Before we get into today’s post, I want to take a minute to acknowledge the importance of this date. Nineteen years ago today so many lives were forever changed by terrorist attacks. I know that a lot of memorial events have been canceled this year, but as Alice M. Greenwald, head of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum stated, “This year, its message of hope, endurance, and resilience are more important than ever,”. So please take a moment to remember all those we lost, to have hope for our future, and to be grateful for all that we have.
Apples…
For me, September is all about the apples. I know many of you are looking for pumpkin recipes right now (which I can see by the number of people making last year’s chocolate chunk pumpkin cookies). But it’s my thinking that we’ve got all of October and November to embrace all things pumpkin, so let’s leave September for the apples. Enter these fritters. Oh, how I love them. I’ve been wanting to make apple fritters for the longest time and have had this recipe idea in the back of my head all summer long. Everything from the cinnamon spiced fritter to that sweet vanilla coffee glaze. I knew exactly how I wanted to create these, so when it was finally time, I couldn’t have been happier. Sounds dorky, I know, but I really love September apple season. I’ve made fritters before, but it was many years back. And while the recipe was good, these are better and so much easier. My older recipe uses a yeasted dough. That’s great, but it’s much more time-intensive and will give you a fritter more like a doughnut. These on the other hand are quick and easy, light and airy, and just beyond good.
And the best part…these are so easy!
If you’ve made a basic pancake batter, you can easily make these fritters. The batter is basic – flour, eggs, milk, etc. But then what makes these fritters extra special? First, the spices. Instead of just a plain fritter, I really wanted these to be warming and smell like our favorite spiced latte or apple cake baking away in the oven. I used a mix cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, which I always find to be the perfect autumn spice blend. Second, the apples. As you guys have probably noticed, I love using Honeycrisp apples for both cooking and baking. I find them to have the best flavor, the perfect amount of sweetness, and always to be crisp. The other thing I do? I like to leave the skin on my apples. I know this is a little controversial, as some might say the skin adds an odd texture, but I find the skin to be one of the more delicious parts to the apple and never understood why you’d peel it away. Of course, this is just my personal preference. If you already know you don’t enjoy apple skins in your baked apple treats, just peel them away. The recipe is great either way.
Moving along…
Once the batter is mixed up, simply fry it in oil and you’ll have perfect apple fritters minutes later. So I usually try to avoid frying at all costs. For instance, I love an “oven fry” when possible. But for a really good autumn apple fritter, you need to break out the oil and do a little fryin’. Annoying? Yes, for sure. But, worth it? Yes, for sure. Especially if you’ve just picked up a couple of buckets of fresh apples from your local farm or market. As the apples are frying, you slowly start to get wafts of cinnamon and sweetness flowing through the air. If fall had a scent, this would be it. It’s delightful.
Now on to that glaze…it might just be my favorite.
So, I don’t love a straight powdered sugar glaze. I find it to be pretty bland and really, it’s just too sugary for my taste. With this glaze, I wanted it to be exciting, but not overpowering. I wanted the flavors within the glaze to help highlight the flavors in the fritters. I’ve always loved anything with autumn spices and a side of coffee, so naturally, I thought the glaze needed to be one flavored with coffee. The perfect fritter pairing, right? I used my favorite espresso powder, a nice splash of vanilla, and a drizzle of maple syrup, to create a coffee glaze. Not too strong, not too sweet, but just right. Especially when you dunk a warm fritter right into it. Delicious.
So with that, can I encourage you all to go apple picking this weekend? Oddly I’m on Ohio right now for my cousin’s wedding. I’d love to hit up one of the local farms for their fresh from the tree apples. Unfortunately, I doubt we’ll have any time in between wedding festivities, but it would sure be fun! Any of you who are close to an apple farm…or just have a market close by (so that should be all of us), let’s agree to make these fritters. And if not this weekend, sometime soon. I promise you guys, these are the fall breakfast, afternoon snack, or after-dinner dessert we’re all in need of most this season!
My suggestion? Apple picking on Saturday…then Sunday afternoon fritter making…with a side of your favorite latte. Such a perfect way to spend a fall weekend. See you guys on Sunday for another favorites post.
Looking for other sweet apple recipes? Here are a few ideas: Salted Maple Apple Tarte Tatin with Cinnamon Pumpkin Seeds Sweet and Salty Chocolate Drizzled Cider Caramel Apples Double the Streusel Apple Butter Bars Lastly, if you make these Cinnamon Spiced Apple Fritters with Vanilla Coffee Glaze be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
