t as settled, it must be hard for you all xox
Getting older, especially when dementia begins to set in is not easy. My brother is on a secure floor at a retirement community for those who have Alzheimer’s. Adjustments for all involved.
Your Apple Cinnamon Fritters would make all life’s adjustments much easier. 🙂
I’m craving fall comfort today and now I so wish I was in your kitchen, devouring a fresh apple fritter!
I’ve never made fritters but would love to try. They look wonderful. American at heart – I bet that part of being in another country is difficult. Thanks for the update on the folks. It sure is a sad disease.
It’s not difficult because after the first year or so, your palate changes. I can’t eat the high salt, high sugar meals in the states without groaning now. 🙂
I’ve never had an apple fritter but now I want one! They look amazing and I bet they smell fantastic. Nope – nothing at all similar between America in Autumn and looking out on a canal front on the Sunshine Coast in Spring. I’m glad Rob is happy – it would be so difficult if he was complaining all the time. Poor Joan, she must really be missing being in control of her life. It’s a really sad way to end up. And I know how draining it must be for you xx
Oh my! I think the planets are set to re-align next weekend, Maureen, if I can wait that long to make these – they look GORGEOUS and I am so fed up with apple pie, apple sponge, stewed apple.
(On another note, your poor mother in law – the residents may be awful, but there is no reason for the staff to be awful, nor the food, nor her room. Lucky she has you popping in with TLC and treats.)
The staff are brilliant. These are the same carers that Rob thinks are wonderful. Joan is angry 100% of the time. It’s quite sad. The food is terrific. It’s a 5-star facility (with accompanying price tag) and the photo is her room. She has a lovely patio outside that she can go anytime she wants, there’s a library, a games room, a lounge, dining room, wall sized fish aquarium and there is one carer for every 2 residents. She just wants to be outside the locked door and I don’t blame her for that.
So pleased with the new about Rob, that must be a great ease on your minds, Maureen and John. Hopefully Joan will settle too. Love your fritters… yum!
Did my comment go through?
I’ve had fritters on the brain lately too! Haven’t been thinking of apple fritters, though — although not, of course I won’t be able to stop. 🙂 Good job with these — they’re delish. Cinnamon and apple are such a wonderful pairing, aren’t they. Thanks for the update on Rob and Joan. So glad Rob is enjoying things. Poor Joan, though — it must be so unpleasant for her. Sorry she has to endure that.
mmm apple fritters, why are they not something that is common here in Australia. I would eat them. Best winter sweet treat idea ever. They look very yummy.
You know you are talking my language when it comes to fritters. Girl, we can fritter anything in the South. Thanks for the update on your inlaws although sad news regarding your MIL.
…MMM they look delicious Maureen! I love apple fritters, especially homemade. This time of year all the local apple orchards are open for buying apples or pick your own. It’s fun to visit the orchards because they also do the apple fritters, apple pancakes, apple funnel cakes, etc… Found your Instagram last night, love all your pictures!
Poor Joan, it’s such a horrible disease for everyone involved.
I’ve never had apple fritters before – they look like the answer to everything though. Especially breakfast x
Hi Maureen, feel so bad about John’s mom must be heart breaking. We are also dealing with health problems from parents. Love these fritters, they look amazing!!!!
G’day! I have never had or made apple fritters either Maureen and now have a craving to try one of yours!
it is never very easy or nice when parents get old and wear out whether physically or mentally, but unfortunately, it is one of life’s sucky lessons we all have to go through and one day, it will be us all too!
Cheers! Joanne
Hi Maureen
Sorry to hear about your mum-in-law’s troubles. So very difficult to deal with. These fritters sound yummy kind of like whitebait fritters. For me I always think of fritters being a slice of say pineapple or a thick round of apple being coated in a batter then fried. Just like at ye olde fish and chippery. These seem more like those Greek honey puffs. They sound delish!
Such a shame to read that the secure unit at the nursing home is so terrible when everything else seems quite nice. Maybe you need to bring them some apple fritters 😉
Hmmm. Just as you listened to the desire to fry up fritters ( which look and sound delicious!!!) I listened to the desire to pay you a visit Maureen. On the fluffy donut fritter side, it is autumn here and so am very happy to see your recipe =)
On the serious side, your share about your in-laws is a complete mirror of my own parents. Dad at 91 is sweeter with every passing year. Kind and appreciative. My mom has Alzheimers and well, the world does not look quite so nice to her. I pray I keep focusing on the happy things of life… Like Maureen’s fritters! So if I do lose a bit of memory at least I’ll be cheery =)
Then you know exactly what our life is like. Up one day and down the next. There are funny things too like we hear about every personal ailment in detail. He recently had testicular cancer surgery. I need not say more. and no, I didn’t want to look. 🙂
I think I must have a bit of yank in my because I have been doing a bit with pumpkin lately too. I don’t think you need any excuses for fritters. Glad Rob is enjoying his new place.
