Almond Flour Apple Fritters (Air Fryer & Gluten-Free)
These air-fried Gluten-Free Apple Fritters with a Cream Cheese Maple Glaze are crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and naturally sweetened with maple syrup, applesauce, and fresh apples. Made with almond, oat, and tapioca flours, they’re the perfect healthier take on a classic treat—without the refined sugar.
I love the big apple chunks in every bite and the creamy maple cream cheese glaze on top — it’s the best part. These come together quicker than you’d think and feel like a cozy bakery treat, but with simple, real ingredients.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe for Gluten-Free Apple Fritters
- Air-fried perfection: Crispy outside and tender inside without the need for deep-frying.
- Naturally sweetened: Made with maple syrup, applesauce, and apples for sweetness without refined sugar.
- Gluten-free goodness: Made with almond, oat, and tapioca flours for a delicious gluten-free treat.
- Easy to make: Comes together in minutes with simple ingredients and an air fryer.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here is everything you need to make the best-tasting air-fryer gluten-free apple fritter recipe:
Apples: You can use any variety of fresh apples including granny smith apples, fuji, and honey crisp apples.
Almond Flour: Almond flour is already gluten-free, but if you need a nut-free option, you can replace it with sunflower seed flour or coconut flour. Keep in mind that coconut flour is highly absorbent, so you’ll need less of it, typically about 1/4 cup for every 1 cup of almond flour.*
Oat Flour: Use certified gluten-free oat flour to ensure it’s gluten-free. If you can’t have oats, you can use sorghum flour or brown rice flour as a substitute. I do not recommend using wheat flour.*
Tapioca Flour: Tapioca flour, also known as tapioca starch, is a common gluten-free choice, but you can substitute it with arrowroot flour or potato starch if needed.
Baking Powder and Baking Soda: Make sure these are labeled as gluten-free. Most commercial brands are, but double-check to be sure.
Butter: Replace regular butter with dairy-free butter or coconut oil to make it dairy-free. If you need a dairy-free and soy-free alternative, try using ghee (clarified butter).*
Cinnamon and Nutmeg: You can omit both spices however they do create the apple cinnamon flavors.
Cream Cheese: For a dairy-free option, use dairy-free cream cheese made from almond or cashew milk. There are many brands available in stores.*
Maple Syrup: Maple syrup is naturally gluten-free. You can also use agave nectar or honey as a sweetener if preferred.
Butter: Substitute with dairy-free butter or coconut oil for a dairy-free version.*
*I have not tested this substitution.
How to Make My Homemade Apple Fritters
Step 1: Prepare the Apple Filling
Chop two apples into 1/2 inch apple chunks.
In a skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.
Add the chopped apples, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.
Cook for 5-7 minutes or until the apples are tender and caramelized.
Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
Step 2: Prepare the Fritter Batter
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, 3 tablespoons melted butter (or dairy-free alternative), 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Whisk until well combined.
Then add the dry ingredients, including 1 cup almond flour, 1 cup oat flour, 1/2 cup tapioca flour, 1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon gluten-free baking soda, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg.
Mix until well combined. The batter should be thick but sticky. You can add more oat flour or almond milk to adjust if needed.
Gently fold the tender apples into the fritter batter until evenly distributed.
Step 3: Air Fry the Apples
You will want to line your air fryer basket with a piece of parchment paper cut 1/2 inch smaller than the bottom of your basket. Trim off the corners of the parchment paper so they do not blow over the fritters on the corners while baking. The parchment paper also makes for easy cleanup.
Scoop the fritter batter and place inside the air fryer basket. Allow room around each fritter for the air to circulate. You can choose the shape of your fritters. You can leave them as round mounds, or you can use a spoon and reshape them as ovals.
Baste each fritter on the top and four sides with a pastry brush and coconut oil.
Cook at 380°F for 8 minutes or until golden brown.
Oven Baked: You can also bake the fritters in an oven. Scoop the fritter batter onto a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Baste with coconut oil. Then bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Step 4: Make the Cream Cheese Glaze
While the fritters are cooking, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl combine, 2 oz of cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, 2 tablespoons of butter, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Stir until smooth and creamy. You can also mix in a small blender or chopper cup until smooth and creamy.
Baste the glaze on the tops of the fritters with a pastry brush.
Allow about 10 minutes for the glaze to soak into the fritter and set. Then serve the gluten-free apple fritters warm and enjoy!
