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Thanksgiving Morning: Apple Fritters
PIN THIS RECIPE!I got a little wild this weekend. Meaning I spent my days and nights on the computer, finishing up my cookbook. And too much time in the kitchen, eating sweets. Oh stop getting mad. And disappointed. It was just one of those weekends. Probably because my favorite time of the month is coming up this week. Yeah, I like using that excuse. And I spent some of my time making my friends Emma and Brier some Pumpkin Caramel Brownies for their birthdays since I couldn’t go out with them over the weekend. That means two batches were made. So you can imagine how many times I licked my fingers and licked the spoon while I was creating these sons of b*tches. They are awesome, and even though they were made for their birthdays, they would be a perfect edition to your Thanksgiving desserts.
Sometimes I think about how I mention my period on my blog and how uncomfortable it must make my athletes feel at the gym, knowing it’s that time of the month. I apologize for that awkwardness you must feel. I’ll make it up to you with the brownies I post this week.
Anywho, speaking of Thanksgiving instead of #girlissues (haha hashtag), it is coming up quick. You know what that means!? People freaking the f*ck out about what they are going to eat on Thanksgiving Day with their family. I understand why. Saying no to Thanksgiving stuffing when you’ve eaten it for 30+ years of your life is pretty hard to say no to. So, I’ll try to come up with the best alternatives to share with your family and friends and still enjoy yourself on the holiday.
But to me, some things are worth suffering through on Thanksgiving. Like my mom’s apple or blueberry pie. She’s got some sweet talent when it comes to pies. But other things, I don’t think are totally worth it. Like green bean casserole, I’m cool. Or pecan pie, ew. One year, my parents and I just made mexican food for Thanksgiving since it was just the three of us and we didn’t want to make a huge turkey. I wonder what I’m gonna do for Thanksgiving this year. Every year is different. I should decide soon, huh? Eh whatever. As I’m creating these Thanksgiving recipes the next few weeks, the last thing I’ll want to do is eat Thanksgiving food on Thanksgiving. Hahahahahaha, like that’s true whatsoever. It’s food. I like food, no matter what day it is.
PrintThanksgiving Morning: Apple Fritters
- Yield: 8 1x
Ingredients
For the donut
- 1 cup cashew, roasted and unsalted
- 1/2 cup cinnamon applesauce
- 4 dried medjool dates, pitted
- 1/3 cup coconut oil, melted
- 3 tablespoons coconut flour
- 4 eggs
- 2 tablespoons raw honey
- 1 heaping tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- pinch of salt
For the topping
- 2 apples, cored and diced (I used honey crisp)
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
- 3 tablespoons almond butter
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons coconut milk
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 3–4 tablespoons coconut sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
- Let’s get your toppings started early. Place a tablespoon or so of coconut oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add your diced apples to the pan, mix around, then cover to help soften your apples.
- While your apples are cooking, make your donuts. Add your cashews to yourfood processor and puree.
- When your cashews become more like a flour, add your dates, honey, applesauce and coconut oil and puree.
- Then add your eggs and vanilla extract, and puree.
- Lastly add your coconut flour, baking soda and powder, cinnamon, and salt and puree until all incorporated.
- Grease your donut pan and pour in your donut mixture half way up (to keep room for your topping on top).
- Now finish off your toppings. To your apples that have been sauteeing up, add your coconut milk, almond butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and a bit of salt. Mix well.
- When your toppings are well combined, pour 1-2 tablespoons of your mixture onto each donuts, sprinkling each donut with a bit of coconut sugar.
- Place in oven for 25-30 minutes until cooked through.
- Let cool before pulling the donuts from their little home, you don’t want them falling apart, do ya?
- This made 8 donuts for me.
Notes
For nut free: use 2/3 cup sunbutter for the donuts and 3 tablespoons sunbutter for the topping!
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More to be Thankful for!
