Amish Onion Fritters are simple skillet fritters made with chopped onions, flour, cornmeal, baking powder, milk, sugar, salt, and pepper. They fry up crisp around the edges with a soft, onion-filled center and work well as a snack, appetizer, or savory side dish.
The batter is intentionally simple, which means the onions are the main flavor. Chopping them fairly small helps the fritters hold together and cook evenly instead of falling apart when you flip them.
Why These Onion Fritters Work
- Pantry-friendly: Most of the ingredients are basic baking staples.
- Crisp edges: Cornmeal adds a little extra texture to the flour batter.
- Easy to portion: Dropping the batter by spoonfuls keeps the fritters small enough to flip.
- Flexible serving: Serve them with sour cream, ranch, or another dipping sauce.
Tips for Better Onion Fritters
Chop the onions evenly so large pieces do not tear the fritters apart. The batter should be thick enough to hold a spoonful together, but not so dry that it will not spread slightly when it hits the pan.
Use enough oil to create a shallow frying layer, and let it get properly hot before adding the batter. A small drop of batter should sizzle as soon as it touches the oil. If it sits quietly, the oil is not ready and the fritters may absorb too much oil.
Work in batches and leave some space between the fritters. Crowding the skillet lowers the oil temperature and makes flipping more difficult.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon cornmeal
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 2 cups chopped onions
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Oil, for frying
How to Make Amish Onion Fritters
- Add the flour, cornmeal, sugar, baking powder, milk, chopped onions, salt, and pepper to a mixing bowl.
- Stir until the batter is evenly combined.
- Pour about 1/2 to 1 inch of oil into a deep-sided skillet and heat over medium-high heat until a small drop of batter sizzles immediately.
- Drop the batter into the hot oil by tablespoonfuls, spreading each portion slightly.
- Cook until the first side is golden brown, then flip and brown the second side.
- Transfer the cooked fritters to a paper-towel-lined rack or plate to drain.
- Serve warm with sour cream or your favorite dipping sauce.
How to Keep Fritters Crisp
Do not stack the hot fritters while they drain. A wire rack gives steam somewhere to escape and helps the crust stay crisp. If you are cooking several batches, keep the finished fritters warm in a low oven in a single layer.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in an oven or air fryer until hot and crisp. The microwave will warm them, but the outside will soften.
More Easy Appetizers and Sides
Try Copycat Blooming Onion, Fried Pickles, or Tennessee Onions. Browse more in the Appetizers and Side Dishes categories.