Apple Fritters with Orange Glaze

Makes about 25 fritters
  • Active time: 45 min
    Total time: 45 min
Hanukkah is the celebration of ritual oil that miraculously lasted for eight days instead of one, which is why oil factors prominently during the holiday. While latkes (potato pancakes pan-fried in oil) are traditional—and we've never met a latke we didn't love—why not end the meal this year with apple fritters that are as tender and delicate as cake doughnuts? Drizzled with an orange glaze, they echo the flavors of the winter season.

This recipe is part of our Gourmet Modern Menu: A Hanukkah Feast. Click here to view the full menu.

Published in Gourmet Live 12.05.12

INGREDIENTS:

For Fritters:

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon fine salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup whole milk
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
  • 2 teaspoons grated orange zest from 1 navel orange (set aside orange to use for juice in glaze)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 2 Golden Delicious apples (1 pound total), peeled, cored, cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices
  • About 3 cups vegetable oil

For Glaze:

  • 1 cup confectioners' sugar plus more for dusting
  • 3 tablespoons orange juice from navel orange
  • 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

EQUIPMENT:

  • Deep-fat/candy thermometer

INSTRUCTIONS:

Make Fritters:

  • Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk eggs, then whisk in milk, melted butter, zest, and vanilla. Add wet ingredients into dry and fold until just combined (do not overmix), then fold in apples.
  • Heat 3/4 inch of oil in a 10- to 12-inch deep heavy skillet over medium heat until it shimmers. Drop a little batter into the oil. If it bubbles and rises to the top, the oil is ready. If it browns immediately, reduce heat. (Or use a deep-fat/candy thermometer to heat oil until it registers 375°F.) Using two tablespoons (soup spoons), drop spoonfuls of batter, each containing 2 apple slices, into oil. Working in batches of 5, cook fritters, turning over halfway through, until golden brown, center is just cooked through, and apples are tender, 3 to 4 minutes total. Transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain. (Make sure oil returns to 375°F between batches.)

Make Glaze:

  • Whisk together 1 cup confectioners' sugar with orange juice and vanilla until smooth.
  • Dust fritters with some additional confectioners' sugar and drizzle glaze over fritters.

COOKS' NOTE:

  • Fritters are best freshly made but can be fried (not glazed) 1 day ahead. Once cooled, keep chilled, layered between sheets of parchment or wax paper, in an airtight container. Reheat in a 350°F oven until crisped and warmed through (they will continue to crisp as they cool), 10 to 12 minutes.

Photo: Lara Ferroni

Recipe by Melissa Roberts

Keywords
Gourmet Live,
Hanukkah

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