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Apple Fritter Donuts Recipe
Bakeanna

Brown Butter Maple Glazed Apple Fritter Donuts

This Apple Fritter Donuts Recipe features soft yeast dough, spiced apple filling, and brown butter maple glaze. Bakery-quality fritters made easy at home.
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Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Rise Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes
Servings: 12 donuts
Course: Dessert
Calories: 380
Ingredients Method Video

Ingredients
  

Dough
  • 1 cup 240ml warm milk (110°F / 43°C)
  • ½ cup 110g granulated sugar, divided
  • 2¼ tsp 1 packet active dry yeast
  • ½ cup 113g salted butter, melted
  • 2 eggs room temperature
  • 1 tsp vanilla bean paste or extract
  • 4¼ cups 510g bread flour (or all‑purpose)
  • 1 tsp salt
  • Neutral oil for frying
Apple Filling
  • 2 tbsp 28g butter
  • 4 apples about 600g, diced
  • ½ cup 125g brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp 40g honey
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ½ tsp apple pie spice
  • 1 tbsp cornstarch + ¼ cup 60ml water
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
Brown Butter Maple Vanilla Glaze
  • 1½ cups 190g powdered sugar
  • 6 tbsp 85g browned butter
  • ⅓ cup 113g honey
  • 2 tbsp 30ml milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract or paste
  • Pinch of salt

Method
 

Make the Dough
  1. In a large bowl, combine warm milk, 1 tablespoon of sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 5–7 minutes until foamy. Add remaining sugar, melted butter, eggs, vanilla, flour, and salt. Mix until a soft dough forms. Knead until smooth and elastic. Cover and let rise 1–1½ hours until doubled.
Prepare the Apple Filling
  1. Melt butter in a pan over medium heat. Add apples, brown sugar, honey, salt, cinnamon, and apple pie spice. Cook until apples are soft and caramelized. Stir in cornstarch slurry and cook until thickened. Remove from heat, add vanilla, and cool completely.
Shape the Fritters
  1. Roll dough into a rectangle. Spread apple filling evenly. Fold dough over filling and cut into 1‑inch pieces. Gently gather pieces into loose rounds. Let rest 15 minutes.
Fry
  1. Heat oil to 360–375°F (182–190°C). Fry fritters 2–3 minutes per side until deep golden. Drain briefly on paper towels.
Make the Glaze
  1. Brown butter until nutty and golden. Whisk with powdered sugar, honey, milk, vanilla, and salt until smooth.
Glaze & Serve
  1. Dip warm fritters into glaze or spoon glaze over the top. Let set slightly, then enjoy warm.

Video