Sourdough Discard Apple Fritters
These baked apple fritters are a lighter twist on the classic—fluffy, tender, and oil-free. With a texture between a fritter and a muffin, they’re the perfect cozy treat for fall or anytime you’re craving something sweet and spiced.
❤️ Why You’ll Love Sourdough Discard Apple Fritters
These fritters are easy like a fritter, but fluffy like a muffin. They are cooked in the air fryer with absolutely no oil in sight, so this is a dessert you can feel good about eating.
No oil, no stove, no oven—these sourdough discard apple fritters are as easy as they are delicious. Just mix, bake, and enjoy!
🍲 Ingredients
Sourdough Discard – This is just inactive sourdough starter that hasn’t been fed. It is equal parts flour and water that has already risen and fallen and now can be added to a multitude of recipes.
Flour – All-purpose flour, which I have learned is not only a kitchen staple, but a kitchen necessity.
Apples – In almost every apple dessert I make, I prefer a combination of apples. I used gala and granny smith for this recipe, so just use what you have.
👩🍳 How to Make Sourdough Discard Apple Fritters
In a bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and apple pie spice. Make a little well in the middle and add in milk, sourdough discard, eggs, and applesauce. Mix until just combined. Fold in your apples until just combined.
Maple glaze: powdered sugar, maple syrup, milk and cinnamon stirred together until you’ve reached the desired consistency.
Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees. Use a kitchen spoon and scoop out a dollop of batter onto a piece of parchment paper. Air fry for 10 minutes. These are best served warm with a healthy drizzle of maple glaze. ✨
🪄 Tips and Tricks
- Scoop your fritter batter onto parchment paper for easy transfer in and out of the air fryer
- The air fryer takes a lot of the moisture out of the apple while cooking, so if you like extra apple flavor, sauté the apples in a little bit of cinnamon and butter first.
🗒 Variations
In the spring or summer, swap the apples for fresh peaches or strawberries to make seasonal air fryer fritters that are just as easy and delicious.
- Peach Fritters
- Strawberry Fritters
🗒 Substitutions
You can easily switch up the flavors in these fritters! In the summer, swap the apples for fresh peaches or even berries. Feel free to change the spices too—cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom all work great. For a little crunch, sprinkle honey granola on top before air frying.
🗒 Best Served With
- Ice cream
- Maple Glaze
- Granola on top
👝 How to Store Leftovers
Store your leftover apple fritters in an airtight container on the counter for up to 3 days.
🤔 Common Questions
If you want to fry these in oil, melt 1-2 cups of coconut oil in a pan and fry for 2-3 minutes on each side. Or you can bake them at 375 degrees for 12 minutes.
Sourdough Discard Apple Fritters
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 3 apples, peeled and diced
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 tsp apple pie spice
- 1 tsp salt
- ⅓ cup milk
- ½ cup sourdough discard
- 2 eggs
- 2 TBS applesauce
Maple Glaze
- 1 ½ – 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ tsp apple pie spice
- 1 TBS milk
- 1 TBS maple syrup
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl whisk together all the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, apple pie spice.
- Make a little well in the middle of the flour mixture and add in milk, sourdough discard, eggs, and applesauce. Mix until just combined. Fold in your apples.
- Preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees.
- Use a kitchen spoon and scoop out a dollop of batter onto a piece of parchment paper. Air fry for 10 minutes.
- Whisk together the maple glaze ingredients and drizzle over top the warm fritter.
