I know it’s Monday which usually means a new low carb meatball recipe, but this week I’m doing that on Wednesday (and it’s a GREAT one btw!) So today I’m finally getting around to posting the low carb apple fritter recipe that I’ve been dying to share with you for over a month now!
These should have a warning posted along with them – they are dangerously delicious and super addicting! I made a batch almost every day for a week to test them out, and every person who tried them loved them!
They were so good that I wanted to just roam the streets handing them out to random people and saying “Hey try one of these low carb apple fritters – SO GOOD, RIGHT!?!?”
That would have been awesome…
Instead I mostly hoarded them to myself and had them with my coffee every morning. But if YOU try it let me know what everyone thinks. (You won’t. Sharing these is nearly impossible – trust me.)
Anyway, these are a little easier to execute than the low carb apple cider donuts recipe that I posted a few weeks ago because you just roll them into balls and fry them like donut holes. You still have to pack them pretty tight when rolling though, or the apple pieces can cause them to fall apart – make sure you chop the apples pretty small for that same reason.
Now once these apple fritters are out of the fryer, you’ll be tempted to just eat them like that (and you should go for it) but be sure to save some for the toppings because they make them EVEN BETTER!
You can either brush them with melted butter and then sprinkle with a sweetener/cinnamon mixture like the classic apple fritter…
OR, you can drizzle them with this easy low carb Bourbon Maple Caramel sauce to take them to the next level. I recommend eating them within an hour or so of adding the sauce though, or they start to get a little soft on the outside. Still great, just not really crunchy anymore.
Well I’m pretty sure that’s enough chitchat – now get thee to the kitchen! Then be sure to let me how they turned out!!!
Low Carb Apple Fritters Recipe – Gluten Free
- Yield: 12 fritters 1x
Description
A delicious low carb and gluten free apple fritter recipe that is easy to make and super addicting! Serve with cinnamon sprinkle or Maple Bourbon Caramel Sauce! Keto, LCHF and Atkins diet friendly recipe!
Ingredients
Scale
For the fritters:
- 1/2 cup coconut flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar substitute
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 2 Tbsp Sugar Free Vanilla Protein Powder I use this one
- 1/4 tsp xanthan gum see example
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp kosher salt
- 2 eggs
- 2/3 cup unsweetened almond milk
- 1 Tbsp butter, melted
- 1/2 cup finely chopped apples (approx 1/4 inch pieces)
- oil for frying
For the optional cinnamon sprinkle topping:
- 2 Tbsp butter, melted
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar substitute
- 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
For the optional Maple Bourbon Caramel Sauce:
- 1 Tbsp bourbon
- 1/2 tsp maple extract
- 1/2 cup sugar free caramel sauce see example
Instructions
For the fritters:
- Combine the dry ingredients in a medium bowl. Whisk together the eggs, almond milk, and melted butter in a small bowl. Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, then add the apples and stir well. Let sit for 2 minutes. Form into 12 tightly packed balls. Heat about 1 inch of oil in a heavy bottomed pan (cast iron works great) until about 350 degrees (F). Fry the fritters for 1 – 2 minutes per side or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove to a paper towel to drain any extra oil.
For the cinnamon sprinkle:
- Combine the cinnamon and sweetener in a small bowl. Brush the fritters with the melted butter, then roll in the cinnamon/sweetener mixture and place on a serving platter.
For the Maple Bourbon Caramel Sauce:
- Add the caramel sauce, maple extract, and bourbon to a small saucepan. Heat for about 3 minutes or until bubbling. Remove from heat and cool slightly. Drizzle while still warm over the fritters and serve.
Notes
Approximate nutrition information:
Per naked fritter: 90 calories, 7g fat, 1.5g net carbs, 5g protein
Per fritter w/ cinnamon topping: 115 calories, 11 g fat, 2g net carbs, 5g protein
Per fritter w/ caramel sauce: 123 calories, 7g fat, 4g net carbs, 5g protein
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Betcha can't eat just one
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Ali says
Could these be cooked in a air fryer, they are delicious
★★★★★
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Liesl says
Just made these. Super delicious. While they did not come out as beautiful as yours in the photos, I was thrilled with the taste and texture! I used 1/8 cup Pyure Stevia blend for the sweetener in the batter and allulose for the cinnamon sprinkle. I also wound up making the balls half the size in the end finding they fried better.
