Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a baking sheet.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.
- Mix wet ingredients: In a separate bowl, combine the milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract.
- Combine: Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Be careful not to overmix; a few lumps are fine!
- Add apples: Gently fold in the diced apples until evenly distributed throughout the batter.
- Shape the fritters: Drop about ¼ cup of batter (or less for smaller fritters) onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving space between each fritter.
- Bake: Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the fritters are golden brown and the centers are set.
- Cool: Let the fritters cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
- Dust with powdered sugar (optional): Lightly dust with powdered sugar before serving for that perfect finishing touch.
Variations & Tips:
- Picky eaters: Use their favorite apple variety to make these fritters more appealing.
- Extra crunch: Add a handful of chopped nuts to the batter or sprinkle on top.
- Dairy-free: Substitute milk with almond or oat milk.
- Spice it up: Add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice for a little extra warmth.
- Freezing: Double the batch and freeze for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven until warm and toasty.
- Glazed fritters: For a richer treat, glaze the fritters with a simple powdered sugar and milk mix after they’ve cooled slightly.
