These Sweet Potato Apple Fritters have a slightly crispy exterior and soft interior, making them the perfect handheld food for toddlers! Lightly seasoned with a little sweetness from the apple, these are the perfect lunchbox item or finger food. Great for toddlers, kids, and baby-led weaning.
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It's only June and all I can think about right now are back to school lunchbox recipes! (And if you're here in February, don't worry - these fritters are delicious year-round.) I love fritters for toddlers, and especially for one year olds who might be starting daycare as they are an easy handheld lunch item that can be eaten independently and can be enjoyed cold (no reheating required!).
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love These Sweet Potato Apple Fritters
- Naturally sweet: The apple and sweet potato add natural sweetness without the need for added sugar.
- Great for little hands: These soft fritters are easy for toddlers and babies to hold and self-feed.
- Perfect for snacks, lunches, or lunchboxes: Serve them warm or cold for an easy snack, or lunchbox addition.
- Freezer-friendly: Make a batch ahead of time and freeze extras for busy mornings and snacks.
- Kid-approved: Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, these fritters have been a hit with both kids and adults in our house!
Ingredients for Sweet Potato Apple Fritters
Here is what you'll need to make these easy sweet potato and apple fritters.
- Sweet potato - Sweet potato adds natural sweetness, moisture, and a fun golden colour to these fritters. An orange-fleshed sweet potato works well here, however, I did also make these with a yellow/white-fleshed yam and they also turned out amazing!
- Apple - Apple adds a little natural sweetness and of course pairs well with the sweet potato and cheddar flavours.
- Eggs: Eggs help bind the fritters together so they hold their shape while cooking.
- Cheddar cheese: Cheddar adds savoury flavour and creates delicious cheesy pockets throughout the fritters.
- Panko breadcrumbs: Panko breadcrumbs help absorb moisture and create fritters that are lightly crisp on the outside.
- Garlic powder: Just a small amount of garlic powder adds a subtle savoury flavour without overpowering the sweet potato and apple.
- Dried sage (optional): Sage pairs really well with sweet potato and apple.
- Salt (optional): A pinch of salt helps bring out the flavours of the fritters and is okay to include for older toddlers and kids. Omit for baby-led weaning.
- Olive oil: Olive oil helps the fritters develop a golden, crispy exterior while cooking.
See recipe card for quantities.
How To Make Sweet Potato Apple Fritters
Here is an overview of how to make these easy sweet potato fritters, or you can scroll down to the recipe card for the full details.
Peel and grate the sweet potato and apple. Squeeze out excess liquid with a paper towel. Add the grated sweet potato and apple to a large bowl.
Add the eggs, cheddar cheese, breadcrumbs, garlic powder, sage (if using), and salt (if using). Stir well until everything is evenly combined.
Heat 1-2 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Scoop about 2 tablespoons of the mixture into the skillet for each fritter and gently flatten with the back of a spatula.
Cook for 5-6 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer the fritters to a plate lined with paper towel and repeat with the remaining mixture.
Hint: The moisture content of apples and sweet potatoes can vary. It is important to try and soak up the excess liquid, as this will help the fritters crisp up. If your mixture feels too wet to hold its shape, stir in an extra tablespoon or two of breadcrumbs. If it feels too dry, add an extra spoonful of grated apple or a splash of beaten egg.
Substitutions
- Apple: I like using sweeter apples such as Honeycrisp or Gala, but any apple variety should work well.
- Cheddar cheese: Sharp cheddar adds lots of flavour, but mild or white cheddar also work well.
- Panko breadcrumbs: I used panko breadcrumbs in this recipe for a crispier texture. I haven't tested regular breadcrumbs.
- Garlic powder: You can omit the garlic powder or substitute it with a small clove of minced garlic.
- Sage: Sage is optional but pairs really nicely with the sweet potato and apple. Simply leave it out if you don't have any on hand.
- Olive oil: Avocado and canola oil can also work.
Variations
- Cinnamon Sweet Potato Apple Fritters: Add ½ teaspoon cinnamon and omit the garlic powder and sage for a sweeter flavour.
For a fun twist on a fritter, check out these Carrot Turmeric Fritters!
Equipment
- Large bowl
- Frying pan
Storage
Store leftover sweet potato and apple fritters in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm them in a frying pan, air fryer, or oven until heated through.
These fritters also freeze well. Allow them to cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container or bag and freeze for up to 3 months. I recommend placing parchment paper between the fritters to make it easier to pull out what you need. Reheat directly from frozen or thaw overnight in the refrigerator before warming.
Toddler Tip
These sweet potato apple fritters are perfect for toddlers and can be served warm or cold. Try serving them with a favourite dip such as plain yogurt, ranch sauce, tzatziki, applesauce, or ketchup. Dips can make new foods more fun and feel a little more approachable for kids.
I love serving these fritters in a lunchbox for my kids. Here, I've paired them with some apple slices, bell pepper, mango slices rolled in coconut (helps with grip), and some yogurt with a few chocolate chips.
Looking for other lunch ideas? Check out my Ultimate Guide on Toddler Lunch Ideas for Daycare, Preschool, or at home. And if you're looking for school lunchbox ideas, check out my post on 15 Easy Cold School Lunch Ideas for Kids, as well as these Bento Box Lunch Ideas for Toddlers.
FAQ
Yes! These fritters are great for meal prep. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 4 days or freeze them for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven, air fryer, or frying pan for the best texture.
Yes. These fritters can work well for baby-led weaning. Simply omit the salt and make the fritters an appropriate size for your baby to hold and self-feed. For younger babies who are still developing their pincer grasp, serve the fritters in strips about the width of two adult fingers. For older babies with a pincer grasp, you can cut them into bite-sized pieces. For more baby-led weaning ideas, check out my post on 9-month old BLW Meal Ideas and 10-month old BLW Meal Ideas.
Yes, they can. These sweet potato and apple fritters taste great warm or cold, which makes them perfect for lunchboxes, daycare, or snacks on the go.
Yes! Place the fritters on a parchment-lined baking sheet and lightly brush or spray them with olive oil to help them brown. Bake at 400°F for 20–25 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and cooked through. The baked fritters will be slightly softer and less crispy than pan-fried fritters.
Recipe
Sweet Potato & Apple Fritters For Toddlers
Equipment
- 1 frying pan
Ingredients
- 1 cup sweet potato peeled, grated
- 1 apple small-medium, peeled, grated
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup cheddar cheese grated
- ½ cup panko breadcrumbs
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon dried sage optional
- dash salt optional, omit for baby-led weaning
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Peel and grate the sweet potato and apple. Gently squeeze out some of the excess liquid from the apple and sweet potato with a clean kitchen towel or paper towel.
- Add the grated sweet potato and apple to a large bowl. Add the eggs, cheddar cheese, panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, sage (if using), and salt. Stir well until everything is evenly combined.
- Heat 1-2 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Scoop about 2 tablespoons of the mixture into the skillet for each fritter and gently flatten with the back of a spatula.
- Cook for 5-6 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Transfer the fritters to a plate lined with paper towel and repeat with the remaining mixture, adding more oil to the pan as needed.
- Let cool slightly before serving. Enjoy on their own or serve with plain Greek yogurt, sour cream, applesauce, or a favourite dip.
Notes
Nutrition
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