Apfelküchlein (Deep Fried Apple Cakes)

Deep fried apple "doughnut" recipe that leaves the apple ring whole inside.

• Ready In: 50 mins
• Yields: 16-20 rings

Ingredients

• 4 -5  tart apples
• 1 -1 1⁄4 cup flour
• 1⁄4 cup ground hazelnuts
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 4  tablespoons sugar
• 2  teaspoons vanilla
• 5  ounces apple cider
• 2  eggs, separated
• 1  teaspoon  oil
• 1  lemon, juice of
•  oil, for deep-frying
•  cinnamon sugar or  powdered sugar

Directions

1. Add flour, hazelnuts, salt, one tablespoon of sugar and the vanilla to a bowl and mix well.
2. Add apple cider and stir.
3. Add yolk of 2 eggs and one teaspoon of oil and mix well.
4. Let the dough rest for about 30 minutes.
5. Peel the apples and remove the core.
6. Cut the apples in rings, each about ½ inch thick.
7. Add 3 tablespoons of sugar to the lemon juice, toss with the apples and set aside.
8. Add a pinch of salt to the eggwhites and beat until it is stiff, carefully fold it into the dough.
9. Heat the oil in a deep frying-pan to 375°.
10. Dip one ring of apple at a time into the dough and fry it immediately in the oil on both sides until it is brown.
11. Drip off the oil.
12. Sprinkle confectioner's or cinnamon sugar evenly over the rings while they are still warm and serve them immediately.
13. They will also taste good when they are cold, especially if you serve them with some warm vanilla icing.