Baked Apple-Fig Fritters (makes 10 fritters)

By Vickie Chynoweth

Fritters ingredients

1 cup chopped granny smith apple

1/2 cup coarsely chopped dried figs

1 large egg

1/2 cup whipping cream

1/4 cup unsalted butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup cake flour

½ cup maple syrup

2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

Glaze ingredients

1 cup confectioner’s sugar

2 tablespoons whipping cream

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 teaspoon maple syrup

Apple Fritter directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a nonstick baking sheet lightly with cooking spay.

2. In a large bowl, whisk together flours, cinnamon, baking powder and salt.

3. With a pastry cutter or two table knives, blend butter into flour until it resembles a coarse texture.

4. In another bowl, whisk together whipping cream, egg, maple syrup and vanilla. Stir in chopped apples and figs until evenly mixed in. (Note: I cut apples first and mixed in 1 tablespoons of Pear Balsamic White vinegar so the apples would not turn brown. You can also use lemon juice.)

5. Add apple mixture to flour mixture and stir until evenly combined.

6. Fill a 1/4 cup measuring cup with mixture and drop onto prepared cookie sheet spacing 1 inch apart. Bake for 12-15 minutes or until bottoms are golden brown and center is done.

6. Turn oven to broil. Brush glaze over fritters and place in the oven. Broil until the tops turn golden and the glaze bubbles.

7. Remove from oven and place on a wire rack with parchment paper between rack and counter to save yourself some cleanup time. Brush remaining glaze of the tops of fritters. Serve warm or let glaze firm up before serving.

Glaze directions:

1. In a mixing bowl, mix confectioners sugar, whipping cream, maple syrup and vanilla until all sugar lumps are removed. You may need to add more whipping cream to get the desired consistency to easily brush on fritters.