Apple Fritter Waffle Doughnuts
Apple fritters / meet waffles / meet doughnuts in this outrageous autumnal mashup.
Have you heard of the waffle doughnut, or wonut? Well, pay attention because this is important: it’s a waffle that’s fried in oil until golden and crispy and then dipped in a sugary glaze. And it is amazing.
Starting off with apple fritter batter— filled with diced tart apples and plenty of cinnamon— takes it way over the top, and makes it a perfect fall splurge.
Are they worth all that extra effort of making waffles and then deep frying them?
Yes!
And are they worth putting on your stretchy pants for?
Most definitely! I’m not saying you should eat these regularly for breakfast, but they are an indulgence I insist you allow yourself at least once this fall.
baking tip:Tips for deep frying
- Make sure your pot is big enough so that there are at least 3 inches between to surface of the oil and the top of your pot so when it bubbles up, it doesn’t bubble over.
- Always use a thermometer to maintain temperature. If the oil is too hot you’ll burn your food, too cold and your food will take on too much oil as it takes longer to cook.
- Don’t overcrowd your pot or your food may stick together and the oil will drop in temperature. Cook in batches as needed.
- Your food is done when it just barely turns golden brown. It’ll darken a bit as it sits, so if you fry it until deeply golden, it will likely be a little burned by the time it cools.
- Use a slotted spoon, tongs, or spider strainer to remove fried food from oil.
- Set fried food on paper towels to drain off excess oil.
- Serve immediately! Fried foods are best fresh from the fryer.
Apple Fritter Waffle Doughnuts
Ingredients
Doughnuts:
- 2 cups all-purpose flour (240 grams)
- ¾ cup granulated sugar (150 grams)
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¾ cup buttermilk (175 ml)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter , melted (55 grams)
- 2 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups chopped apples , peels removed (225 grams, from about 2-3 apples)
- Vegetable or canola oil , for frying
Glaze:
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar (170 grams)
- ¼ cup whole milk (60 ml)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. In a separate bowl whisk together the buttermilk, butter, eggs and vanilla. Add liquids to the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Add the chopped apples and mix only until incorporated.
- Preheat a waffle iron and cook waffles according to manufacturer's instructions. Let cool and cut into segments.
- Pour enough vegetable or canola oil into a heavy bottomed pot so that it's 2 inches deep. Set over medium heat, insert a thermometer, and heat to 360° F.
- Working with the waffles in small batches, fry until golden brown, about 2 minutes on each side. Use a slotted spoon to remove doughnuts and transfer to a paper towel lined tray to drain.
- To make the glaze, whisk together the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract. Dip the hot doughnuts into the glaze and let sit on a wire rack for 20 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
44 Comments on “Apple Fritter Waffle Doughnuts”
I have to try this! I never though waffles could get better but deep frying is the answer!
omg!! I’m already on the hunt for the perfect apple fritter recipe and now you throw this at me?? These look heavenly!
These look amazing, seriously amazing! I’d love to try them out but I’m afraid I won’t…I don’t like deep fried food, maybe a baked version would be a little healthier? However these babies must be great!
xo, Elisa
GAH!!! You know I am all over this! Damn, girl!
I am DYING to make these! Such a unique recipe!
Thanks Katrina! 🙂
HAven’t heard of a wonut before, but I’m all about them now!!
I just discovered them too, and they are amazing!
I like the idea of deep frying them, nice way to add a lot of crunch.
These look insanely good! The deep frying is ingenious, but I could just eat a stack of those waffles on their own. 🙂
It was tempting to just eat all of the waffles (they smelled AMAZING!), but I’m so glad I held out for the waffles. Even better! Thanks for the comment, Katie!
Oh My Gosh!!!!
These look absolutely to die for! Bookmarked for my next GNI. 😉
These have girls night written all over them. Thanks, Aimee!
I am absolutely smitten with these! What a brilliant idea. Apple fritters are a weakness of mine, and you just made them even better. I’ll definitely be putting on the stretchy pants to enjoy these once this year!
They’re a weakness of mine too! Such a big fall perk. Hope you’re doing well, Courtney, thanks for the comment! 🙂
You are a wicked genius, Annalise! I cannot stop thinking about these!
Whoa. These look over the top. I’m running to get my stretchy pants right now….
These look amazing! Just beautiful!
These look simply amazing!
oh my gawd! first off, love that you made them into waffles!! and then you fried them! love love love. . apple fritters are my fave and I absolutely love this spin on them!
I saw these on IG and fell in love! Such a cool concept… I love all things donut, and this will only add to my love 🙂
Fritter + waffle + doughnut?!?! Love! And totally tempted to walk around calling them friffle-nuts! 🙂
Whoooaaa these look out of this world amazing!!
Um, excuse me but WHAT. I came over from instagram because I was going to look at your candy bars but then I saw this (apple fritters are my favorite donut, period) and I was all heck to the YESPLEASE! Two for two–you’ve smitten my heart and I will most definitely be back for more. Great to “meet” you on le blog!!
Thanks so much Ala! Happy to have you as a reader! 🙂
OMG this is probably one the best things I’ve see this week!
can you make the waffles in advance? I’m thinking the night before.
Yes, absolutely! I should put that in the recipe. Let them cool completely, then store in an air-tight container for up to 2 days in advance.
Daaaaang those look crazy good! I never would have thought of making doughnuts this way, but now I must try it. Just imagine if you covered those babies with glaze so it could get in all those nooks and crannies…mmmmm 🙂
These waffles look beyond delicious! Pinned & sharing on Facebook!
Thanks so much Marla!
How many wonut quarters does the recipe make?
It makes 16!
Yum, these look so sinfull!!
Hi Annalise,
Your delicious recipe has been nominated as one of the “Top 100 Best Apple Recipes of 2014 for National Apple Month”. You and your readers can vote for it here: http://thefoodexplorer.com/fruit-2/100-delicious-apple-recipes-for-national-apple-month/ (position #84 – random order).
Happy National Apple Month! 🙂
Saw these beauties on Pinterest and just had to say how awesome they are! I have to say I’ve never actually fried anything… but, these are totally worth trying!
WOW! I am making these today later! Yummmmmm! 😉
I didn’t make them but man are these looking good!
I look froward to making and tasting them soon ;D
Yummmmm!!!! Can’t wait to try this. Thanks for sharing.
These look amazing, I just found them on pintrest. I am excited to try them, but I was wondering if you could fry them in the air fryer to cut back on the grease?
I’m sorry, I’ve never used an air fryer so I can’t say for sure either way.
These are fantastic! You must try them. Definitely undercook your waffles, so they don’t over brown while frying. You won’t be sorry you tried these!
These are delicious. I made them with King Arthur gluten free flour And sourdough instead of butter milk. They were a hit! I’m wondering if I can make the waffles a day in advance and then fry them the day we want to eat them. Just to keep my family from having to wait so long.
I took a pic but it won’t let me upload it.