Apple bread is one of my favorite sweet breads in the whole wide world.
Yes, I am partial to banana and pumpkin loaves, too, but there is just something special about a sweet big apple bread that gets my heart pounding. Maybe it’s because it reminds me of the apple orchard I used to go to as a young girl. I always loved going to this place. The smells of the cider and cinnamon doughnuts cooking were heavenly. Do you have any childhood memories that are invoked by food?
Once I got older, married, and had a few little ones of my own, I would take my kids to the very same apple orchard.
My son, when he was about three, would swipe apples and take little bites out of it before I could stop him. Luckily, I knew the owner and she always laughed it off. I’d buy my apples and we would head on home to bake this bread. Sweet memories! I can’t believe how fast the years are flying by!
Ingredients
3 cups all-purpose flour
1½ cups sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon Apple Pie Spice
2 large eggs
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 Tablespoons butter, softened
1½ cups peeled, chopped apples
Oil for frying
Confectioners sugar
Directions
Pour oil into a deep skillet or Dutch oven to a depth of about 3 inches.
Heat to 375 degrees.
Sift flour, sugar, salt, and Apple Pie Spice into a large mixing bowl.
Place eggs in a separate bowl and beat them lightly.
Stir in milk and vanilla.
Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the milk mixture. Add butter and beat with a mixer on low speed to moisten, about 1/2 minute. Scrape down sides of bowl and increase speed to medium for 2 minutes longer. Fold in apples. Using a 1/4 cup size measuring cup, drop into hot oil. Be careful not to splash the oil on yourself. If your pot is not very large at the top, you may be able to cook only one at a time.As the fritters cook, they will rise to the top.
When browned on the first side, carefully turn them over with a spatula to brown the second side.
Drain on paper towels and sprinkle immediately, and generously, with confectioner sugar or glaze I prefer glaze.
To make glaze confectioners sugar and milk or water whisk together and glaze while warm.