3-Ingredient Healthy Apple Fritters For Babies (Dairy-Free)

Some people use apple fritters as a dessert. Most of them are deep-fried with lots of added sugar.

I wanted to create a healthier version of apple fritters for babies with only simple ingredients.

My version of apple fritters is dairy-free, has no added sugar, and relies only on the natural sweetness of the apples for its delicious taste. 

Why I Love Apple Fritters for Baby-led Weaning

I love apple fritters for baby-led weaning because it’s an easy way to introduce apples to babies in their early days.

Apples are usually a choking hazard for babies so the common advice is to cook them until they’re soft.

But eating cooked apples can get old fast, so I created this recipe to help my baby enjoy apples safely.

I didn’t want to use a lot of flour and other unnecessary ingredients like other recipes do. That’s why I kept this recipe simple so the taste and texture of the apples shine through.

You should also try – Easy Apple Banana Pancakes For Baby + No Egg Option

Ingredients For Apple Fritters for Babies

Apples – you can use any type of apples you want to make this recipe. I prefer to use those of the sweeter variety. 

I grate the apples for younger babies between 6-8 months old. After that age, I chopped the apples finely for babies over 9 months old.

Flour – I used all-purpose flour for this recipe. I wouldn’t suggest using whole wheat flour because that doesn’t mix well with the eggs. 

Eggs – egg helps to bind the apples with the flour. Without it, molding the apple fritters into a patty would be harder to do.

Oil – I used canola oil for this recipe. You can use other types of oil, although I haven’t tested others yet. You should use as much as you need to fry the apple fritter patties to your liking. 

Some people prefer crispier apple fritters, but I prefer them lightly fried so that my baby can chew them easily.

Spices – you can choose to add any spices of your choice. I have added cinnamon and all spice in the past and it has tasted very good. Today, I went with plain apple fritters for simplicity.

• 2 ¼ cups grated or finely chopped apples
• 1 cup flour
• 1 egg
• Spices of your choice (optional)
• Oil (enough to fry the apple fritters)

Recipe Tips For Making Apple Fritters

Do not overmix the batter 

Over-mixing the batter will activate the gluten and result in a gummy apple fritter. Trust me, I’ve made this mistake before. Gently mix the apple fritter batter and leave it until you’re ready to mold them. 

Place the apple fritter on a paper towel to cool

After frying the apple fritters, place them on a paper towel to help absorb some of the oil. This will help it get crispier.

Jump to Recipe

Step-by-Step Process

Mix all your ingredients together in a bowl

Fry the fritters and enjoy!

Why Apples are Good For Babies and Toddlers

Apples contain a lot of vitamin C which helps boost your baby’s immune system. They also contain fiber which helps promote proper bowel movement (source)

FAQs About Apple Fritters For Baby

Why did my apple fritters get soggy?

Your apple fritters got soggy because you allowed them to absorb too much oil. Frying an apple fritter in lukewarm oil can result in it being too soggy. 

Next time, wait for the oil to get hot enough before frying. 

But be careful to not let the oil get too hot because that will burn your apple fritters, and leave the inside undercooked.

Should you use baking soda or baking powder for fritters?

You can choose to use baking soda or baking powder to make apple fritters more crispy. 

Since these apple fritters are being fed to babies, I didn’t want them to be too crispy and hard to chew. 

That’s why I didn’t use baking soda or powder in the batter. 

What To Serve With Apple Fritters For Baby

A side of veggies 

Since these fritters are made with apples already, you can serve them with vegetables on the side. Veggies such as peas, carrots, and sweet potatoes go well with this recipe. 

Serve as a snack

If you’re serving these as a snack, you won’t need to serve them with anything on the side. It’ll be just a finger food snack for your baby.

A little protein

You can add some protein to this meal. Some ideas are chicken, shredded pork, or beef. 

How To Cut Apple Fritters For Baby-led Weaning

6-9 Months old

For babies, this young, serve them apple fritters cut into strips. The strips should be the size of two adult fingers pressed together.

9-12 months old

Serve kids between this age the apple fritters cut in half. They will be able to grasp it and feed themselves at this age.

12- 24 months and older

Kids this age can be served whole fritters for them to eat.

Cooking Directions For Apple Fritters for Babies

• Combine the apples, flour, and egg in a bowl. Mix them  (do not overmix)
• Heat the oil in the pan until it’s hot.
• Scoop some batter in your hands and roll it into a ball. 
• Place it in the hot oil and flatten it with the back of a spoon. 
• Allow it to cook until it’s crispy on one side. Flip it over and cook the reverse side. Repeat the process until you’ve used up all the batter.
• Place on a paper towel to cool. Serve and enjoy.

Apple Fritters For Baby Storage Tips

Can I refrigerate Apple fritters for babies?

The best way to enjoy apple fritters is to eat them as soon as possible.

You can refrigerate apple fritters for babies for a day. The longer you refrigerate it, the more soggy it will become.

Can I freeze apple fritters or baby-led weaning?

I wouldn’t suggest you freeze them if you want them to remain crispy. It’s very difficult to get them crispy again after being frozen. 

Reheating apple fritters for Babies

In the oven

Set the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a baking sheet and place apple fritters on it. Heat at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until they’re hot (about 10-15 minutes)

In the microwave 

Heat in the microwave on high power for 2-4 minutes or until they’re hot. 

Tips for Picky Eaters

Don’t pressure

Give your baby or toddler a chance to say no. It’s okay if they don’t like what we serve them. Keep trying. 

It takes at least 30 exposures for a baby to begin liking a food, so don’t give up.

Make it into a game

Sometimes I create games around the food I serve to get my kids interested in eating. 

A game we’ve played in the past is called “Here comes the airplane… open the garage”. This encourages them to open their mouth as I bring the food in like an airplane.

Sometimes my kids will try new foods this way.

Related recipes 

• Easy Spinach & Sweet Potato Fritters for BLW
• Delicious Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal Bar For Baby
• Apple Blueberry Oat Pancake For Baby (no flour)
• Sweet Potato Apple Pancake for Baby + No Egg Option
• Carrot & Apple Muffin For Baby-led Weaning (dairy-free)
• Simple Baby Oat Muffins with apples (No Banana) 

Did you make this baby-led weaning lunch recipe? 

Let me know in the comments how it turned out!