Fried foods are difficult to get right (even non-keto!) so I was thankful this one worked for me!★★★★★
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Kathy says
I agree with Jocelyn. I made them today, went out and bought a cast iron skillet. The temperature was to hard to control. Burnt the first batch and by the third decided there was no way thes were coming out right.
★
Mellissa Sevigny says
I’m sorry you didn’t have success with these fritters, but if the primary issue was that they were burning, then I think it’s just that you need a little more practice with temperature management using your new cast iron pan.
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McDonna says
It could also be an issue with the range. Some of them click off and on with such frequency, depending on the selected heat level, that it is hard to keep the temperature constant. This results in food being under fried or scorched.
I come from generations of cast iron frying Southern cooks. I am also an expert on crappy stoves. If I had my way I would cook only with gas. It’s the only way to ensure constant temperature. Even my electric skillets are not always reliable with certain foods.
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Jocelyn says
Wow! I have tried so many of your recipes and I have to admit that until today, I trusted you! I made these and they were a reminder of when I first went Keto 8 years ago and most of the ingredients I used – to try the recipes that were out there – went straight into the trash. It’s been a very long time since that has happened. I’m sorry to say that these were an epic fail and a HUGE disappointment.
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Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks for the feedback Jocelyn – this is an old recipe and it can definitely be improved upon with all of the ingredients now available that weren’t back when I developed it. I’ll put it on the list to rework and update.
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Fran says
I struggle with keeping protein within my limits. Does the protein powder act as a binder or just flavor? Can I add almond flour and some vanilla instead?
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Mary Hernandez says
Can I leave out the Xanthan Gum?
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Patti says
These look so good!! Do you think dubbing the apples with zucchini would work?
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Rick says
How do you store this recipe?
★★★★★
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Mellissa Sevigny says
Airtight container for up to three days at room temp or in the fridge for up to a week. Not sure how they’d freeze but theoretically they would be fine for up to three months.
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liz says
Wowzers these look divine! Hopefully it is possible to stop at one or two before the carbs start to add up. Just a quick question…..do you think these would work in an airfryer?
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Mellissa Sevigny says
I’ve never used one so I really couldn’t say Liz!
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September Adams says
Have you tried to freeze the batter? Freezing the fritters afterthey are fried? I grew too many apples and I love this recipe so I wanted make as many fritter as possible.
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Pam says
I’m going to give these a try and ‘change’ it a little teeny bit… I don’t want them fried either. but I just bought two new donut pans and I’m going to give them a good greasing with lard and try these in the oven. I will definitely come back after I do (won’t be till next month) and provide a picture and ‘if it worked well’. I’m seriously considering putting the batter into a cast iron corn stick pan though.. just because I’d get a better ‘more like fried’ outside. :)
Melissa, we’ve made SO many of your recipes that people ask for ‘my’ this and that.. I give you props.. but that’s the mark of a successful recipe blogger. Thanks for so many good ones!
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Mellissa Sevigny says
Thank you so much Pam – I’m thrilled that you’re having good success with the recipes! :) I LOVE your cast iron corn stick pan idea, I think it would work awesome to get the outsides crisp without frying – especially if you heat it first and add the batter to the pan while hot! In fact I might BUY a corn stick pan just to try this out!!!!
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Julie says
I made a variant of these for my family this morning, using sucanat since we aren’t low-carb. I also subbed 1 tsp psyllium powder in for the xanthan gum. They were delicious shallow-fried and drizzled with cream cheese icing. One of my boys is a very picky eater and only does muffins, so I also tried out this batter as a steamed muffin, and the texture was perfect (also delicious with cream cheese icing, but he only ate the plain ones). So that is definitely an option for those who want the flavor without the frying. :)
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Sjanette van der Sluijs says
Hi Melissa, thank you for your recipe!! In The Netherlands we don’t know apple fritters but on dec. 31 everyone (high carbs) is eating “oliebollen”. It’s a yeat dough / batter filled with raisins and fried in the deepfryer. I really miss those. So I think your recipe would be a great substitute for a “oliebol”. Can you tell me how the inside of your fritter is? Airy or compact?
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cee says
Made these today and I thought they were good (sheepishly I will admit to adding more splenda to the batter, though). I’m wondering if you think using almond flour would work instead (I’m nearly out of coconut flour). Thanks for the good eats!
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shannon says
So let’s see…do i mind that you are replacing a delicious meatball recipe with apple fritters? ERMMMMMM NO. Do you have any extras sitting around because if you need to i’ll eat them.
