In the past few decades, apple fritters have evolved significantly from their original form. It is only natural that their nature led to the question: are apple fritters the same as donuts?
Is an apple fritter a donut? To answer this question, you have to consider what defines a donut. Personally, I consider apple fritters to be drop donuts. A sweet and flour-based recipe is used, the dough is also prepared in a similar way, and it is topped with sugar or glaze. Our talk today explores both sides of the argument: why apple fritters aren’t donuts and why they are a type of donut.
Following that, we will take a look at how and what they are made of, as well as how they are served and garnished!
What Is An Apple Fritter?
Millions of people around the world still enjoy apple fritters today, an old-fashioned sweet treat. Apple treats are believed to have originated somewhere in Europe. They were probably introduced by Germans before spreading worldwide! But what exactly are traditional apple fritters? And what are they made of? In order to make these snacks, you will need apples and fritter batter, which contains flour, sugar, milk, butter, baking powder, salt, vanilla, and eggs.
Many recipes also include spices, usually cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Pumpkin pie spice is also popular. There is no need to cook the apples for these fritters in advance. You can also play around with their consistency and how chunky you want the fritters to be. In oil, deep-fry the batter and diced apples after they have been mixed.
That’s exactly where the controversy lies – deep-frying dough doesn’t make something a donut. In many ways, apple fritters and donuts differ greatly, but there are also a lot of similarities between the two.
If donuts are only defined by their shape, then why are there donuts that aren’t ring-shaped? And if donuts are made only from sweet fried dough, why are there sushi donuts and cronuts? It will be easier to answer the question if we first define what a donut is.
What Is Defined As A Donut?
In contrast to popular belief and many narrow-minded dictionaries, a donut is more than a fried sweet dough ring. There are several types of donuts, which are generally made with sweet dough and fried in hot oil or fried using an air fryer. Donuts are now widely considered any type of fried dough with an overall sweet flavor profile. Their shape, size, and texture are all up for debate.
Why Some People Say Apple Fritters Are Not Donuts
Here are some reasons why some foodies feel apple fritters cannot be considered donuts. Apple fritters are actually made with batter, not dough. That’s probably the biggest reason we can understand the arguments against fritters being donuts. Unlike apple pancakes, apple fritters are not made with sweet dough. Instead, sweet fritter dough is used.
There are some donuts that are made from batter, not dough, but they are usually called fritters, not donuts. Most definitions of donuts specify that they are sweet fried dough products. Donuts aren’t chunky. Despite the fact that donuts may contain a filling or topping with some texture, the dough itself should not contain food particles.
Even if you say “donuts can be made from batter,” the texture argument still stands. Many fritter enthusiasts argue that chunky apple batter doesn’t make the cut unless it’s made using apple puree. The shape is all wrong.
The word “donut” probably conjures up images of ring-shaped treats, but as you might know, there are rough donuts that are usually filled. What does it make with those? They are made from the same dough, but they are shaped differently. If you are only referring to the texture, then sure. But when it comes to the shape, there are thousands of authentic donuts that aren’t ring-shaped.
Why Some People Say Apple Fritters Are Indeed Donuts
Now that you know the arguments against the question, let’s look at why other people believe apple fritters should be considered donuts. They are made from a sweet flour mixture. There is no doubt that fritters are considered donuts due to the fact that they are also made from sweet ingredients. They may not be made from dough, but they are sweet nonetheless.
In the end, a dough is no more than a less runny, more squishy batter. Yes, it changes the consistency of the inner crumb, but both are leavened, flour-based, sweet treats. In addition, apple fritters are served as sweet treats glazed or coated with a topping.
They are fried in oil. The other great argument is that fritters are also fried in hot oil. They also require the same temperature and even the same frying time as donuts. Although this isn’t the strongest point that changes our minds, it’s something to consider along with some other points.
Traditional donut doughs also have different consistencies. Not all donut dough recipes are the same – some are made with super stiff and dry dough, while others are made with super spongy, aerated dough.
If that’s okay, then why can’t a donut be made from a thick batter, like tempura batter?
It’s not traditional, but neither is a “cronut” – that doesn’t mean it’s not a puff pastry product shaped like a donut! In the same way, sushi donuts aren’t traditional, but they are still considered quality sushi and called donuts only because of their ring-shaped design.
They have a similarly soft, fluffy texture. It’s true that fried apple fritters are just as fluffy and soft as some donut dough recipes. Although the fried apples add texture, they don’t detract from the crumb. Also, you can add a crunchier texture to the apple fritters if you want.
So, Is An Apple Fritter A Donut?
It might be a stretch to call apple fritters authentic or traditional, but the “yes it is” arguments are much more convincing than the “no it is not” arguments. It is made with a sweet and thick batter. The batter produces a variety of textures depending on the ratio of ingredients. They can all be like donuts in some way. In addition to frying these fruity fritters in hot oil, they can also be baked if the batter is stiff enough.
It is mainly sweet treats that are dusted in powdered sugar, coated in cinnamon sugar, or glazed in a thin, sweet glaze. I wonder if a ring-shaped sushi dish could be called a donut, as well as these. Also, if a bagel isn’t considered a donut despite its shape being the same, does the shape really matter?
As a result, apples fritters are indeed donuts. However, you can call them what you want, as long as they have delicious flavor and a soft, chunky texture.