I have never eaten beignets like that, where I’m from it’s always a recognizable apple before it gets battered and fried (in thick slices if it’s large or whole if small).

If I search for beignets aux pommes, the 1st, 2nd and 4th result is without compotes, just apple slices like I know them. The 3rd looks to be the compote version. Adding compote to the query finds recipes for “beignets a la compote de pommes”, so I suspect that it’s a regional thing that those are called apple beignets.