Gluten-Free Air Fryer Apple Fritters Recipe that turn crisp on the outside, tender in the center, and loaded with real apple flavor. I lean on this recipe when I want a cozy dessert without heating up the whole kitchen. You mix one bowl, drop little mounds, and let the air fryer do the work.
Easy Gluten-Free Air Fryer Apple Fritters Recipe
I built this fritter batter to taste like classic bakery fritters without the gluten. The air fryer gives you that golden, crisp edge with far less oil, and you still get the chewy, apple-studded center. You handle zero deep-frying drama, which means no splatters and no lingering oil smell.
I use pantry staples and simple steps, so you can make these on autopilot. You can glaze them or roll them in cinnamon sugar, depending on your mood. Either way, the apple and cinnamon do all the heavy lifting.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Apples: 2 medium, peeled and 1/4-inch diced (about 2 to 2 1/2 cups / 300 g)
- Gluten-free all-purpose flour (with xanthan gum): 1 cup (120 g)
- Tapioca starch or cornstarch: 1/4 cup (30 g)
- Granulated sugar: 3 tablespoons (36 g)
- Baking powder (gluten-free): 1 1/2 teaspoons
- Fine sea salt: 1/4 teaspoon
- Ground cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
- Ground nutmeg: 1/4 teaspoon
- Large egg: 1
- Milk or dairy-free milk: 1/3 cup (80 ml)
- Vanilla extract: 1 teaspoon
- Melted butter or neutral oil: 1 tablespoon (14 g)
- Lemon juice: 1 teaspoon
- Avocado oil spray or olive oil spray
Optional cinnamon glaze:
- Powdered sugar: 3/4 cup (90 g)
- Milk or dairy-free milk: 1–2 tablespoons, to thin
- Vanilla: 1/2 teaspoon
- Cinnamon: pinch
Optional cinnamon sugar finish:
- Granulated sugar: 1/4 cup
- Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
Equipment
- Air fryer (basket or tray style)
- Air-fryer parchment with holes (or poke holes yourself)
- Mixing bowl and whisk
- Small scoop or two spoons
How to Make Gluten-Free Air Fryer Apple Fritters
- Prep the apples. Peel, core, and dice the apples into 1/4-inch cubes. Toss with lemon juice to keep them bright and punchy.
- Preheat the air fryer. Set it to 360°F (182°C) for 5 minutes. Line the basket or tray with perforated parchment.
- Mix dry ingredients. In a bowl, whisk flour, starch, sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well combined.
- Mix wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg, milk, vanilla, and melted butter or oil until smooth.
- Make the batter. Pour wet into dry and stir just until no dry pockets remain. Fold in the diced apples gently.
- Adjust texture. Aim for a thick, scoopable batter. If it looks runny, sprinkle in 1–2 tablespoons more flour. If it looks too stiff, add 1 tablespoon milk.
- Oil the parchment. Lightly spray the parchment with oil. This step helps the fritters release and crisp.
- Portion the fritters. Drop 2-tablespoon mounds of batter onto the parchment, leaving space between each. Lightly flatten the tops to 3/4-inch thick.
- Spray the tops. Mist the fritters with oil for even browning.
- Air fry the first batch. Cook at 360°F for 8–10 minutes until golden and set in the center. Rotate the basket at 5 minutes for even color. Cook time varies by air fryer, so peek at 8 minutes.
- Finish the rest. Transfer to a rack, then repeat with remaining batter. Keep the rack handy for glazing.
- Glaze or sugar-coat. Whisk the glaze until smooth. Let fritters cool 3–4 minutes, then dip or drizzle. For cinnamon sugar, toss while warm so it sticks.
- Serve warm. I like them with coffee, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or a dollop of Greek yogurt if I pretend it’s breakfast.
Expert Tips
- Dice small for success. Small apple pieces cook through and bind the batter.
- Use perforated parchment. Holes help air flow and prevent soggy bottoms.
- Keep batches small. Space equals crisp edges and even color.
- Control moisture. Juicy apples can thin the batter, so add a touch of flour if needed.
- Let them rest before glazing. A few minutes of cooling locks in structure.
- Balance the spices. Taste the batter and nudge cinnamon or nutmeg to your liking.
- Test one fritter first. Adjust time or batter thickness based on that mini trial.
- Warm the glaze slightly. A few seconds in the microwave gives you smooth drizzle.
Substitutions & Variations
- Flour: Use a gluten-free 1:1 all-purpose blend with xanthan gum. If your blend lacks it, add 1/4 teaspoon xanthan gum.
- Starch: Swap tapioca with cornstarch or potato starch.
- Dairy-Free: Use almond, oat, or soy milk and melted coconut oil instead of butter.
- Egg-Free: Use a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flax + 2.5 tablespoons water). Let it gel 10 minutes.
- Sweeteners: Use coconut sugar or maple sugar for a deeper caramel note.
- Spice Swap: Add cardamom or apple pie spice. Go heavier on cinnamon if you live boldly.
- Finishes: Toss warm fritters in cinnamon sugar or drizzle maple glaze. Both win.
- Apples: Use Honeycrisp, Pink Lady, or Granny Smith. Mix varieties for sweet-tart balance.
- Add-ins: Stir in chopped toasted pecans or raisins for extra texture.
Serving Ideas
- Classic glaze and a sprinkle of extra cinnamon.
- Cinnamon sugar plus a drizzle of warm maple syrup.
- Vanilla ice cream, salted caramel, and crushed pecans for dessert night.
- Greek yogurt and a dusting of nutmeg for a brunch plate.
- Sharp cheddar on the side for a sweet-salty combo.
- Strong coffee or spiced chai to lean into fall vibes.
Make-Ahead and Storage Tips
These gluten-free air fryer apple fritters hold up beautifully, so I treat them as a snack insurance policy for the week.
Make-Ahead: Mix the dry ingredients in advance and store in a jar for up to 1 month. Dice apples up to 1 day ahead and keep them in lemon water in the fridge; drain and pat dry before mixing the batter. You can also air fry, cool, and glaze later the same day.
To Refrigerate: Store cooled fritters (glazed or not) in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Layer parchment between them to prevent sticking.
Freezing: Freeze unglazed fritters on a sheet until solid, then bag for up to 2 months. Freeze the glaze separately or make it fresh.
To Reheat: Air fry at 320°F for 3–5 minutes until warm and crisp. You can also use a 350°F oven for 6–8 minutes or microwave in 10–15 second bursts, then crisp in the air fryer for 1–2 minutes. Glaze after reheating if you froze them.
Gluten-Free Air Fryer Apple Fritters
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together gluten-free flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and sugar.
- In another bowl, beat eggs, then add milk and vanilla extract, mixing well.
- Combine wet ingredients into dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Fold in diced apples gently.
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Spoon batter into the basket, forming small fritters and leaving space between them.
- Air fry for 8-10 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and cooked through.
- Remove fritters, allow to cool slightly, and serve warm.