Croatian apple fritters are a soft, cinnamon-flavoured pancake-style snack or breakfast dish, made without sugar and enriched with oats for a nutritious start to the day.
About Croatian Apple Fritters
These Croatian apple fritters are a home-style favourite made by folding grated apples into a simple pancake-like batter. They’re pan-fried until golden, soft inside, and filled with juicy apple bits. Unlike traditional fritule made from yeast dough, this version is quicker and simpler, with no rising time; just mix and cook. Often made on weekdays or as a quick treat, they’re lightly spiced with cinnamon and sometimes sweetened with honey or sprinkled with icing sugar.
They’re especially popular in northern and central Croatia, often served during autumn apple season, but they’re not tied to a specific holiday or occasion, just comforting, rustic food from grandma’s kitchen.
This recipe
This version follows the traditional Croatian apple fritters made with grated apples and pancake-like batter, but with a more wholesome twist. There’s no sugar added, just the natural sweetness of apples and a spoonful of raisins. I use a mix of milk and sparkling water to keep the batter airy, and add oats for extra texture and fibre. Quick to make, soft inside, and gently spiced, these fritters are a tasty treat with a feel-good upgrade.
Ingredients for Croatian Apple Fritters
- apples – Use sweet varieties only.
- egg – Acts as a binder for the batter.
- lemon – Buy organic or unvaxed.
- oats – Use quick oats if you’re frying the batter the same day; they soften quickly and blend well. If you prefer to rest the batter overnight, use regular rolled oats so they keep some texture without going mushy.
- raisins – Raisins can be used whole or chopped. If they’re extra large, chopping them makes the texture more consistent throughout the fritters.
- flour – Traditionally made with plain (all-purpose) white flour. For a more nutritional twist, you can substitute part of it with spelt flour, wholemeal flour, or oat flour.
- cinnamon – Use ground cinnamon; it’s optional but adds warmth that complements the apples and raisins.
- oil – Neutral oils like sunflower or canola work best.
- sparkling water – Use natural sparkling water with no added flavours or sweeteners. It gives the batter a lighter, airier texture and crispier edges.
Love fruity desserts? Don’t miss this Aussie Peach & Coconut Cake
How to make Croatian Apple Fritters
- Peel and grate apples. You can do it the old-school way with a hand grater, or use a food processor fitted with a grating attachment. Don’t use the blender, it’ll turn the apples into purée instead of fine shreds.
- Pour a splash of boiling water over the raisins and let them sit for a few minutes to plump up.
- Wash the lemon thoroughly and grate the zest before adding it to the batter.
- In another bowl, beat the egg, then add flour, milk and sparkling water. Stir until you get a smooth batter. Now, add the grated apples, raisins, cinnamon and oats. Mix well to combine. Let the mixture rest for 10 minutes. This allows the oats to absorb moisture, which helps the fritters maintain their shape in the pan.
You can even make the mix the night before and stick it in the fridge. That way, you just fry and eat in the morning with zero fuss.
⚠️ Important: If your apples are especially juicy, you may need to add a little extra flour or oats to thicken the batter slightly.
- Heat a little bit of oil in a non-stick pan. Use a tablespoon to pour the batter into the pan. Cook over low to medium heat for about 2–3 minutes on each side, until golden.
- Once golden and cooked through, remove the fritters from the pan and place them on a plate lined with kitchen paper to absorb any excess oil.
- If serving as a dessert, dust lightly with icing sugar while still warm – use a fine sieve and tap it gently over the fritters for an even layer.
📌 Note:
You’ll get around 12 fritters from this batch, each roughly 7 cm wide and about 1.5–2 cm thick.
These are rich, fruity fritters with a high ratio of apple to batter. If you’d like to make them more pancake-like, simply add more flour and milk; this will reduce the fruit-to-batter ratio and make a larger batch.
Serving Croatian Apple Fritters
They are best served warm. I love them with a drizzle of honey, perfect with a cappuccino.
💬 Personal Note:
I grew up with variations of these apple fritters, but this version is my go-to when I want something quick, light, and a little nostalgic. They’re simple, not fancy, just real, homey food that makes the kitchen smell amazing. They’re just as yummy cold or the next day. 🍏
P.S. You can make them with grated pears, just pick ripe but firm ones, and follow the recipe the same way.
🇭🇷 Love Croatian food?
Explore more delicious Croatian Recipes.
Or try one of these popular favourites:
– Healthy Summer Side 🌿
– Quick and easy Chard and Potatoes 🌿
– Easy Chicken Pasta Sauce 🍗
– Stuffed Squid in Tomato Sauce 🦑🍅
Recipe Card
Croatian Apple Fritters With Oats
Ingredients
- 4 apples
- 1 egg
- 1/2-1 tsp grated lemon zest
- 4 tbsp quick oats
- 1 tbsp raisins
- 3 tbsp plain white (all-purpose) flour
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 50-70 ml sunflower oil
- 3 tbsp milk
- 2 tbsp sparkling water
- 1-2 tsp icing sugar – for dusting - optional
Instructions
- Peel and grate the apples. Soak raisins in hot water for a few minutes, then drain.
- In a bowl, beat the egg and mix in flour, milk, and sparkling water to form a smooth batter.
- Add grated apples, raisins, cinnamon, and oats. Stir well. Let rest for 10 minutes.
- Heat a little oil in a non-stick pan. Spoon batter into the pan and cook fritters over low to medium heat for 2–3 minutes per side, until golden.
- Drain on kitchen paper. Serve warm. Dust with some icing sugar if served as a dessert.