If your toddler loves anything with apple and cinnamon, these healthy baked apple fritters are about to be your family's fall fave! They’re soft, naturally sweetened, and made with simple ingredients you probably already have. Just some oats, apple, and a little applesauce to keep them moist. No frying, no added sugar, and no separate bowls. Just an easy, cozy snack or breakfast you’ll both feel good about serving (and eating right alongside them).
Why You’ll Love These Baked Apple Fritters
- gluten free + dairy free – perfect for families with allergies or sensitivities
- naturally sweetened – no refined sugar, just apples + applesauce
- great source of fiber – thanks to oats, oat flour, and apples to support digestion and keep tummies full
- soft and easy to chew – great texture for toddlers and littles learning to eat apples
- one bowl, no mess – minimal ingredients, no frying, quick clean-up
- make ahead friendly – store in the fridge or freezer for easy breakfasts or snacks
If you love all things apple, then check out my apple cinnamon oatmeal waffles, apple cinnamon French toast, and apple cinnamon oatmeal cookies!
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love These Baked Apple Fritters
- Ingredients You'll Need For Apple Fritters
- How To Make Your Healthy Baked Apple Fritters
- Hint For The Best Apple Fritters
- Substitutions
- Variations
- Equipment
- Storing Your Baked Apple Fritters
- Tiff's Dietitian Tip
- FAQ
- Related
- Pairing
- Healthy Baked Apple Fritters "Cookies" (gluten free + dairy free)
Ingredients You'll Need For Apple Fritters
Here's what you need to make these easy, healthy baked apple fritters:
- rolled oats – adds heartiness and a soft, chewy texture
- oat flour – helps bind the batter and keeps it gluten free
- apple – finely chopped Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala adds natural sweetness and moisture
- applesauce – keeps the fritters tender while adding extra apple flavor
- egg (or flax egg) – for structure and binding; the flax version works great for egg-free!
- baking powder – gives them a little lift
- cinnamon – warm, cozy flavor that makes the apple shine
- vanilla extract – rounds out the sweetness naturally
- oil – avocado or melted coconut oil adds moisture and crisp edges (can omit if needed)
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Your Healthy Baked Apple Fritters
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with oil. In a bowl, whisk together the egg (or flax egg), applesauce, vanilla, and oil until smooth.
- Step 2: Stir in the oat flour, oats, baking powder, and cinnamon, then fold in the chopped apples (love using my food chopper for this!). The batter should be thick but scoopable.
- Step 3: Drop spoonfuls of batter (about 2-3 tablespoons each) onto your baking sheet and flatten slightly. Feel free to sprinkle coconut or brown sugar on top for added sweetness!
- Step 4: Bake for 16-18 minutes, until golden and set. Let cool slightly before serving. Drizzle with thinned yogurt or a glaze with just powdered sugar + yogurt + milk.
Hint For The Best Apple Fritters
Brush or spray the tops with a little oil before baking, it helps them get that golden, crisp edge while staying soft and fluffy inside. And don’t skip finely chopping the apple! The smaller pieces mix in evenly so every bite has that perfect apple-cinnamon flavor without the fritters falling apart.
Substitutions
These healthy baked apple fritters are already gluten-free and dairy-free if using gluten-free oats and oat flour! Here are some other substitutions you can use:
- egg free: replace the egg with a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoon warm water), let sit 5 minutes before mixing in
- oil free: feel free to just omit the oil!
- gluten free: be sure to use certified gluten-free oats and oat flour
- no oat flour?: you can sub with wheat or all-purpose flour if needed; almond flour works too and is a great way to offer almond allergen to littles (they'll just be a bit softer)
- no applesauce?: mash ½ ripe banana as a simple swap for applesauce if you’re out, it adds moisture and sweetness
Variations
Feel free to change these baked apple fritters up some by adding nuts, hemp hearts, or even grated veggies!