My Expert Recipe Tips
Dairy-Free Options: To make this recipe dairy-free, use dairy-free butter or coconut oil instead of regular butter. Also, opt for dairy-free cream cheese for the glaze.
Cooking the Apples: When preparing the apple filling, cook the apples until they are tender and have a slight caramelization, at least 2-3 minutes. This adds flavor and sweetness to the fritters and also makes them taste more like a classic apple fritter.
Consistency of Batter: The fritter batter should be thick but still scoopable. If it’s too thick, you can add a small amount of dairy-free milk (such as almond milk) to reach the desired consistency. If it’s too wet, you can add more almond flour.
Fritter Size: You can adjust the size of the fritters based on your preference. Smaller fritters cook faster and are easier to handle, while larger ones may take a bit longer.
Oven Baked: You can also bake the fritters in an oven. Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Glazing: Drizzle the glaze over the fritters while they are still warm. This allows the glaze to melt slightly and enhance the overall flavor.
Delicious Serving Suggestions
- Brunch Spread: Serve alongside scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and fresh fruit for a balanced and hearty brunch.
- Dessert Option: Top with a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream for a warm, comforting dessert after dinner.
- Holiday Treat: Include them in your holiday dessert table or serve them fresh at a fall gathering for a seasonal favorite.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you love apple desserts? Check out more of my easy and nutritious apple dessert recipes:
Almond Flour Apple Fritters (Air Fryer & Gluten-Free)
Ingredients
Fritter Batter:
- 1 egg
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 3 tablespoons butter (melted)
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup almond flour
- 1 cup oat flour
- 1/2 cup tapioca flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Apple Filling:
- 2 cups chopped apple (2-3 apples)
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Glaze:
- 2 oz cream cheese
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 pinches salt
Instructions
Apple Filling:
- Chop two apples into 1/2 inch apple chunks.In a skillet, melt 2 tablespoons of butter over medium heat.Add the chopped apples, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.Cook for 5-7 minutes or until the apples are tender and caramelized.Remove from heat and set aside to cool.
Fritter Batter:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce, 3 tablespoons melted butter (or dairy-free alternative), 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Whisk until well combined.Then add the dry ingredients, including 1 cup almond flour, 1 cup oat flour, 1/2 cup tapioca flour, 1 teaspoon gluten-free baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon gluten-free baking soda, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg.Mix until well combined. The batter should be thick but sticky.Gently fold the tender apples into the fritter batter until evenly distributed.
- You will want to line your air fryer basket with a piece of parchment paper cut 1/2 inch smaller than the bottom of your basket. Trim off the corners of the parchment paper so they do not blow over the fritters on the corners while baking. The parchment paper also makes for easy cleanup.Scoop the fritter batter and place inside the air fryer basket. Allow room around each fritter for the air to circulate. You can choose the shape of your fritters. You can leave them as round mounds, or you can use a spoon and reshape them as ovals.Baste each fritter on the top and four sides with a pastry brush and coconut oil.Cook at 380°F for 8 minutes or until golden brown.Oven Baked: You can also bake the fritters in an oven. Scoop the fritter batter onto a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. Baste with coconut oil. Then bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown.
Cream Cheese Glaze:
- While the fritters are cooking, prepare the glaze. In a small bowl combine, 2 oz of cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, 2 tablespoons of butter, 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt. Stir until smooth and creamy. You can also mix in a small blender or chopper cup until smooth and creamy.Baste the glaze on the tops of the fritters with a pastry brush. Allow about 10 minutes for the glaze to soak into the fritter and set. Then serve the gluten-free apple fritters warm and enjoy!
Video
Nutrition
This recipe has been reviewed by a healthcare professional for its nutritional balance and alignment with healthy eating principles.
These gluten free apple fritters were delicious! They have the perfect amount of sweetness, I like that they weren’t overly sweet and didn’t use sugar. I used dairy free butter and dairy free cream cheese and the whole family loved them. My air fryer is small, so I made a few in the air fry and the rest in the oven. The air fryer produced crisper outer edges, while the oven baked ones had a texture more similar to a muffin. Some of my family preferred the air fried ones, and some preferred the oven baked. Both were so good! Thanks for another excellent, easy recipe Nicole!
You are so welcome Celeste!! I love that you cooked them both ways and could compare the results. Those are great substitutions to make them dairy-free!