Thanksgiving Caramel Apple Pie Trifles
Last Minute Thanksgiving Smashed Maple Sweet Potatoes
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Oh, Hi! I’m Juli.
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81 thoughts on “Thanksgiving Morning: Apple Fritters”
sooo excited for thanksgiving this year because i know i can get tons of amazing recipes from your blog and impress my family with my newly found cooking skills. definitely need to invest in a doughnut pan!
This looks incredible! And thank you for including the sunbutter alternative for us nut-free folks 🙂
This was the stuffing I made last year for Thanksgiving. It was stupid good and a huge hit with everyone, most of whom think Paleo refers to Dinosaur bones.
http://www.elanaspantry.com/cranberry-apple-stuffing/
yummmmmm!! that’s one of my favorite websites!
I tried desperately to think of something clever but neither Thanksgiving nor #girlissues are comedic gold mines…instead I realized I say “Thank you” very seldom…far too seldom. So, Thank You, you are awesome, enjoy your pie – you’ve earned it
★★★★★
So excited to try these! A fav childhood memory of mine is sitting on grandpa’s lap sharing an apple fritter!
Where is the recipe for pumpkin caramel brownies??
you’ll get it this week!
Any alternatives to using cashews? I cna even stand the smell of them…which is what happens when you eat an entire can of them as a small child…resulting fall out has left me scarred for life 🙁
macadamia nuts would be a great alternative!
Looking forward to more recipies!! These look great:)
I always get excited during the holidays as my mind goes a million miles an hour thinking of the yummy foods I will make. My husband however recently discovered that he is allergic to gluten. This is very hard for him since he LOVES sweets. Any yummy gluten free recipes would be greatly appreciated:-)
@Mariestemera – you have come to the right place, all of Juli’s recipes are gluten free!
Do you absolutely have to use baking powder? It has corn starch in it & I’m 100% grain-free?
Just curious as to if tapioca starch would work with more baking soda?
I’m not totally sure Sarah, I haven’t played around with tapioca starch ever
Grain Free Baking Powder
1 part aluminum free baking soda
1 part tapioca starch (or other starch)
2 parts cream of tartar
Mix the three ingredients together and store in a PCB free plastic or glass container.
For each 1tsp baking powder, use 1/4 tsp baking soda and 1/2 tsp cream of tartar.
That fritter looks divine!
Could almonds or walnuts be an alternative to the cashews? For some reason I have just never cared for them.
Also, do you have a good alternative for stuffing? This is my first Thanksgiving without my family. They live in another state, and I have decided not to travel home. Therefore, I get to cook my Thanksgiving how I please. However, stuffing is my favorite part of Thanksgiving. I love it more than the turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, etc.
Absolutely danielle, that would be a fine substitute! I have a thanksgiving stuffing recipe on here from last year, but I’ll be doing another one this year as well!!
Juli you are the best! Thank you!!!
★★★★★
I’m glad someone else uses that time as an excuse! ;> I somehow always find myself in a “baking” mood around then…
Can’t wait to make more of your recipes! I made my 2nd batch of sp brownies and LOVE them.
Hey, I have an almost paleo (but still gluten and many allergen free) recipe for dressing if you want it…My mom likes it even better than the traditional one she brought me up with…and she’s a Glutenophile…yes, I just made up a new word! Let me know if you want the recipe!
I <3 your blog! I've only tried a few recipes so far, but I did buy the ingredients for the pork crockpot recipe. I will make when I get home from CrossFit tonight for tomorrow. Started CrossFit about a month ago, I wish there was more eye candy at my box…it's mostly all ladies…
OMG…Can’t wait to make these. I made the chocolate zuchinni bread last night…delicious!
Hey Juli, Instead of subbing for sunbutter for nut free do you think using 2/3 c coconut butter would work?
Btw… I’ve made you’re crockpot mushroom gravy rump roast several times. It’s so goood and sooo easy! People always go on and on about it being the best roast they’ve had!
