Pecan Butter Apple Fritters

Unlike typical apple fritters, this recipe calls for cooking the apples beforehand and using sparkling apple cider rather than milk for a lighter batter. They’re delicious with the added pecan butter, and if you’re wanting more of a crunch you can add pecan pieces to the batter. Perfect for any season’s breakfast or dessert. Enjoy!

Ingredients

For the batter

• 2 large Granny Smith apples (or another tart variety), cut in ¼ inch pieces

• 1 tablespoon butter, for cooking apples

• 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour

• 1 ½ teaspoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon kosher salt

• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ¼ teaspoon ground ginger

• ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg

• 1 large egg

• ¼ cup granulated sugar (+ 1 tablespoon for cooking apples)

• 1 tablespoon Pecan Butter of your choice

• ½ cup sparkling apple cider, or as needed

• vegetable oil, for cooking

For the glaze

• 1 cup powdered sugar

• pinch of ground cinnamon

• 1-2 tablespoons sparkling apple cider, or as needed

Directions

For the fritters

• Peel and quarter apples, cut out the core of each quarter and cut into ¼-inch pieces.

• Melt 1 tablespoon butter until golden brown and then cook apples for 3-4 minutes. After 2 minutes, sprinkle in 1 tablespoon sugar and finish cooking, about 2 more minutes. Pour into a strainer and let cool to room temperature.

• In a small bowl, mix together the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg), whisk together until just combined. Set aside.

• In a larger bowl, mix together egg, sugar and pecan butter until sugar is dissolved.

• Once the apples have reached room temperature, mix the apples with the egg and sugar mixture. Add sparkling apple cider and flour mixture with spoon until just combined.

• Heat about 2 inches of oil in a skillet to 300℉. Once the oil becomes hot, drop a large tablespoon of batter, flattening a little. Cook until golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side.

• Remove from oil with a strainer and place on paper towels.

• Top with glaze and serve warm.

For the glaze

• Combine powdered sugar, cinnamon and sparkling cider and whisk until it reaches a runny consistency to drizzle on fritters. If the glaze is too thick, add more sparkling cider. If glaze is too runny, add more powdered sugar until it reaches your desired consistency.

*Recipe adapted from Chef John of Foodwishes.com