National Fritters Day
December 2, 2025
Celebrate fritters: small fried cakes or patties made by coating or mixing ingredients (fruit, vegetables, seafood, meat) into a batter or dough and frying until crisp — sweet or savory, tender inside, crunchy outside.
Quick background
- Fritters appear worldwide (e.g., American apple fritters, British fritters, Indian pakora, Japanese tempura, Caribbean saltfish fritters). They can be drop‑batter, pan‑fried patties, or deep‑fried pieces.
Sweet Apple Fritters (makes ~12)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all‑purpose flour
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 3/4 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup finely chopped apple (peeled; tart varieties work well)
- Oil for frying (vegetable, canola)
Glaze (optional): 1 cup powdered sugar + 2–3 tbsp milk + 1/2 tsp vanilla
Method (overview)
1. Whisk dry ingredients. Whisk egg, milk, vanilla; combine with dry until just mixed. Fold in apples.
2. Heat 2–3 inches oil to 350°F (175°C). Drop tablespoonfuls of batter into oil, fry 2–3 min per side until golden and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
3. Toss or drizzle with glaze while warm or dust with powdered sugar.
Tips & variations
- Batter consistency: should drop from a spoon but hold shape; adjust liquid/flour as needed.
- Temperature: keep oil ~350°F (175°C). Too cool = greasy; too hot = burnt exterior, raw inside.
- Drain fritters on a rack or paper towel; keep warm in a 200°F (95°C) oven on a baking sheet if making batches.
- Add-ins: cheese, herbs, minced shrimp or crab, grated vegetables (zucchini, potato), spices (cumin, curry powder) — squeeze excess moisture from watery vegetables before mixing.
- For lighter fritters, briefly rest batter to let leavening activate; for crispy results, shallow‑fry in oil depth of 1/4–1/2 inch for patties or deep‑fry for drop fritters.
Safety & storage
- Use a thermometer for consistent oil temperature. Never leave hot oil unattended.
- Leftovers: refrigerate up to 2 days; reheat in oven or skillet to restore crispness (avoid microwave).
Enjoy National Fritters Day by frying a batch — experiment sweet and savory, and pair them with complementary dips....
