Some desserts just belong at camp, and Skillet Spiced Apple Fritters are one of them. When the air turns sharp and the fire settles into a steady bed of coals, a cast iron skillet becomes your best baking tool—no oven, no fuss, just the sizzle of batter hitting hot oil and that first waft of cinnamon drifting through camp.
These fritters lean into the good stuff: tart apples tucked into a warmly spiced dough, cooked campfire-style until the edges go deep golden and crisp. The insides stay tender and steamy, with little pockets of apple that soften without disappearing. Roll them in cinnamon sugar while they’re still warm and the coating melts into a crackly, sweet shell that tastes like fall in handheld form.
They’re also a practical win for campsite dessert—quick to fry in a skillet, easy to batch for a group, and happiest served straight from a paper towel-lined plate beside mugs of coffee or chai. If you’ve got a calm flame, a sturdy spatula, and a cooler night settling in, this is the kind of treat that makes everyone wander over to the fire.
Skillet Spiced Apple Fritters
Equipment
- Cast iron skillet (10-inch)
- Mixing bowl
- Spatula
- Tongs
Ingredients
- 2 apples peeled, cored, diced
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 2 eggs beaten
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup vegetable oil for frying
- 1/3 cup cinnamon sugar for rolling
Instructions
- Mix flour, 2 tbsp sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl.
- In another bowl, whisk eggs, milk, and vanilla. Add wet to dry ingredients and stir to combine. Fold in diced apples.
- Heat oil in cast iron skillet over hot coals or stove until shimmering.
- Drop spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil, flatten slightly. Fry 2-3 minutes per side, flipping with tongs until golden brown.
- Drain fritters on paper towels and roll immediately in cinnamon sugar. Serve warm.