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Apple Fritter Waffle Donuts

These Apple Fritter Waffle Donuts capture all the cozy, spiced apple goodness of traditional fritters with a genius shortcut using a waffle maker, making them ridiculously easy and wonderfully quick to prepare.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes

Equipment

  • Medium bowl
  • larger bowl
  • Small bowl for glaze
  • Waffle maker
  • Wire rack set over parchment paper
  • apron
  • Fork
  • Spatula

Ingredients
  

For the Waffle Donuts

  • 1 medium apple crisp variety like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala, peeled, cored, and diced into pea-sized pieces
  • 1 large egg whisked until frothy
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 0.5 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 0.5 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 0.5 cup buttermilk or substitute

For the Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2 tablespoons milk to thin glaze, add more if needed

Instructions
 

  • Peel, core, and dice the apple into very small pieces, about the size of a pea.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
  • In a separate, larger bowl, whisk the egg until it's nice and frothy. Then, add the granulated sugar, vanilla extract, melted butter, and buttermilk. Whisk until everything is well combined and smooth.
  • Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. Stir gently until just combined. A few small lumps are perfectly fine. Do not overmix.
  • Gently fold your diced apple pieces into the batter, ensuring they are evenly distributed.
  • While your waffle maker is preheating, whisk together the powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons of milk in a small bowl until you have a smooth, pourable glaze. Adjust consistency with more milk or powdered sugar as needed.
  • Lightly grease your waffle maker. Spoon about 1/4 to 1/3 cup of batter per waffle donut. Close the lid and cook according to your waffle maker's instructions, usually about 3-5 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Carefully remove them.
  • Once the waffle donuts are cooked and slightly warm, dip the tops into the prepared glaze. Let excess drip off, then place them on a wire rack set over parchment paper to allow the glaze to set.

Notes

To make your own buttermilk substitute, add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice or white vinegar to 1/2 cup of regular milk and let it sit for about 5 minutes until slightly curdled. You can also add a pinch of nutmeg or ground ginger to the dry ingredients for extra spice, or fold in chopped pecans or walnuts with the apples for crunch. These are best enjoyed fresh and slightly warm.