Apple fritters are made with a simple homemade batter (no yeast!) and fresh apples and are fried to golden brown perfection and tossed in a simple glaze.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, white granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and ground cinnamon. Mix these dry ingredients until they are well combined.
In a separate, medium-sized bowl, beat the eggs lightly with a fork.
Add the milk, pure vanilla extract, and melted butter to the beaten eggs. Stir until these wet ingredients are well combined.
Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients. Gently fold the two together until they're just combined, being careful not to overmix.
Fold the peeled, diced Granny Smith apples into the batter. There should be enough apples to create a very chunky batter.
Heat about two inches of oil in a deep frying pan over medium heat. Use a thermometer to ensure the oil reaches about 375°F (190°C).
Once the oil is heated, carefully drop spoonfuls of the apple batter into the oil. Be sure not to overcrowd the pan.
Fry the apple fritters for about 2-2 1/2 minutes on each side, or until they're golden brown and cooked through.
Use a slotted spoon to remove the fritters from the oil. Drain them on a paper towel-lined plate or cooling rack.
Dust the warm apple fritters with powdered sugar or a cinnamon-sugar mixture before serving.
Notes
You can make a simple glaze by melting 2 tablespoons of butter and then adding 2 cups of powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Add enough cream or milk to the mixture so that it makes a thin glaze. Dip the hot fritters in the glaze if you'd like instead of the powdered sugar or cinnamon and sugar. They are all good so just pick your favorite.
Using Granny Smith apples provides a nice tart contrast to the sweet fritter batter, but you can use any type of apple you prefer.
Be sure to monitor the oil temperature as you're frying the fritters. If it's too hot, the fritters may burn on the outside before they're cooked on the inside. If it's too low, the fritters may become too oily.
The batter should be chunky with apples, but still have enough batter to hold the fritters together. If it seems too dry, you can add a bit more milk.
These apple fritters are best served warm, but they can be reheated in a toaster oven or regular oven if needed.
You can store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 1-2 days, but they are best when fresh.