Fried apple rings in pancake batter according to a Bavarian recipe. Sparkling water makes them wonderfully fluffy

Are you craving an apple dessert but don't have the time or energy to prepare something more elaborate? If you don't feel like turning on the oven, fried apple rings are the perfect solution. They're ready in no time, smell wonderful with cinnamon, and taste best while still warm.

The perfect dessert for autumn days

Fried apple rings are exactly the dessert that is perfect for chilly autumn days. They resemble our apples in a bathrobe, but they are a traditional dessert of German and Austrian cuisine. In Germany they are called Apfelküchle, in Bavaria they are also called Apfelkücherl. The name comes from the words Apfel, which means apple, and Kuchen, which means cake. Basically, they are small apple cakes.

You may also encounter the name Apfelringe or the dialectal terms Apfelkiachl or Öpfelküachle. Fried apple rings are also popular in Austria, where they are called Apfelradel.

Apfelküchle are mainly associated with the Baden and Württemberg regions, from where they gradually spread. Originally, they were prepared mainly during Shrovetide and are documented as early as the 18th century, as we wrote in our older article. Over time, however, they have become a delicacy that can be made at any time of the year.

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How to prepare fried apple rings

Preparing apple rings is very simple. You just peel the apples, remove the cores and cut them crosswise into thicker rounds. Then you coat them in batter and fry them in a higher layer of well-heated oil until golden brown. The batter is prepared similarly to that for pancakes.

If you want it to be lighter and fluffier, separate the yolks from the whites and beat the whites until stiff, then carefully fold them into the batter. The temperature difference is also important when frying - the batter should remain cold, while the oil must be hot enough. This will help the batter to set quickly after being placed in the pan, stick better to the apple, and not absorb too much fat during frying.

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They are great with ice cream.

The fried rings can then be simply left to drain briefly on a napkin to soak up the excess fat. They will be even better if you finally coat them in a mixture of sugar and cinnamon while they are still warm.

The crispy coating, soft warm apple and cinnamon aroma are the perfect combination. You can serve them alone or add vanilla sauce or vanilla ice cream. This will create a great contrast between hot apples and icy ice cream.

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Which apples are the best?

Although apple rings may have originally been a way to use up apples that weren't exactly show-stopping, choosing the right variety will make a difference. The best apples are firmer ones that hold their shape well and don't fall apart when you cut out the core and slice them.

Suitable varieties include Braeburn, Jonagold, Royal Gala, Boskoop, Golden Delicious or Granny Smith. Apples that are too fragile may break during preparation and are more difficult to coat in batter.

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Fried apples in batter

In addition to the apples themselves, the dough also influences the taste of the dessert. Beer is often added to it, which makes the rings a perfect dessert for the famous Oktoberfest beer festival, which is currently taking place in Munich. The beer helps to make the dough beautifully crispy and light.

If you want to avoid beer, try this German recipe, which uses a batter made from milk and sparkling mineral water, which makes the dough lighter and fluffier after frying.

You will need: 2 apples, powdered sugar for sprinkling and 3 tablespoons of melted butter for frying. For the dough: 120 g plain flour, 1 egg, 70 ml milk, 30 ml mineral water, a pinch of salt and 1 teaspoon of vanilla sugar.

How about this?

Mix the flour with the vanilla sugar and salt in a bowl. Add the milk and mineral water, mix and then add the egg. Mix everything together to form a smooth dough.

Peel the apples, remove the cores and cut them crosswise into rings. Heat the melted butter in a frying pan. Dip the apple rings gradually into the batter and fry over medium heat until golden brown. Turn them over several times during frying.

Transfer the finished apple rings to a paper towel to drain any excess oil. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.

You can see other popular apple desserts in our photo gallery:

Our tip: You can prepare apples in a bathrobe according to our video recipe.