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    Home » Vegan recipes

    20 Minutes Air Fryer Apple Fritters

    Last Modified: Dec 10, 2019 by Becky Striepe

    Disclosure: This post may contain Amazon affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Privacy Policy for more details.

    Recipe Video Print

    This recipe is sponsored by ZenChef. All opinions are 100% my own.

    You only need 5 simple ingredients to make crunchy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside Air Fryer Apple Fritters. This is a cheater recipe, so there's no proofing of yeast or waiting for dough to rise!

    pouring maple syrup onto a stack of air fryer apple fritters

    Table of Contents

    • The Secret to Easy Air Fryer Apple Fritters
    • Preparing the Apple
    • Making the Apple Fritters
    • About my Air Fryer
    • How to Store Air Fryer Apple Fritters
    • Air Fryer Apple Fritters Recipe

    I'm all for making things from scratch when you're feeling it, but sometimes you're just not feeling it. That shouldn't mean depriving yourself of decadent Air Fryer Apple Fritters!

    Wondering what an air fryer is? Got questions about how to use one? Get a helpful air fryer FAQ here.

    The Secret to Easy Air Fryer Apple Fritters

    The secret to making these apple fritters in a flash is tinned crescent roll dough.

    Stay with me, friends!

    Did you know that a lot of the tinned crescent roll doughs in your grocery store's refrigerator section are accidentally vegan? It's true! Some do contain milk, so just read the ingredients before buying, but I can almost guarantee that you will be able to find vegan crescent roll dough at the store.

    This dough is the perfect consistency for apple fritters, and it's ready to add your apples and top with a crunchy cinnamon-sugar coating, a la my Air Fryer Churro-Style Donut Holes.

    Are you getting hungry yet?

    overhead photo of air fryer apple fritters on a plate with ingredients and tongs on the table

    Preparing the Apple

    Use any sweet, crisp apple you like for this recipe. Choose your favorite apple for snacking on!

    You can peel the apple for this recipe but, I prefer to leave the peels on. First of all, not peeling means less work, which is kind of the theme of this recipe. But also, I like the texture of the cooked peels.

    Whether you peel or not, dice up your apple into pieces that are slightly larger than pea-sized, then it's fritter-making time!

    sprinkling cinnamon-sugar onto a plate of apple fritters

    Making the Apple Fritters

    To get started with fritter assembly, cut a piece of parchment paper, so it covers most of the bottom of your air fryer basket (not the sides). Place it into the basket.

    Now, open up that crescent roll dough, and slice it into four rounds, but don't unroll them! Instead, flatten each round slightly, and pile some apple pieces on top.

    Gently knead the apple pieces into the dough until it becomes a cohesive ball. Flatten it with your hands, then dredge it in the cinnamon-sugar mix, coating it well, and transfer it to your lined air fryer basket.

    Repeat that process with the remaining three dough rounds, then air fry those apple fritters to perfection!

    Instead of icing, you top these fritters with pure maple syrup. It brings the same sweet, stickiness to the table, but with less effort.

    About My Air Fryer

    The air fryer that I used to make this recipe is the ZenChef PRO XXL Air Fryer from ZenChef, who is sponsoring this recipe. Thank you, ZenChef!

    hand opening an air fryer

    I’ve had this air fryer for over a year, and it is hands-down  my favorite that I’ve ever owned. The basket is nice and large (5.8 quarts!), and I love the design.

    As you probably know, I am extremely picky about air fryers, and this basket design is the kind I like. It pops out for easy cleaning. It also has holes at the bottom (rather than mesh) to allow air flow and prevent sticking.

    My favorite feature on this air fryer, though, is the little S button. The S stands for start and for stop. I’ve never seen another air fryer with a stop button, and it feels so much safer than unplugging it while it’s running, if I need to end a cooking cycle early.

    How to Store Air Fryer Apple Fritters

    If you have leftovers, allow them to cool completely, and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. They'll keep better without the maple syrup on top.

    You can air fry them for a few minutes at 350F, if you want to serve your leftovers warm. No need to line the basket to preheat, since the bottoms of the cooked fritters aren't sticky anymore.

    Whether you warm them or not, definitely drizzle on some maple syrup before serving.

    white plate of air fryer apple fritters with maple syrup and cinnamon sugar on top

    Air Fryer Apple Fritters

    You only need a few ingredients to make these Air Fryer Apple Fritters. This is a total cheater recipe, so there's no proofing of yeast or waiting for dough to rise!
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert, Snack
    Cuisine: Air Fryer, Vegan
    Keyword: air fryer apple fritters
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 150kcal
    Author: Becky Striepe

    Ingredients

    • 1 small apple - diced - You won't need the whole apple.
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1 tablespoon organic granulated sugar
    • 1 4 ounce package tinned crescent rolls - usually, this is a 4-count package instead of an 8-count
    • 4 teaspoons maple syrup - divided

    Instructions

    • Cut a piece of parchment paper so that it almost covers the bottom of your air fryer basket. You do not want it to go up the sides.
    • In a shallow bowl, mix together the cinnamon and sugar.
    • Slice your dough into 4 equal rounds. Scoop 1 rounded tablespoon of apple slices onto your round.
    • Use your hands to work the apple pieces into the first piece of dough until you have a small, cohesive ball. Flatten it out, and then roll it in the cinnamon-sugar mixture, coating well. Transfer it to the lined air fryer basket, then repeat the process with the remaining 3 crescent dough rounds.
    • Air fry at 370F for 6 minutes. Flip, then air fryer for 4 more minutes.
    • Drizzle each apple fritter with 1 tablespoon maple syrup before serving. You can also sprinkle on any leftover cinnamon-sugar, if that's your jam.

    Equipment

    • Air Fryer

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 150kcal
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    About Becky Striepe

    Headshot of Becky Striepe in front of a teal wall

    Hi there! I'm Becky Striepe (rhymes with sleepy), and I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here.

    Learn more about me >>>

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Erin

      September 29, 2019 at 10:24 am

      5 stars
      These were absolutely delicious and easy enough to make I trusted my 10 year old to make them. As the sole vegan in the family, I was stoked I could enjoy them with everyone. Thanks for this excellent recipe!

      Reply
      • Becky Striepe

        September 30, 2019 at 10:35 am

        Oh, I love that your kid got to make them! Thank you for coming back to rate and comment, Erin!

        Reply

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    About Me

    Glue and Glitter
    Hi! My name is Becky Striepe (rhymes with “sleepy”). I love using gadgets and shortcuts to create easy vegan comfort food recipes for busy people. Whether you love your Instant Pot, your air fryer, or just love delicious plant-based meals, stick around. You'll like it here. → READ MORE

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