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Air Fryer Heart Shaped Apple Fritters - Crispy, Cute, and Easy

Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

  • All-purpose flour – 1 1/2 cups
  • Granulated sugar – 1/4 cup
  • Baking powder – 2 teaspoons
  • Salt – 1/4 teaspoon
  • Ground cinnamon – 1 1/2 teaspoons
  • Ground nutmeg – 1/4 teaspoon (optional)
  • Eggs – 2 large
  • Milk – 1/2 cup (plus 1–2 tablespoons if needed)
  • Vanilla extract – 1 teaspoon
  • Apples – 2 medium, peeled and diced small (about 1 1/2 cups; Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith work well)
  • Lemon juice – 1 teaspoon (to keep apples bright)
  • Unsalted butter – 2 tablespoons, melted and cooled
  • Cooking oil spray – for the air fryer basket and tops
  • Powdered sugar – 1 cup
  • Milk – 2–3 tablespoons
  • Vanilla extract – 1/2 teaspoon
  • Pinch of salt – to balance sweetness
  • Air fryer with a flat basket or tray
  • Parchment or silicone liner safe for air fryers
  • Two spoons or a small scoop
  • Heart-shaped cutters (optional; see instructions for shaping)

Instructions

  • Prep the apples. Peel, core, and dice apples into small pieces (about 1/4 inch). Toss with lemon juice and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon (from the total amount) to keep them bright and flavorful.
  • Mix dry ingredients. In a medium bowl, whisk flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, remaining cinnamon, and nutmeg.
  • Mix wet ingredients. In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, and melted butter until smooth.
  • Combine the batter. Add wet ingredients to dry and stir just until combined. Fold in apples. The batter should be thick but scoopable. If it’s too stiff, add 1–2 tablespoons milk.
  • Prep the air fryer. Preheat to 360°F (182°C) for 3–5 minutes. Line the basket with a perforated parchment or silicone liner. Lightly spray with oil.
  • Shape into hearts. Use two spoons to dollop about 2 tablespoons of batter onto the liner. With the back of a spoon, nudge the top into a V and round the bottom into a point to form a heart. Alternatively, lightly oil a heart-shaped cutter, spoon batter inside to fill about 1/2 inch thick, then lift the cutter off.
  • Lightly oil the tops. Spray or brush a little oil on the fritters to help browning.
  • Air fry the first batch. Cook at 360°F for 6–8 minutes. Flip carefully with a thin spatula, spray again, and cook another 4–6 minutes, until deep golden and cooked through. Internal temp should be around 200°F, or a toothpick should come out clean.
  • Make the glaze. While they cook, whisk powdered sugar, milk, vanilla, and a pinch of salt until smooth and pourable. Adjust milk to reach a drizzle consistency.
  • Glaze and serve. Let fritters cool for 3–4 minutes, then dip or drizzle with glaze. Serve warm for the best texture.