Making Biscuits In An Air Fryer: Is It Possible?

Yes, you can make biscuits in an air fryer! They are your favourite buttermilk biscuits, but with a nice crisp texture on the outside and a moist, tender inside – all achieved in under 30 minutes.

There are several recipes you can try, with some using canned biscuit dough and others making the dough from scratch. The dough is usually made with a combination of flour, butter, milk or buttermilk, baking powder, and sugar, and is shaped into balls or flattened and cut into circles. The air fryer is preheated and the biscuits are cooked for around 10 minutes, sometimes brushed with melted butter before serving.

So, if you're short on time but want to impress, air-fried biscuits could be the way to go!

Air fryer biscuits ingredients

Air fryer biscuits are typically made with a handful of simple ingredients. Here is a list of ingredients you will need to make air fryer biscuits:

• Flour – Most recipes call for all-purpose flour, but you can also use self-rising flour. If you use self-rising flour, you may not need to add baking powder or salt separately. About 2 cups of flour should be enough for a standard batch of biscuits.
• Baking Powder – This acts as a leavening agent to help the biscuits rise. You can use around 2-2.5 teaspoons of baking powder.
• Sugar – Sugar is optional but adds a touch of sweetness to the biscuits. You can add up to 1 tablespoon of sugar, depending on your preference.
• Salt – Salt enhances the flavour of the biscuits. You can use regular table salt or kosher salt, adding about 1/2 teaspoon or to taste.
• Butter – Cold butter is crucial for flaky biscuits. Cut it into small cubes or grate it using a box grater before incorporating it into the flour mixture. You'll need about 6 tablespoons of butter.
• Milk or Buttermilk – Milk or buttermilk adds moisture and tenderness to the biscuits. For the best results, use full-fat or 2% milk, or buttermilk. Ensure that the milk is very cold.

Optional ingredients and substitutions:

• You can use vegan or dairy-free butter if needed.
• If you don't have buttermilk, you can make your own by adding 2 teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegar to regular milk.
• For a lighter, flakier texture, some recipes suggest using White Lily Flour or a similar brand.
• If you prefer a more golden-brown top on your biscuits, you can brush them with melted butter before or after air frying.

Air fryer biscuits recipe

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons of baking powder
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1/4 to 3/4 teaspoon of granulated sugar
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of kosher salt
• 4 to 6 tablespoons of butter (salted or unsalted), plus more for brushing
• 3/4 cup of buttermilk (full-fat or 2%), very cold
• Cooking spray or oil

Optional Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons of melted butter for brushing (if desired)
• 2 teaspoons of lemon juice or vinegar (if making DIY buttermilk)

Method:

• Prep: Preheat your air fryer to 375-400°F. Some air fryers don't need to be preheated, so check your manual.
• Mix Dry Ingredients: In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt together.
• Add Butter: Cut the butter into small cubes and add it to the flour mixture. Use a box grater to grate the butter, or a pastry cutter or fork to cut it into the flour. You can also use a food processor. Mix until the butter is incorporated and the mixture forms pea-sized morsels.
• Add Buttermilk: Pour in the cold buttermilk and stir gently with a fork or spoon until the dough just comes together. It should look shaggy and lumpy.
• Knead and Flatten Dough: Turn the dough out onto a floured work surface. Use your hands to press the dough together into a rectangle. Fold the dough over a few times and flatten it with your hands or a rolling pin to get it to about 1-inch thick.
• Cut and Shape Biscuits: Use a 2-inch biscuit cutter to cut out 6-8 biscuits. Press any remaining scraps together to use up all the dough. Do not twist the biscuit cutter when cutting, as this can affect how the biscuits rise.
• Air Fry: Transfer the biscuits to the air fryer basket. There is no need to grease it or use parchment paper. Air fry for 8-12 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and the biscuits are cooked through.
• Brush and Serve: Brush the biscuits with melted butter, if desired, and serve warm.

Tips:

• Keep your ingredients cold, especially the butter and buttermilk. This is key to achieving flaky, mile-high biscuits.
• Do not over-handle or over-mix the dough, as this can lead to tough, dense biscuits.
• Avoid using a food processor or stand mixer, as they can make it too easy to over-mix the dough.
• Do not use a rolling pin to flatten the dough. Instead, use your hands to flatten it after folding.
• Do not open the air fryer for at least half of the baking time, as this helps the biscuits rise.
• Every air fryer is different, so keep an eye on your biscuits and adjust the timing as needed.
• You can also bake these biscuits in the oven. Preheat the oven to 400-450°F and bake for about 10-15 minutes or until golden brown.