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James Burnette says
I cant bake but I want this so bad!
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Suzanne says
These look lovely! However, I’m trapped in my house with 3 kids under 3 and we don’t have any apples….Do you think if I leave out the apples they’d fall apart? Could I sub the apples for something else? Nuts, coconut? Thank you! I might steep my almond milk with apple tea to get the apple flavor though! MMM!
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Maria says
Suzanne I have made something similar using hot dogs cut into pieces. I wrap the dough around the dogs and fry them. The kids would love them! Also I think coconut would be delish, do you have any canned pineapple or pumpkin? Either of those would be good as well. :)
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Kristi says
Just made these! Thought I should do a trial run before the weekend!!
So delicious!!! I didn’t have almond milk so I subbed it for coconut milk and I didn’t have protien powder added almond flour instead!
Used coconut oil and left over bacon grease!
I’ll be making them this weekend for thanksgiving (canada)for sure!
Thanks!!Reply
Mellissa Sevigny says
Yay! Thanks for letting me know they turned out well – glad your substitutions worked out well! Hope they are a hit this weekend!
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Deborah MacAskill Hughes says
I have a nut allergy. What can I use instead of almond milk, coconut flour
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Lori says
Mouth drooling…
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Irene says
I’ve been a huge fan of your website and your recipes for a year now and I’ve always admired your great ideas and yummy recipes you produce! So thank you for all the inspiration!
But I must say that I currently feel like you’ve “let me down” with this recipe in a way that it is anything but healthy.
Sure it’s tasty, but no one can convince me that frying these delicious and healthy ingredients (especially delicious apples full of vitamins and minerals) in hot oil is paleo, keto or healthy.
I’m still and will always remain a fan, but I hope this was just minor slip and sorry for the cirituque. No hard feelings.Reply
Mellissa Sevigny says
I appreciate the honest feedback Irene, as well as the fact that you’ve been an IBIH fan for a year! I’m sorry that you feel I’ve let you down with this recipe. I’ll return your honesty with my own though and say that I disagree. While eating apple fritters may not be as healthy as say a salad, I feel that every eating plan has room for a treat now and then. These fritters are still going to be world’s better for you than a sugar, preservative, and white flour laden fritter or donut that you’d find on a mainstream blog or your local bakery – especially if you’re celiac, diabetic, or on a ketogenic diet. I guess the term “healthy” is relative to a person’s way of eating in that way. I don’t like to label myself a “healthy” blogger anyway, and prefer not to be put on a pedestal as such – which eliminates the whole “letting people down” thing altogether. I hope that you’ll stick around, but please know that I will continue to occasionally post low carb and gluten free dessert recipes here on IBIH, though you are certainly under no obligation to try them! :)
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dave says
These look great but I am wondering what Irene sees as so unhealthy. I mean no grain or gluten, low carb and being fried in a healthy oil I don’t see whats so bad about them.
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Maria says
Irene by definition a fritter is fried batter or breading with bits of fruit, veggies or meat. If you are avoiding anything fried I bet you can try doing these like mini muffins :)
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Evelyn Goettner says
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I have been looking for more sweets recipes that are gluten free to make when my father in law visits.
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Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks Evelyn, I hope that he likes them! My father in law was a big fan!
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Mary says
What kind of oil do you fry these in? Can’t wait to try this!!
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Mellissa Sevigny says
I love avocado oil for frying Mary, and I get it at Costco for relatively cheap. You can also use peanut oil or lard which have high smoke points. I don’t recommend canola or other veggie oils generally, but if it’s what you have then it will work fine.
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Sara says
I have being feeling so left out of the fall comfort food. No cider mills, no caramel apples etc. I cannot wait to make these! Any recommendations on which type of apple to use?
PS LOVE the site. We are new to low carb and love the variety and tastiness of your blog and cookbooks. My favorite so far is the spinach and artichoke dip meatballs and strawberry cupcakes. And the jalapeño poppers…And the….
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Mellissa Sevigny says
Welcome Sara! I used Granny Smith apples, but any firm apple will work fine! And I LOVE the spinach and artichoke meatballs too! It’s one of my all time favorite combos!
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Anne @ Unique Gifter says
Those look so absolutely delicious. Canadian Thanksgiving is this weekend and I need a dessert…. those might just be it!
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Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks Anne let me know what you think!
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