As autumn leaves paint the landscape in warm hues, there’s nothing quite like the aroma of baked apples and cinnamon wafting through your kitchen. While traditional apple fritters are deep-fried indulgences, this healthier baked version delivers all the comfort without the guilt.
Baked vs. Fried
When food is fried, it absorbs significant amounts of oil, increasing fat content and calories. In contrast, baking enhances certain nutrients and improves protein digestibility.
Baking fundamentally transforms food through even heat distribution, requiring minimal added fats. The enclosed environment of an oven allows heat to fully penetrate the food, resulting in thorough cooking without burning or overcooking, which helps preserve both texture and nutritional value.
The Apple Advantage
Apples provide impressive nutritional benefits that make them ideal for baking. A single medium apple contains approximately 95 calories, 25 grams of carbohydrates, and 3 grams of fiber. (ref)
They’re particularly rich in quercetin, a flavonoid with powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and pectin, a soluble fiber that may help lower LDL cholesterol. The pectin in apples is fermented by beneficial bacteria in the colon, producing short-chain fatty acids that may help prevent certain chronic diseases and bowel disorders.
For maximum nutritional benefit, it’s important to keep the apple skin intact, as it contains the majority of the fruit’s flavonoids and fiber.
The Role of Cold Butter
The temperature of butter plays a crucial role in determining the final texture of baked goods. When butter is kept cold (around 35°F), it remains solid and creates distinct pockets throughout the dough.
During baking, these butter pockets release steam, creating the desirable flaky layers in pastries.
For this recipe, cold butter is essential because it helps achieve both flakiness and tenderness. The butter pieces remain solid enough to create layers while still coating some flour particles, resulting in a tender interior with a slightly crispy exterior.
This technique is similar to that used in pie crusts, where the goal is to achieve both flakiness and tenderness in the final product.
Baked Apple Fritters
Ingredients
For the Fritters:
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup white whole wheat flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 6 tablespoons cold butter cut into pieces
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup chopped apple
For the Glaze:
- 1 cup confectioner’s sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with silicone mat.
- Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.
- Work cold butter into flour mixture until crumbly.
- Mix wet ingredients separately, then combine with dry ingredients until just mixed.
- Fold in chopped apples gently.
- Drop 1/4 cup portions onto prepared baking sheet.
- Bake 11-13 minutes until golden on bottom.
- Switch oven to broil. Make glaze by combining ingredients until smooth.
- Brush fritters with first layer of glaze, broil 2-4 minutes until golden.
- Apply remaining glaze while warm and let set before serving.
Disclaimer: Some images in this content were created with the help of AI.
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Davin is a jack-of-all-trades but has professional training and experience in various home and garden subjects. He leans on other experts when needed and edits and fact-checks all articles.