I’m not sure it would work, but it’s worth a try. They are just pretty different substances so it might change how it cooks
hi juli, just made these and they are wonderful. my house smelled so good! i am not big on cashews but i couldnt even tell. The apple topping was wonderful. Juli you rock!
★★★★★
i was going to make coffee cake but never mind!!! those almond butter sauteed apples are so flipping good. how can i possible eat just one? Guilty – i ate two right the way. So good!!!
★★★★★
OMG, you’re killing me, here! I’ve been lurking on your website for weeks, drooling. To hell with thanksgiving, I’m hitting the grocery store & having these for breakfast tomorrow! Or maybe for a snack with tea this afternoon…or both!
So I actually left the house yesterday & bought myself a donut pan. I’m buying it and thinking, “Why don’t I just use a muffin pan?” Too late. I will be making all your crazy donut recipes way too often now.
These are killer! My sons & I made a special breakfast to celebrate another 4 years with Barack, & we pigged out! Sausage patties, asparagus, and yummy nummy crazy delicious fritters! The batter was way too big for my 6 hole donut pan, so we also had 6 muffins. Who cares, they all taste the same!
I posted a pic of breakfast on my facebook, https://www.facebook.com/terri.langerak, along with the link to your recipe.
My only complaint: I’m suppose to be doing NaNoWriMo & working on my Jazz Harp arrangements today, but all I want to do is sit around eating fritters & drinking hot tea…and dreaming of which of your recipes I’ll try next…
Thanks, Julie! You made my day!
★★★★★
I have to SERIOUSLY thank you for always posting nut-free information for your recipes. SO many paleo things are loaded with almond flour and nuts (which I’m allergic) too so it is so awesome to know that I can ALWAYS come to your blog for something paleo that I can actually eat :). YOU ROCK and I can’t wait for your cookbook!
These look amazing! What kind of donut pan do you use? I don’t think I’ve ever seen one.
Thank you very much for making my life so much happier!!
I’ve just baked these delicious apple fritters and having my second serve right now, so yumm!
<3
★★★★★
I don’t have a donut pan – has anybody tried making these in a muffin pan yet?
I also have this question – no donut pans in my kitchen, just muffin…. 🙁
I just made this in a muffin tin. Made 17 muffins for me. I filled them just under half and put about a tsp and a half of the topping on top. Baked for 25 minutes, probably could have been a bit less. They are WONDERFUL!!
Hi Juli, I had the same question about using a muffin pan instead of a donut pan.
I’m sure these would be just fine in a muffin pan, just don’t make them super deep, but they should take the same amount of time to cook
Awesome, thanks!!
Thanks Juli! I can’t wait to make my parents this breakfast!
Made these this morning..been making Paleo recipes all this week as trials for my very first Paleo Thanksgiving!! These amazing things will be present Thanksgiving morning! The Sweet Potato and Bacon biscuits (made last night) will also be gracing my Thanksgiving table! Thank you so much for such amazing recipes and of course, the fun posts that accompany them!
Made them & they turned out amazing. I omitted the almond butter in the topping (thought they were nutty enough already) and the coconut milk kind of carmelized & was amazing. Did them in muffin tins. Next time I’ll mix the apples in with the donut part, and I might take some & fry it up in coconut oil just to get it REALLY fritter-y. =)
Would any type of Dates work in this recipe?? I can’t find them that actually Medjool on the package anywhere, but I did buy some of the 356 brand of Dates at Whole Foods…~
yes ma’am
I don’t mean to sound like a fool, but what do you grease the donut pan with? (i’m new to the paleo world and I would just use butter and flour before) I can’t wait to make these
i grease mine with coconut oil!
Thanks!
I just made this recipe tonight. AMAZING!! Thank you so much for sharing your talent. My boyfriend doesn’t think there is such thing as a Paleo donuts – his world is about to get ROCKED!!
★★★★★
Can I use almond flour and almond milk instead of coconut? And what would be a good sub for coconut sugar?
