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These Fried Apple Rings are a quick and delicious snack! Made with sliced apple rings dipped in pancake batter, fried to a crisp, and topped with sweet cinnamon-sugar. They are pretty much the definition of irresistible!
Fried Apple Rings
Fried apple rings, also known as apple fritters, are one of my kids’ favorite Sunday breakfasts. They’re made with apple slices dipped in pancake batter and fried until crisp and golden.
The batter for this recipe actually comes from my mom’s famous onion rings. When I told her I was using it for apples, she was… skeptical. “The batter is too thick. It’s not sweet. It won’t work,” she said. Well. It worked. And then some.
She ended up loving these apple rings just as much as my apple crumble and kept reaching for more, which, of course, I did too. They’re best enjoyed hot and fresh, but I won’t lie… sneaking one later that night after everyone went to bed was still very worth it.
Why We Love This Apple Rings Recipe
- Weekend treat vibes. Fried apple rings are like a cross between donuts, pancakes, and baked apples, making them perfect for slow weekends and cozy mornings.
- Simple ingredients, big payoff. A few pantry staples and fresh apples turn into something warm, sweet, and totally satisfying.
- Quick and fun to make. These apple rings come together fast, making them ideal when you want a homemade treat without committing to a big baking project.
- Perfect for sharing. Serve them warm with cinnamon sugar and watch them disappear.
How To Make Fried Apple Rings
- Heat the oil. Add canola oil to a heavy-bottomed skillet and heat it over medium-low heat until hot and ready for frying.
- Prep the apples. In the meantime, slice the apples into ¼-inch thick rounds, then use a paring knife or small cutter to remove the cores from the center of each slice.
- Make the batter. In a mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt until combined.
- Mix the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk the milk, eggs, and vanilla. You can swap in a flavored (even sugar-free) creamer for the milk, or mix a little plain yogurt with the milk for extra richness.
- Combine the ingredients. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir just until incorporated.
- Cook. Dip the apple slices into the batter, letting any excess drip off, then carefully place them into the hot oil. Fry for a couple of minutes per side, or until golden and cooked through.
- Finish. Remove the apple rings from the oil and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar while still warm. Serve right away.
Recipe Tips
- Best served fresh. These apple rings are at their absolute best right after frying. They are crisp on the outside, hot, and perfectly sweet. They’ll keep for a day, but fresh is where they really shine.
- Why are my apple rings soggy? Apple rings can turn soggy if the oil isn’t hot enough, if the pan is overcrowded, or if they sit too long after frying. Make sure the oil is fully heated before adding the apples, fry in batches so the temperature stays steady, and transfer the cooked rings to a wire rack instead of paper towels to keep them crisp.
- Shortcut option. If you want to keep things extra easy, a store-bought pancake mix works just fine for the batter. It’s a great time saver and still delivers delicious results.
- Griddle instead of fry. For a lighter option, you can cook the battered apple rings on a lightly greased griddle instead of frying. They won’t be as crisp, but they’re still tasty and satisfying.
Tomorrow morning wake up before the rest of the fam and get on this. You won’t even need to wake them up. The smell of State-Fair fried food will do that for you. Which reminds me, make yourself a spiked apple cider first, then open up the windows while working on this deliciousness – your neighbors will thank you.
More Breakfast Recipes
- Apple French Toast Casserole
- Sheet Pan Pancakes
- Apple Baked Oatmeal
- Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole
- Baked French Toast
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Apple Rings
Ingredients
- 4 large apples, sliced into 1/4-inch thick slices
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup milk, (In place of milk, I have used heavy cream and coffee creamer, and it's really good!)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten to break up the yolk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- canola oil, for frying
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 to 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Heat up the oil. In a large skillet, pour in enough oil to reach about 1 inch deep and heat it to 375˚F over medium-low heat.
- Prepare the apples. Meanwhile, slice the apples into ¼-inch thick round rings, then cut out the center of each slice. I use a small round cookie cutter to pop them out. Set them aside.
- Whisk the dry ingredients. In a small mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.
- Whisk the wet ingredients. In a separate bowl, whisk together the milk and egg, then add the vanilla and whisk until well combined.
- Combine. Whisk the milk mixture into the flour mixture until combined; set aside.
- Fry the apple rings. Dip the apple rings in the batter then transfer them to the skillet and cook in batches, 1 to 2 minutes per slice, or until golden, turning once to cook the other side.
