Apple Fritters

Apple Fritters—Oh, for the love of everything you'd like to sink your teeth into! Can we stop for a moment and talk about how good these are?

These are delicious deep-fried donuts with sweet little apple nuggets running all through them. Some people call them cakes, some donuts, but I call them fritters.

They're amazingly delicious no matter what you call them, served with a light glaze (recipe follows), drizzled with maple syrup, or dusted with powdered sugar. I'll take mine anyway I can get them!

Here's what you need:

Vegetable oil, for deep-frying; 2 to 3 cups depending on the size of your pan or use a Deep Fryer if you have one.

For the dough

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
2 vegan eggs (I used Judee's Vegan Egg Replacer)
3/4 cup non-dairy milk
2 tablespoons melted vegan butter
2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 Granny Smith Apples, cored and cut into small dice
Glaze (recipe follows)

For the glaze

1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
3 to 4 tablespoons of dairy-free milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Heat your oil-filled deep fryer, if using, or large Cast Iron Dutch Oven over medium heat to 340° degrees F. It's best to use a Deep Fry Thermometer to maintain the temperature.

Combine the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

Beat the egg mixture with a whisk in a separate medium-sized bowl, then add the milk, melted butter, and vanilla.

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and gently fold together until combined. (careful not to over-mix).

Next, fold in the apples.

Carefully drop heaping tablespoons of batter into the hot oil, 4 to 6 at a time, and fry until golden brown, about 4 to 6 minutes, turning halfway through.

Remove the fritters from the oil and drain them on a cooling rack, putting newspaper or paper towels under the cooling rack to catch any oil drippings.

Meanwhile, make the glaze by sifting the powdered sugar into a medium bowl. Then, stir in the milk and vanilla until smooth. Use a pastry brush to brush a thin layer of glaze onto each fritter. Allow the fritters to sit for a few minutes to give the glaze time to set. Enjoy!

Store any leftovers (AS IF!) in a sealed container when completely cooled.