Apple Fritters

• About 3/4 to 1 quart. vegetable oil  – Canola oil, for deep frying if using using an electric skillet. A Dutch oven or heavy cast-iron pot can use 1/2 quart to 3/34 quart but needs more care.
• 2 medium sized or 1 very large Granny Smith apple or 3 cups of apples
• 1/2 lemon – juice for anti-browning the apples
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup/2 tbsp. granulated sugar or light brown sugar
• 2 tsp baking powder
• pinch (1/4 tsp.) of  salt – kosher
• 1 tsp. apple pie spice, divided – cinnamon, nutmeg, mace etc.
• ⅔ cup milk
• 2 large eggs, beaten
• ½ cup fresh apple cider
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• caster sugar for dusting
• cinnamon for dusting
• nutmeg – freshly grated

For the Glaze:

• 2 cups powdered sugar 200g
• 2 tbsp lemon juice fresh
• 1 tbsp water with more if needed

Preparation:

1. Heat vegetable oil in a deep fryer or electric skillet to 375ºF/190°C.  You can also use a heavy pot or Dutch oven. Just put onto a medium-high heat.  Use a thermometer attached to the side. This oil also needs to be heated to about 350ºF/185ºC so keep an eye on the thermometer. Check whilst you prepare the batter and adjust temperature if needed. Make sure you do not overfill any of the vessels with oil. Some chefs use a small saucepan and cook in batches, filling the pan ⅓rd deep with cooking oil.
2. Have a wire rack ready with baking paper covering it for the fritters.
3. Whilst the oil is heating up, peel the apples and cut flesh from core. Discard the pips. Chop into cut into rings about 1 ½ cm or ½ inch thick. Transfer to a bowl, squeeze the juice of half a lemon over them, toss and set aside.

4. Mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and apple pie spices and/or vanilla extract in a large bowl.

5. Pour in milk, eggs, and oil; stir until well blended.  Also add some hard cider too but this is down to taste. Combine with a hand whisk. The consistency should be thick, like heavy cream and be able to coat a spoon. If it is too thick, add a drop more water, too thin, add a little more flour. Instead of milk, you can use water to make a thinner batter.

6. Mix in apples until evenly distributed.

7. Working in small batches to prevent overcrowding, drop spoonfuls of batter into the deep fryer and fry in hot oil until golden all over, about 4-5 minutes. Once the fritters are golden brown on the bottom us a turn them over with thongs or a spider skimmer and fry until golden brown on other side.

8. Use a slotted spoon to transfer fritters to a paper towel-lined plate. Keep adding apple mix until all the batter is used up.  Toss warm fritters with cinnamon sugar in a bowl until well coated.