Glazed Apple Fritters

I'm usually not very good at posting food items for specific holidays, simply because by the time I make it, the holiday is over and we've all moved on. However, I do have a lovely little treat for you for Valentine's Day. But I don't get the credit for this one.

A few Sundays ago we had friends over for a game night and desserts. Our friends brought the stuff for apple fritters and fried them up in our kitchen so we got them hot and fresh. Now, I'm really not a huge dessert girl. I'd much rather spend my calories on the savory foods like pizza, burgers and nachos, but OH. MY. GOSH. I could not stop eating these. They were sweet, perfectly oily, tender, but chunky...yeah, sorry I have to stop before the drool hits my keyboard. It took me a whole week to work these babies off, but it was worth every step on the treadmill, they were to die for!

Glazed Apple Fritters
By Cooks Country, made by Deborah, muah!

Ingredients

2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut in 1/4-inch pieces
2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
3/4 cup apple cider
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
3 cups peanut or vegetable oil

Glaze:
2 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup apple cider
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Directions

1. Spread prepared apples in single layer on paper towel-lined baking sheet and pat thoroughly dry with paper towels. Combine flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg in large bowl. Whisk cider, eggs and melted butter in medium bowl until combined. Stir apples into flour mixture. Stir in cider mixture until incorporated.

2. Heat oil in Dutch oven over medium-high heat to 350 degrees. Following step 1, use 1/3-cup measure to transfer 5 heaping portions of batter to oil. Press batter lightly with back of spoon to flatten. Fry, adjusting burner as necessary to maintain oil temperature between 325 and 350 degrees, until deep golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer fritters to wire rack set inside rimmed baking sheet. Bring oil back to 350 degrees and repeat with remaining batter. Let fritters cool 5 minutes.

3. Meanwhile, whisk confectioners' sugar, cider, cinnamon and nutmeg in medium bowl until smooth. Top each fritter with 1 heaping tablespoon glaze. Let glaze set 10 minutes. Serve.