Air fryer biscuits vs. oven-baked biscuits

Air fryers are a convenient alternative to ovens, especially in hot climates, as they don't heat up the entire kitchen. They are also more energy-efficient, as they are smaller than ovens and therefore require less energy to heat up.

Air fryer biscuits are quick and easy to make, and they come out perfect every time. The hot circulating air gives biscuits a crispy texture on the outside, while the inside remains moist and tender. The cook time is also shorter than with oven-baked biscuits, usually taking around 10 minutes.

However, one of the main differences between air fryer and oven-baked biscuits is that air fryers cook the biscuits more intensely, which can lead to the outside appearing done while the inside remains doughy. This can be avoided by doing a test bake with one or two biscuits to determine the optimal cooking time for your air fryer.

Additionally, air fryers have perforated baskets, which can cause the biscuit dough to fall through the holes if it is too soft. To avoid this, it is recommended to chill the dough before placing it in the air fryer and to avoid pushing down on the dough once it is in the basket.

Overall, both air fryer and oven-baked biscuits have their advantages and disadvantages. Air fryer biscuits are faster and more energy-efficient, but they require more careful handling of the dough and may not brown as evenly as oven-baked biscuits. Oven-baked biscuits are a more traditional method and allow for a larger batch to be cooked at once, but they can be less convenient, especially in hot weather.

Air fryer biscuits cooking time

The cooking time for air fryer biscuits varies depending on the power of your air fryer, the size of the biscuits, and whether they are homemade or store-bought.

Homemade Biscuits

For homemade biscuits, the cooking time generally ranges from 8 to 12 minutes at a temperature of 375 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. It is important to note that the biscuits should be cooked until the tops are golden brown.

Store-Bought Biscuits

The cooking time for store-bought biscuits may be slightly shorter, ranging from 3 to 8 minutes at a temperature of 330 degrees Fahrenheit. Again, the biscuits are done when the tops are golden brown.

Tips for Optimal Cooking

• It is recommended to preheat the air fryer before adding the biscuits, except for the drop biscuit recipe, which suggests no preheating.
• To ensure even cooking, leave enough space between the biscuits in the air fryer basket, and bake in batches if needed.
• Avoid using parchment paper or aluminium foil as it may fly around in the air fryer and squish the biscuits.
• Do not use spray oil as it is unnecessary and the biscuits will not stick to the basket.
• For the best results, it is crucial to use cold ingredients and not to overmix the dough.
• If it is your first time cooking biscuits in an air fryer, consider doing a test bake with just one or two biscuits to determine the optimal cooking time for your machine.

Air fryer biscuits troubleshooting

My biscuits are burnt on the outside but undercooked inside. What do I do?

If your biscuits are burnt on the outside but undercooked inside, it means they are being cooked at too high a temperature, causing the outside to cook faster than the inside. Try lowering the temperature by 10-15 degrees and increase the cooking time slightly. Also, make sure not to overcrowd the air fryer basket, as proper air circulation is key to even cooking.

Air frying biscuits typically takes about 8 minutes, whereas baking them in a conventional oven can take at least 15 minutes, not including the time it takes to preheat the oven. So, using an air fryer can cut the total cooking time by more than half, making it a quicker option for busy days.

No, parchment paper is not necessary when using an air fryer. Lightly spray the basket with a cooking spray to prevent the biscuits from sticking. However, if you want to make cleanup easier, you can use a sheet of parchment paper. Cut the paper to the size of your air fryer and poke a few holes in it to ensure the air can still flow easily.

Yes, regular milk will work in this recipe, but the end flavour and texture will be slightly different. Buttermilk helps the baking soda and powder work extra well, resulting in a light and fluffy biscuit. It also adds a hint of sourness to the flavour. If you use regular milk, opt for whole milk, as the higher fat content will give you the best results.

If your biscuits turned out tough, the main culprit is likely to be overworking the biscuit dough. You should mix the ingredients very gently and just long enough for the dough to stick together. There should still be a bit of dry ingredients visible in the finished batter.

Frequently asked questions