Air-Fried Crescent Rolls: A Quick, Crispy Treat

Air fryer crescent rolls are a quick and easy snack that can be served at any time of the day. They are flaky, buttery, and pair well with a variety of dishes. The best part about this recipe is that it requires minimal preparation and cooking time, making it a convenient option for those who are short on time or looking for a simple snack. The rolls can be made using canned crescent roll dough, which is readily available in the refrigerated section of most grocery stores. The dough is then shaped into triangles and rolled up to form the signature crescent shape. They are placed in the air fryer basket in a single layer and cooked for around 5-7 minutes at 330-350 degrees Fahrenheit, resulting in a crispy, flaky exterior and a warm, tender interior.

How to make crescent rolls in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• 1 can refrigerated crescent roll dough
• Salt or sugar (optional)
• Butter (optional)
• Garlic powder (optional)
• Cooking spray or oil

Utensils:

• Air fryer
• Air fryer parchment paper or silicone liner (optional)
• Tongs
• Pastry brush (optional)

Method:

• Open the can of crescent roll dough and unroll it. Separate the pre-cut triangles and roll up each triangle into a crescent shape, starting with the long end and rolling towards the tip.
• Lightly spray or brush your air fryer basket with cooking spray or oil. Alternatively, line the basket with perforated air fryer parchment paper.
• Place the crescent rolls in a single layer in the basket, ensuring they are not touching each other or the sides of the basket. Leave room for the rolls to expand. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the rolls in batches.
• Set your air fryer to 330-350 degrees Fahrenheit and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown and cooked through. Check the rolls after 4 minutes to ensure they are cooking evenly.
• For an extra flavour boost, brush the cooked crescent rolls with a mixture of melted butter and garlic powder, or serve with butter and jam.

Tips:

• If you are cooking multiple batches, you may need to reduce the cooking time by a few minutes for each subsequent batch, as your air fryer will already be preheated.
• Avoid rolling the crescent rolls too tightly. This will allow the dough to expand and cook through, resulting in fluffy rolls rather than dense, raw centres.

How to store leftover crescent rolls

To store leftover crescent rolls, you can keep them at room temperature or in the fridge. If you want to store them at room temperature, wrap the rolls in foil and leave them on the counter, away from direct sunlight, for up to two days.

For longer storage, place the rolls in an airtight container and keep them in the fridge. They will last for 3-4 days. If you want to keep them for even longer, you can freeze the crescent rolls. Wrap them tightly in foil or plastic freezer wrap, or place them in a heavy-duty freezer bag. Frozen crescent rolls will maintain their quality for about 1-2 months but will remain safe to eat beyond that.

Why make crescent rolls in an air fryer

There are several reasons why you should make crescent rolls in an air fryer. Here are some of the key benefits:

No Preheating Required: Air fryers eliminate the need for preheating, saving you time and effort. Unlike traditional ovens, you can simply prepare your crescent rolls and place them directly into the air fryer without any preheating step.

Speed and Efficiency: Air fryers cook crescent rolls much faster than conventional ovens. Depending on the air fryer model, your crescent rolls can be ready in as little as 5 to 10 minutes. This makes air fryers ideal for quick meals, snacks, or when you're short on time.

Convenience: Air fryers offer a convenient alternative to using a full-size oven, especially during hot summer months. They have a smaller footprint, so you don't need to heat up your entire kitchen or deal with a hot oven. This also means less energy consumption, which can lead to cost savings.

Delicious Results: Despite the shorter cooking time, air fryers produce crescent rolls with a crispy, flaky exterior and a warm, tender interior. The circulating hot air in the air fryer helps the dough rise beautifully, resulting in fluffy and well-cooked rolls.

Versatility: Air-fried crescent rolls are incredibly versatile and can be served at any time of the day. They pair well with various dishes, from breakfast to lunch and dinner. You can also experiment with different fillings and toppings to create a variety of sweet or savoury options.

Easy Clean-up: Using an air fryer can make clean-up a breeze. Many recipes recommend using parchment paper or silicone liners, which catch any crumbs or residue, making it quick and easy to dispose of mess.

Tips on how to make air fryer crescent rolls

Air fryer crescent rolls are a quick and easy snack that can be served at any time of the day. They are flaky, buttery, and fun to make. Here are some tips to help you make the perfect crescent rolls in your air fryer.

Preparation

When preparing the dough, it is important not to roll the crescent rolls too tightly. Slightly loose rolls will allow the dough to expand and cook through, resulting in fluffy rolls instead of dense, raw centers. You can use any brand of refrigerated crescent rolls, such as Pillsbury, Annie's, or Immaculate.

Air Fryer Setup

There is no need to preheat your air fryer before cooking crescent rolls. Simply lay the crescent rolls in a single layer on the air fryer basket/rack, making sure they are not touching and have room to rise and expand. You may need to cook them in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. It is recommended to spray the air fryer basket or racks with oil or use air fryer parchment paper to prevent sticking. However, if using parchment paper, it should be perforated to allow for maximum airflow.

Cooking

Air fry the crescent rolls at 330-350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 5-7 minutes. Keep a close eye on them to ensure they don't burn, as all air fryers cook differently. If needed, continue cooking for another 1-3 minutes or until they are crispy brown and cooked through. If your air fryer is preheated or you are cooking multiple batches, you may need to reduce the timing by a few minutes.

Serving

Air fryer crescent rolls can be served as-is or brushed with melted butter and garlic powder for an extra flavor boost. They go well with butter, jam, honey, or cinnamon honey butter. You can also get creative and add various fillings, such as ham and Swiss cheese, or make them into pigs in a blanket.

What to serve with crescent rolls

Air-fried crescent rolls are incredibly versatile and can be served at any time of the day. Here are some ideas for what to serve with them:

Breakfast

If serving crescent rolls for breakfast, they can be paired with some homemade strawberry butter, or a drizzle of honey. For a more savoury option, they can be served with eggs and sausage as breakfast sandwiches.

Lunch

For lunch, air-fried green beans and bacon, or air-fryer honey dijon salmon are good options to serve with crescent rolls.

Dinner

Crescent rolls can be served with Tuscan chicken soup, air-fryer panko chicken, or Instant Pot Chili for dinner. They also work well as a dinner roll, and can be served with butter and jam, or a little honey.

Dessert

For a sweet treat, crescent rolls can be served with cinnamon sugar, or filled with chocolate and Nutella for some indoor s'mores.

Frequently asked questions