Apple Fritter Pops

Name: Apple Fritter Pops
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT1H15M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT1H35M0.000S
Yield: 20 fritters
Ingredients: 1/2 cup warm water; 1 1/2 tablespoon active dry or instant yeast; 1/4 cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar; 1 1/2 cups bread flour; 2 tablespoons shortening or lard; 1 large egg; 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon baking powder; 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1/4 teaspoon ground mace; 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 2 green apples, diced into small cubes (about 2 1/2 cups); 1/4 cup sugar; 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon; 1 tablespoon bread flour; 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger; 1/2 teaspoon dried ground ginger; 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg; 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice; Canola oil, for frying; 1/2 cup sugar; 3 tablespoons ground cinnamon; 1/4 cup bread flour, for dusting; 1/3 cup speculoos cookie spread

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Level: Intermediate

Total: 1 hr 35 min (includes cooling time)
Active: 1 hr 15 min

Yield: 20 fritters

Level: Intermediate

Total: 1 hr 35 min (includes cooling time)
Active: 1 hr 15 min

Yield: 20 fritters

Ingredients

Sweet Spiced Yeast Dough:

1/2 cup warm water

1 1/2 tablespoon active dry or instant yeast

1/4 cup plus 2 teaspoons sugar

1 1/2 cups bread flour

2 tablespoons shortening or lard

1 large egg

1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground mace

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Apple Filling:

2 green apples, diced into small cubes (about 2 1/2 cups)

1/4 cup sugar

1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon bread flour

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

1/2 teaspoon dried ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice

Canola oil, for frying

1/2 cup sugar

3 tablespoons ground cinnamon

1/4 cup bread flour, for dusting

1/3 cup speculoos cookie spread

Directions

Special equipment:

an electric mixer fitted with a paddle and dough hook attachment, a deep fryer or Dutch oven, a 3-inch cookie cutter, 20 lollipop sticks and a pastry bag

For the sweet spiced yeast dough: Combine the water, yeast and 2 teaspoons of the sugar in a small bowl and set aside until foamy. Add the activated yeast mixture and 1/4 cup of the flour in an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Mix on low speed for about 1 minute. Switch to the dough hook attachment and add in another 1/4 cup of flour. Once incorporated, add the shortening in small amounts followed by the egg, vanilla and the remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Continue mixing the dough on low and add in the salt, baking powder, cinnamon, mace, nutmeg and the remaining 1 cup flour. Mix the dough on low speed for about 2 minutes, then on the second-lowest speed for 4 minutes.
For the apple filling: Combine the apples, sugar, cinnamon, bread flour, dried ginger, fresh ginger and nutmeg in a medium saucepan. Cook over medium heat until the apples appear somewhat translucent, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and add in the lemon juice, then refrigerate until cold.
Heat the oil in a deep fryer or Dutch oven to 365 degrees F.
Combine the sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl. Roll the dough out to a 1/8-inch thickness. Use a 3-inch cookie cutter to cut 20 circles out of the dough. Dollop a tablespoon of the apple filling in the center of each. Cup the circle to enclose the filling and pinch off excess dough. The result should be a small ball of dough with the filling sealed inside. Fry the fritters in the hot oil in 4 batches until golden brown, about 3 minutes, then remove from the oil and toss in the cinnamon and sugar mixture. Warm up the speculoos in a small saucepan and transfer to a pastry bag. Place each fritter on a lollipop stick and drizzle the warm speculoos over the top.

This recipe was created by a contestant during a cooking competition. It has not been tested for home use.