These homemade peach fritters are a delightful summer treat that brings together the sweetness of fresh peaches and the comfort of fried dough. Golden, crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, these fritters are finished with a sweet vanilla glaze that makes them irresistible.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Uses fresh seasonal peaches at their peak of flavor
Quick to prepare – ready in just 30 minutes
Perfect balance of sweetness and fruity flavor
Crispy exterior with a soft, tender interior
Great for breakfast, brunch, or dessert
Can be made ahead for special occasions
More flavorful and fresh than store-bought versions
Customizable with different fruits or spices
The homemade glaze adds the perfect finishing touch
Brings bakery-quality treats right to your home kitchen

Ingredients

(Tip: You’ll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)

All-purpose flour creates the foundation for these fritters, providing structure and that classic cake-like interior. It’s versatile and absorbs the moisture from the peaches perfectly.

Granulated sugar adds just the right level of sweetness to complement the natural sweetness of the peaches without overpowering them.

Baking powder is crucial for giving these fritters their light, airy texture by creating tiny air pockets in the batter as they fry.

Salt enhances all the flavors in the recipe and balances the sweetness. Don’t skip this humble but essential ingredient.

Cinnamon brings warmth and depth that pairs beautifully with peaches. It’s the perfect spice companion for fruit-based desserts.

Milk adds moisture and richness to the batter while helping to activate the baking powder for a proper rise.

Eggs provide structure, richness, and help bind the batter together, ensuring your fritters don’t fall apart during frying.

Vanilla extract contributes a subtle aromatic quality that enhances the natural flavor of the peaches.

Butter enriches the batter with a delicate richness and helps achieve that golden brown exterior when fried.

Fresh peaches are the star of this recipe, bringing juicy sweetness and that unmistakable summery flavor. Choose ripe but firm peaches for the best texture in your fritters.

Oil for frying should be a neutral-flavored variety with a high smoke point, such as vegetable, canola, or peanut oil.

Powdered sugar creates a smooth, sweet glaze that sets beautifully on the warm fritters.

Directions

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
In another bowl, mix milk, eggs, vanilla, and melted butter until well combined.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry and stir just until combined — don’t overmix.
Gently fold in the diced fresh peaches.
Heat oil in a deep skillet or fryer to 350°F (175°C).
Drop spoonfuls of batter into the hot oil, a few at a time. Don’t overcrowd the pan.
Fry until golden brown and cooked through, about 2-3 minutes per side.
Remove fritters with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels.
For the glaze, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla until smooth.
Drizzle or dip warm fritters in glaze and let set slightly before serving.

Servings and Timing

This recipe makes approximately 12 fritters, depending on the size you make them. Each fritter contains about 210 calories.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cooking Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

These fritters are perfect for serving 6 people (allowing 2 fritters per person) as a breakfast treat or dessert. For a larger crowd, consider doubling the recipe.

Variations

Apple Fritters: Substitute diced apples for peaches and add an extra 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon for a fall-inspired version.

Berry Fritters: Replace peaches with 1 1/2 cups of mixed berries like blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries for a berry-bursting alternative.

Spiced Peach Fritters: Add 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg and a pinch of cloves to the batter for a more complex spice profile.

Peach Cobbler Fritters: Mix in 1/4 cup of crushed graham crackers to the batter and sprinkle the finished fritters with cinnamon sugar instead of glaze.

Maple Peach Fritters: Replace the vanilla glaze with a maple glaze by using maple syrup instead of milk.

Lemon Peach Fritters: Add 1 tablespoon of lemon zest to the batter and substitute 1 tablespoon of lemon juice for 1 tablespoon of milk in the glaze.

Storage/Reheating

Fresh Serving: These fritters are best enjoyed fresh, within a few hours after making them when they’re still slightly warm.

Room Temperature: Store unglazed fritters in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 24 hours. Add the glaze just before serving.

Refrigeration: Place the fritters in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. The texture may soften slightly, but they’ll still taste delicious.

Freezing: Freeze unglazed fritters in a single layer on a baking sheet, then transfer to a freezer bag once frozen solid. They’ll keep for up to 2 months.

Reheating: To restore crispness, reheat refrigerated or frozen fritters in a 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes until warmed through. Allow frozen fritters to thaw in the refrigerator before reheating for best results.

Glaze Storage: If you have leftover glaze, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Warm slightly and stir before using.

FAQs

How do I know when the oil is at the right temperature?

If you don’t have a thermometer, test the oil by dropping a small amount of batter in. It should sizzle immediately and float to the top. If it browns too quickly, your oil is too hot. If it just sits at the bottom, your oil isn’t hot enough.

Can I use canned peaches instead of fresh?

Yes, you can use canned peaches, but drain them thoroughly and pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Fresh peaches provide the best flavor, but canned work in a pinch during off-season.

Why did my fritters come out doughy in the middle?

This typically happens when the oil is too hot, causing the outside to brown before the inside cooks through. Lower your oil temperature slightly and make sure you’re not making the fritters too large.

How ripe should my peaches be?

Use peaches that are ripe but still firm. Overly soft peaches will release too much juice into the batter and make it runny. They should yield slightly to gentle pressure but not be mushy.

Can I make the batter ahead of time?

You can prepare the batter up to 2 hours ahead and refrigerate it, but don’t add the peaches until just before frying to prevent the batter from becoming too wet from the fruit juice.

Why did my fritters turn out greasy?

Greasy fritters usually result from oil that’s not hot enough. Make sure your oil maintains a temperature around 350°F throughout the frying process.

Is there a way to make these healthier?

While fritters are inherently a treat food, you can make them slightly healthier by using whole wheat flour for half the all-purpose flour and reducing the sugar slightly. You could also try air-frying them, though the texture will be different.

Can I double the recipe?

Yes, this recipe doubles easily. Just make sure to fry in batches and maintain the oil temperature between batches.

My glaze is too thick/thin. How do I fix it?

For thick glaze, add milk 1 teaspoon at a time until you reach your desired consistency. If it’s too thin, add more powdered sugar 1 tablespoon at a time.

What’s the best way to peel peaches?

Score an X on the bottom of each peach, then blanch in boiling water for 30 seconds. Transfer immediately to an ice bath, and the skins should slip off easily when cool enough to handle.

Conclusion

These Fresh Peach Fritters capture the essence of summer in each delectable bite. The combination of juicy, fresh peaches encased in a light, fluffy batter and coated with a sweet vanilla glaze creates a treat that’s hard to resist. While they’re perfect for breakfast or brunch alongside a cup of coffee, they’re equally at home as a dessert after a summer meal.

What makes these fritters special is their versatility and the way they showcase seasonal fruit at its best. Whether you’re making them for a weekend family breakfast or serving them as a unique dessert at your next gathering, these homemade fritters will surely impress.

Don’t be intimidated by the frying process – with a little attention to temperature and timing, you’ll master these fritters in no time. Their golden, crispy exterior giving way to a tender, peachy interior is well worth the effort. Enjoy them fresh for the ultimate experience, but know that even leftover fritters will bring a smile to your face the next day.

Delicious Fresh Peach Fritters