- Make the cinnamon-sugar. In a bowl or plate, combine the sugar and cinnamon, and mix well.
- Finish and serve. Sprinkle cinnamon sugar over the apple rings while still hot. Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
I made these this afternoon and they were soo good. Could barely keep my dad from eating them all! I swapped the milk for hazelnut creamer like you suggested, and forgot the baking powder, but they still turned out great. Don’t forget the cinnamon sugar after frying, it makes a huge difference.
It sounds like they were a hit! Using hazelnut creamer was a great idea, and I’m glad they still turned out well without the baking powder. The cinnamon sugar really makes them special. Thank you! 🙂
Hi! I’m looking forward to trying this recipe but was wondering if almond flour would also work. It sounds like a great Fall snack!
Hi! I have a great recipe for almond flour pancake batter. You can make that and use it to coat the apples. Here’s the recipe: https://diethood.com/almond-flour-pancakes/
Hello, I have a technical question about your blog, could you please tell me how you inserted the recipe square into your post?
I want to start my own blog but I can t find how to do that.
I also made this recipe, it was really good especially when they were warm…can t stop eating them.
Thanks in advance
Hi! Assuming you are on WordPress, you will need to download a “recipe plugin” to do that. I use Meal Planner Pro, and you can find that here: https://mealplannerpro.com/wordpress-recipe-plugin
I hope that helps! 🙂
Thanks a lot, I have found the plugins, it takes a lot of learning to make a blog 🙂
Hugs
You’re welcome! 🙂 And yes, it isn’t as easy as it looks … it takes a while for everything to come together. 😀 GOOD LUCK!!!
What apples do you use for this?
Hi! I have used Honeycrisps, Granny Smith, and other times I just use whatever apples are in the fruit basket. 😃
Thank you for this delicious and easy recipe
They turned out absolutely delicious
I topped them up with a little Camembert cheese and Caramel sauce yummy 😋
I’m very glad you enjoyed it! Thank you so much! 🙂
I’m going to make these to bring to a work snack day. Do you have any tips for maintaining freshness/ crispness when making ahead?
Thanks so much, so excited to try!
Amanda
Hi!
Like most fried foods, fried apple rings are best when eaten immediately as they lose their crispness over time. If you need to store them, allow the apple rings to cool to room temperature. This will help prevent steam from being trapped, which can make them soggy. Store them in an airtight container and place a sheet of parchment paper between layers to prevent sticking and to help reduce moisture. Then refrigerate them. To reheat the apple rings, if possible, use a toaster oven to regain some of their crispness. Avoid using the microwave, as it will make them soggy.
This looks fun and creative!
Wow, this looks amazing! Like the best of the State Fair!
Really good but the dough was a little thick and hard to get on the apples
Do you peel the apples.
Hi Debbie!
No, I don’t peel the apples.
Hi, I wish for to subscribe for this web site to get most up-to-date updates, thus where can i
do it please help.
Hi Dina! Just click on this link and follow the instructions: http://madmimi.com/signups/103563/join
Thank You!!
This recipe looks awesome! A great idea for a Saturday morning brunch watching soccer!
Has anybody tried baking them?
I was thinking: hotel pan, a bit of canola, flip half way through, will it be crispy you think?
Hi Emma!
While I have never tried to bake the apple slices, I think what might work is placing them on a lightly buttered wire rack set over a baking sheet to catch the drippings.
Spray the apple rings with Baking Spray and bake at 350 for about 30 to 40 minutes, or until apples are tender and topping is browned. Again, I haven’t tried this, but I think this will work. Let me know how it goes!
Hi! My mom and I made these and they are absolutely fantastic! They’re not too great cold as they get soggy. But warmed oh wow! We tried caramel for dipping. My dad was in heaven. Next time we might try an apple chimicheesecake thing also in slices instead of rings. I’m a horrible slicer and the rings were extremely funny looking. I would love it even more if it was baked not fried. I love the fried but the sizzling makes my dog shake and pees all over. So I’m looking for a way to bake these. If anyone tried baking these, lemme know? These will definitely be a holiday maybe once a month treat. TY for introducing these into our lives. 🙂
Apple Chimicheesecake?! Oh my HEAVENS!! That is such an awesome idea! I am going to try it!
I’m also incredibly happy to know that you and your parents enjoyed the Apple Rings! THANK YOUUUU!!