Thank you
yes but you would need more almond flour. and you could use date sugar
These are delicious–my family just devoured them. Thank you!
Three words to describe these apple fritters:
Divinely amazingly delicious
★★★★★
I just made these and they are awesome! I’m not cool enough to have a donut pan so I made them in muffin form. Turned out so good!
I just made these. My son and I each had 2 – don’t judge me lol. Fantastic! I am thankful today for Paleomg!
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Made these for breakfast too! How you didn’t eat the topping before they went in the oven is a miracle – that stuff is amazing!
★★★★★
Wonderful to savour slowly with a pot of tea early in the morning before the ‘rest’ arise… Love the taste….
I came here because of MLP.
Juli!
**Great recipe (as usual) **
I know it’s not Thanksgiving but it *is* a lazy Sunday morning!
😉 I made these into muffins (12) and they turned out perfectly!! Also, instead of almond butter I used one of George’s (civilizedcavemancookingcreations) nut butters — pumpkin pie espresso hazelnut butter to be exact and YUM!! http://civilizedcavemancooking.com/grain-free-goodies/pumpkin-pie-espresso-hazelnut-butter/
Keep up the great work! We love you!!
xoxo
MARY
★★★★★
Can someone help me – we are new to Paleo and still trying to understand what is in and what is out in Paleo diet – Notice in the recipes here the use of Chocolates and also Honey and Maple Syrup – are these not processed foods?
just found your website and loving it! the husb and i just started paleo and i was freaking the f*ck out that my options for breakfast were to eat a whole chicken or something… Thanks for the awesome recipes!
I didn’t have apples in the house I used Strawberries, wonderful as well. First time I used cashews, will definitely use again.
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I must make these! I have everything at home too… the only thing is I only have raw unsalted cashews…not roasted. Will that affect the whole outcome much?? I might try them as muffins too as I don’t have a donut pan 🙁
I’m sure that will work!
I love these, I make them as muffins as well since I don’t have a donut pan. I was wondering if you know the calorie/fat content? I’ve been making and eating them almost everyday this month for breakfast…
Your recipes sound amazing! I can’t wait to try some of them! I noticed that a lot of your recipes call for dates…. I’m a picky eater ( the worst) and I’ve actually never tried them. Can I omit them from the recipe or does that mess up any of the other ingredients?
no, you need them for the recipe
My 5 year old daughter is allergic to eggs; any suggestions? I have egg substitute that I could use but that doesn’t always do the trick.
hmmmm i’m not totally sure for this recipe. i’ve heard of flax seed meal as an alternative but i’ve never used it for that
I used sun butter and these are amazing. The smell alone got my kids out of their rooms.
Could I use a bundt pan instead of small donut pans? or a tube pan-(like to make angel food cake in?)
Thx
yep!
You offer up some of the most delicious recipies ever! OMG I think I am gonna cry! seriously you should be famous by now!
I was just curious…found Cashew Flour at Trader Joes. Could I use that in place of grinding roasted cashews?
Your recipes are amazing and your hilarious! Have a great holiday!
yeah for sure
I’m making these without date (because I over looked that on the recipe while making a super market list). I hope they turn out okay! 🙂 I’ll let y’all know.
Just made these. Took way longer then expected but that is all on me, not the recipe (I’m slow).
These are, in a word, awesome! Soooooo good. At one point I had family sneaking in to steal spoonfuls of the topping while it was cooking. Sweetness!!!!!!!
So excited to try this! I bought cashew flour pre-made…how much should I use when I measure it out?
probably a little over 1 cup
Is there a substitute for the dates?? Gotta go to st ore so I can make these yummy looking fritters!
you could use figs or prunes, but the flavor may be different
This is one of my favorite recipes of all time! Thank you so much for sharing!(:
I was tempted to lick what was left of the topping out of the pan but didn’t want to burn my tongue. I baked these as muffins for 25 min, which was a little too long. 22 min would have been just right for my oven. So, so tasty.