Well, it is autumn here (and apple season) and I am so glad you posted this recipe. Who doesn’t love apple fritters??
And wow that “nursing home” room is beautiful and looks so comfortable. And it is sad about Joan, but I am sure that you know that her attitude of negativity (and often paranoia) is a symptom of what she is suffering…. at least she is somewhere safe and being looked after. <3
Maureen, I am so sorry to hear about your mother in law – my dad had severe dementia before he passed which was related to his congestive heart failure. He would do the same with tacking on memories, and in saying the place he was in was horrible. I used to listen – I felt so helpless as other options were limited. Getting older for some can be so hard – and heartbreaking for those they love. I am glad to hear about your father in law though!
And these fritters would be perfect for breakfast or a snack!
These apple fritters look amazingly delicious.
so glad to hear that the ‘folks’ are in a great facility and that John is doing well. Have you tried music therapy for Joan? It was a calming agent form my residents, especially the music of their days. They would both love it.
Gorgeous looking fritters Maureen! 😀 Glad to hear that Rob is thriving there. It sounds like he has really found a good place to be. A terrible shame about Joan though-I had a feeling that that might be the case 🙁
oooh….my mouth waters
oh Maureen dementia is very hard my father in law just diagnosed too…Ron needs to be there they both do x
Oh Maureen these fritters are FANTASTIC! I am sorry though to hear about Joan, but at the very least she is safe there, and I’m glad that Rob is enjoying it!
Wonderful fritter recipe. I love the sugar coating too! So glad your FIL has adjusted so well. That makes it easier on everyone! That makes me sad to hear your MIL doesn’t appear to have the same good experience. Maybe she just doesn’t express the good things or days 🙂
I’m saving this recipe Maureen. My hubby loves fritters and one of these days I’ll make him some. And as you know, it’s apple season here so perfect timing!
I’m a sucker for anything fried, and fried things with sugar on them are even better. I’m saving this one for the new seasons apples in autumn, thanks Maureen.
These apple fritters look delicious, I can only imagine how they must taste with pieces of apples in every little bite…
YUM!
Hope you are having a fabulous week Maureen 🙂
Hi Maureen, so sad about John’s mum. My poor mum had dementia too and she hated the nursing home but what can you do? It is so hard to look after them in the end at home.
I am reading this in the wee hours of the morning, and now I want apple fritters! They look scrumptious.
I kind of just want to devour these apple fritters and never eat just apples again 😛
What a gorgeous dessert!
Cheers
Choc Chip Uru
Good lordy, dont those little apple fritters look like the tastiest little treats ever, the gang in my office all swooned for them. They look oh so delicious. 🙂 That’s good to hear Rob is happy,and that it is a nice place to be. A good reminder to live every day to the fullest and tell those close to you, you love them to bits. Happy Friday and enjoy the weekend. Cheers, Anna
Oh dear, my first comment seems to have disappeared! Not to worry, what I said was those little fritters are absolutely delicious… and I am ever so pleased that Rob is settled. It must ease your minds xox
I love the new look of your blog.. 🙂 and these apple fritters sounds wonderful. a perfect recipe for apple season .. 🙂
Oh yummy I often eat things that are considered ‘out of season’ if I want something I want it regardless of the season!
Now I’m craving apple fritters too. It’s been too long since I’ve had a good one.
I have been craving doughnuts. My parents come for a visit, and will be bringing Apple cider doughnuts from my families Applebarn…..YUM! Your fritters really look delicious. I love everything about fritters, especially the glaze!. Your recipe sounds fun, and not too hard! Yum, Hugs, Terra
I think I can smell the cinnamon from your pic 🙂 These look really good and l love the bite size. I’ve really never made these before…maybe the planets will align for me this fall.
Poor Joan. it’s probably not that bad…but she is in her own little world now. My prayers for them all.
I can’t even say how happy this recipe makes me. I love apple fritters but making your own…what a beautiful sense of accomplishment and what an aroma in your house all day! 🙂