- mini fritters: use a tablespoon scoop for bite-size fritters, perfect for toddlers or snack boxes
- apple pecan spice: add a pinch of nutmeg or allspice and 2 tablespoon of finely crushed pecans for a cozy fall flavor boost
- carrot-apple fritters: replace half the chopped apple with grated carrot for extra color and veggies
- banana fritters: swap the applesauce and half the apple for ½ mashed banana for a naturally sweeter twist
- extra crisp: after baking, air fry for 2-3 minutes to give them golden, crunchy edges
Want to add a little sweetness?! Try this:
If you want to add a little something extra, this simple yogurt drizzle is so easy and adds the perfect creamy touch. Just whisk together ¼ cup plain yogurt, 2-3 tablespoons powdered sugar, and 1-2 teaspoons of milk (dairy-free or regular) until smooth and pourable. Add a splash of vanilla or a pinch of cinnamon if you want a little flavor boost. Drizzle it over cooled fritters or serve on the side for dipping for a touch of sweetness!
Equipment
All you need to make these baked apple fritters is a mixing bowl, a whisk or spatula, and a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I like using a small cookie scoop to keep the fritters even in size (and make them look extra cute for littles!). A set of measuring cups and spoons is all you’ll need to bring it all together with minimal cleanup! If you really want to cut time, then use this food chopper to just chop and mix everything in there.
Storing Your Baked Apple Fritters
Store leftover apple fritters in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They reheat best in the toaster oven or air fryer for a few minutes to bring back that soft middle and lightly crisp edge. You can also freeze them for about 2 months! Just let them cool completely first, then freeze in a single layer before transferring to a bag or container. Warm straight from frozen when you need a quick, cozy snack or breakfast for your little one!
Tiff's Dietitian Tip
These apple fritters are a great way to sneak in extra fiber for your toddler! The combo of oats, oat flour, and apple provides both soluble and insoluble fiber, which helps keep digestion regular and tummies full between meals. Most toddlers don’t get enough fiber in their day, so offering it through familiar, cozy foods like these is an easy win. Pair a fritter with a source of protein or healthy fat like nut butter, yogurt, or milk for a balanced, satisfying snack or breakfast!
FAQ
Yes! Replace the egg with a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed + 3 tablespoon warm water). Let it sit for 5 minutes before mixing in, it works perfectly and still holds together well!
You can! The texture will be a little softer, but they’ll still bake up delicious.
Definitely. These fritters store great in the fridge for up to 3 days or the freezer for up to 2 months. Reheat in the air fryer or toaster oven to bring back that light crisp on the outside.
Yes! Try finely chopped pear for a fun twist.
Nope! The peel softens nicely while baking and adds a bit of extra fiber and texture (plus, less prep for you).
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with these healthy baked apple fritters:
Healthy Baked Apple Fritters "Cookies" (gluten free + dairy free)
Equipment
- food chopper for easy apple cutting!
Ingredients
- 1 cup finely chopped (or shredded) apple Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Gala are my faves
- ½ cup rolled oats
- ½ cup oat flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1 egg or flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flax + 3 tablespoon warm water, let thicken)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon oil melted coconut or avocado oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a bowl, whisk together the egg (or flax egg), applesauce, vanilla, and oil until smooth.
- Stir in oats, oat flour, baking powder, and cinnamon until combined, then fold in the chopped apple.
- Scoop 2-3 tablespoons of batter per fritter onto the baking sheet and flatten slightly.
- Brush or spray the tops with a little oil and bake for 16-20 minutes, until golden and set.
- Let cool slightly before serving. Drizzle with glaze drizzle if desired or pair with yogurt to dip!
Esther Bidnick says
These were so yummy and so easy to make! My 2 year old loved making them with me and we appreciated the simplicity of it (no meltdowns while baking!) and they tasted great. I loved the no added sugar part! I did swap out the almond flour for spelt flour and it was still great.
toddlerdietitiantiff says
Love that so much!! So glad they were easy and tasty for y'all! Wild how things can still taste sweet even without the sugar!
Colten Walla says
Took these to the firehouse for my crew and they loved them
Ashley says
This recipe is great! Super easy to throw together. I substituted the oat flour for almond flour and they came out delicious. My 16 month old can’t get enough!
toddlerdietitiantiff says
Yayy!! So glad y'all loved them! We love how soft they are with almond flour!