Apple Fritter-style Buns/Rolls

 So, I really like how these delicious apple pie-style rolls taste. The nice thing is the dough itself has almost no sugar in it. There is some sugar from the apple pie filling, although I don't like to use too much added sugar in my homemade apple pie filling.  I find that even with the light cream cheese glaze on top these aren't too sweet. Great for a treat or even a yummy breakfast treat. And SO easy to whip together! In the mood for a proper apple fritter, the fried version of these delicious rolls are also delicious. Enjoy! 

Fresh from the oven and glazed while still warm. Yum!

Apple Fritters-style Buns/Rolls 

Makes ~16 apple fritter-style rolls

Preheat oven to 375 F.  Line 1-2 two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

Mix together in a mixer: 

1 cup white rice flour

1/2 cup brown rice flour

1/2 cup tapioca starch

1/4 cup potato starch

1/4 cup arrowroot starch or cornstarch

1 tsp xanthan gum

2 tsp rapid-rise/quick yeast

1/2 tsp salt

2 Tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

Add, then beat until nice and smooth, 2-3 minutes: 

3 eggs

3/4 cup milk, warmed

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla bean paste OR vanilla extract

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Fold into batter: 

2 cups chunky homemade apple pie filling (room temperature or slightly warmed, not hot!)

Scoop large scoops (I use a large cookie-scoop) rounds onto parchment-lined pan. Let rise in a warm location for 20-30 minutes.   Bake at 375 F for 25-30 minutes, until nicely browned. 

Remove from heat and place pans on cooling racks.  

Cream cheese frosting/glaze

Beat the following by hand OR in a mixer until nice and smooth (for a lighter frosting/glaze, make half the amount):
2 Tbsp butter, softened
3 oz cream cheese, softened
1 - 2 cups powdered sugar  (I find you can just adjust how much milk is added depending on the amount of powdered sugar being used, and it ends up being quite nice either way)
1 tsp vanilla bean paste OR vanilla extract
2-3 tsp milk, added slowly, until desired thickness

Top with the cream cheese frosting glaze while still warm, or wait until cooler to spread with glaze.  These yummy apple fritter-style buns/rolls are best served warm.  You can freeze leftovers, or place them in the refrigerator and warm up before serving. Enjoy! 

Ready for some taste-testing! Yum!

Apple Fritter-Style Buns/Rolls Recipe by Successfully Gluten Free!

 I remember loving apple fritters as a kid, but it was the ones that were packed with chunky apple were my favorite - the others were fritters of disappointment.  These, however, are definitely not fritters of disappointment!  Packed to the brim with chunky apple pie filling.  They're a delicious raised-donut style fritter.  Not a fan of using yeast? No problem! Just make my apple fritter donut holes! The apple fritter donut holes are nice because you use an apple variety that cooks up quickly, so there's no need to make an apple pie filling in advance! Enjoy your fritters!  

Freshly made gluten-free apple fritter!

Chunky and filled to the brim with delicious apple. 

Apple Fritters - Raised-donut-style! 

Makes 24 apple fritters

Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper cut into 12 pieces (for piping apple fritters).

Mix together in a mixer: 

1 cup white rice flour

1/2 cup brown rice flour

1/2 cup tapioca starch

1/4 cup potato starch

1/4 cup arrowroot starch or cornstarch

1 tsp xanthan gum

2 tsp rapid-rise/quick yeast

1/2 tsp salt

2 Tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

Add, then beat until nice and smooth, 2-3 minutes: 

3 eggs

3/4 cup milk, warmed

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 tsp vanilla bean paste OR vanilla extract

1 tsp apple cider vinegar

Fold into batter: 

2 cups chunky homemade apple pie filling (room temperature or slightly warmed, not hot!)

Put batter into a large freezer ziploc.  Snip 3/4 - 1" off one corner.  Pipe loosely shaped rounds onto each of the pre-cut pieces of parchment paper.  Lightly smooth the piped donuts with water, as needed.  Let rise in a warm location for 20-30 minutes.  

While donuts are rising, you can heat your oil.  I like to use avocado oil for frying, but you can use canola or whatever kind you prefer for frying.  Heat to ~165C - 170C / 325 F - 338 F.   Using the pieces of parchment paper, gently lower the donuts into the oil in small batches (this depends on the size of your fryer or pot used for frying - I can usually fry 6 at a time).  Cook 2-3 minutes per side, until nicely dark golden brown. Remove donuts from fryer and place on a paper towel-lined pan.  

Piping each donut onto a separate piece of parchment paper makes it easy to lift and lower into the oil.

Frying the donuts. Once they've puffed up and the bottoms are darkened, you can flip them. 

Freshly out of the fryer, and ready to glaze.

Whisk together the following, and dip the top of warm/hot donuts into the glaze: 

3/4 cup powdered sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla 

cold water, to a thin dipping consistency

Put dipped fritters on a fresh parchment-lined pan.  They're ready to eat!  You can eat them hot or let them cool.  Cooled donuts can be frozen in a freezer ziploc and thawed/heated to eat anytime.  Enjoy!

Glazed donuts placed on a new piece of parchment paper to cool.  SO tasty. 

Apple Fritters - Raised-donut-style Recipe by Successfully Gluten Free!

 This is SO easy, SO tasty, and SO versatile to use afterwards.  One of our favorite things to do is put it into crepes, but it's even tasty just as a side with vanilla ice cream.   You can, of course, use it as a proper pie filling with buttermilk pastry crust - just put it in your pan and put a layer of pastry on the top. Bake until golden brown. Delicious!  And no soggy bottom of pastry to be concerned about.  

This is definitely one of those dishes that makes your house smell delicious!

Used as a pie filling in individual apple pies. Using the crust and general guidelines from my Pop-tart recipe worked perfectly! Just add a little extra baking time to make sure they get nice and golden. 

We LOVE this inside homemade crepes!  I think that's one of our favorite ways to eat apple pie filling besides topped with buttermilk pastry crust.  

Apple Pie Filling!

In a large saucepan, cook over medium-low to medium heat, stirring regularly for about 20-25 minutes, until apples nicely soften: 

8 apples, peeled and dice (Honeycrisp apples, or similar, are one my favorite types for this sort of recipe - make sure they are apples that will hold their shape while cooking)

2/3 cup brown sugar (or regular sugar, if you don't want as caramel-y a flavor)

1/3 cup water

1/4 cup butter

1 tsp cinnamon OR 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 1/4 tsp allspice

Once your apples are softened, mix together in a small bowl: 

2 Tbsp cornstarch

2 Tbsp cold water

Add the cornstarch mixture, stirring and cooking for 1-2 minutes to thicken.  Remove from heat and use as desired!   

Apple pie filling in homemade crepes. Yum! 

Apple Pie Filling Recipe By Successfully Gluten Free!