Air Fryer Sopapias: A Tasty, Quick Treat?

Sopapillas, a traditional Mexican dessert, can be made in an air fryer. This healthier alternative to deep-frying involves cooking pieces of dough in an air fryer and sprinkling them with cinnamon sugar and honey. The dough can be made with flour, salt, baking powder, and shortening, and water. The sopapillas are then cooked in the air fryer for around 5-8 minutes, or until golden brown. They can be enjoyed as a sweet breakfast or dessert and are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside.

Air-frying vs deep-frying

Air fryers and deep fryers are both popular options for cooking fried foods, but they use very different methods to achieve similar results. Deep fryers have been a staple in the food industry for years, but air fryers have gained popularity due to their convenience and health benefits.

Deep fryers cook food by submerging it in hot oil or fat, which creates a crispy, browned exterior. On the other hand, air fryers use a fan to rapidly circulate hot air around the food, crisping and browning it with little to no additional oil.

Pros and Cons

Deep Frying

Deep fryers offer a traditional frying experience, creating a classic fried taste and texture. They are versatile, suitable for cooking anything from donuts to fried chicken. However, they require more preparation, attention, and clean-up than air fryers. They also use a lot of oil, which can be messy and expensive, and the process can be time-consuming.

Air Frying

Air fryers are generally considered healthier as they use a fraction of the oil used in deep frying, resulting in lighter, less greasy food. They are also more convenient, requiring less setup, maintenance, and cleanup. However, they may not create the same thick crust as deep fryers, and wet batters may seep through the air fryer basket.

The answer depends on personal preferences and cooking needs. Deep fryers offer a traditional fried taste and texture, but air fryers provide a healthier alternative with less oil and mess. Air fryers are also more versatile, allowing for a range of cooking options beyond just frying. However, deep fryers may be preferred for certain recipes, such as foods with thick or wet batters, as these may not work well in an air fryer.

Ultimately, both options have their advantages and disadvantages, and the best choice depends on the specific needs and preferences of the user.

Cinnamon sugar and honey toppings

For the cinnamon sugar topping, you can mix the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl and dust the sopapillas with the mixture before serving. You can also toss the sopapillas in the cinnamon sugar mixture to ensure they are evenly coated.

For the honey topping, you can drizzle the honey on top of the sopapillas or use it as a dip. Sopapillas are best served warm with honey, as the honey will complement the crispy and fluffy texture of the pastry.

You can also get creative and make chocolate sopapillas by drizzling them with melted chocolate instead of honey, or add a savoury bite by using an unseasoned sopapilla as a fluffy bread alongside Mexican Pulled Pork.

How to make the sopapilla dough

Making sopapilla dough is a straightforward process, but it does require some time and attention to detail. Here is a guide on how to make the perfect sopapilla dough:

Firstly, gather your ingredients. The exact quantities may vary slightly depending on the recipe, but the core ingredients are:

• Flour (all-purpose)
• Shortening or oil (canola or vegetable)
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Water (warm)

You will also need some equipment, such as a large bowl, a stand mixer or hook attachment (optional), a rolling pin, and a knife or pastry cutter.

Start by mixing your dry ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk or stir together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Make sure they are well combined. Then, add in your shortening or oil. If using shortening, use your hands to integrate it well with the flour. This may take a few minutes, so be patient and keep mixing until they are fully incorporated. If using oil, simply stir it in with the dry ingredients.

Next, you will need to add the water to form the dough. Pour a small amount of warm (not hot or boiling) water into the bowl and start to work the dough with your fingers, gradually adding more water until you have a dough-like consistency. You may need to adjust the amount of water depending on the texture—it should not be too dry or too sticky.

Once your dough is formed, it's time to knead. Place the dough on a table or countertop and knead it for about 4-5 minutes until it becomes smooth. Then, form it into a ball and place it back in the bowl. Cover the dough and let it rest for at least 20 minutes. This resting period helps the gluten develop, making it easier to roll out the dough later.

After the resting period, you can start shaping the dough. Remove it from the bowl and knead it again briefly on a clean, floured surface. Then, form it back into a ball and flatten it slightly with the palm of your hand. Cut the dough in half using a knife or pastry cutter. Roll each piece into a smaller ball, and set one aside, covered with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel.

Now it's time to roll out the dough. Using a rolling pin dusted with flour, roll out the dough into a thin, rectangular shape. The ideal thickness will be between 1/8 and 1/4 of an inch. Repeat this process with the other ball of dough while you preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).

Finally, you can cut the dough into your desired shape. Use a cookie cutter, glass, or knife to cut the dough into circles or squares. The size and shape depend on your preference and the type of sopapillas you want to make.

Your sopapilla dough is now ready to be cooked in your air fryer! Follow the cooking instructions specific to your air fryer model, and enjoy your freshly made sopapillas.

Reheating and storing sopapillas

Sopapillas are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For longer storage, you can freeze them for up to 3 months.

Reheating Sopapillas

The best ways to reheat sopapillas are using an oven, toaster oven, or air fryer.

Oven Reheating

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place the leftover sopapillas on the prepared baking sheet.
• Pop them into the preheated oven for about 5 minutes or until they turn golden brown.

Cut-Up Sopapilla Pieces Reheating

• Place the individual pieces on the lined baking sheet without overcrowding.
• Brush each piece lightly with melted butter if desired.
• Bake for approximately 7-10 minutes until they become golden brown and heated through.

Toaster Oven Reheating

• Preheat your toaster oven to 350°F (175°C).
• Place the leftover sopapillas on a baking sheet or directly on the toaster oven rack.
• Allow them to reheat for about 5 minutes until they turn golden brown and warm.

Air Fryer Reheating

• Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
• Place the leftover sopapillas in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't touch.
• Cook for about 2-3 minutes, or until they are heated through and crispy.

Storing Sopapillas

As mentioned, sopapillas can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months. If freezing, wrap them tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe container or bag.

Sopapillas vs churros

Sopapillas, also known as sopaipillas, are a traditional Mexican and Tex-Mex dessert. They are made from a light and fluffy dough that is deep-fried and typically served warm, drizzled with honey, or sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. Sopapillas can also be savoury and filled with ground meat and cheese. They are usually pillow-shaped and puffed up.

Churros, on the other hand, are a traditional Spanish and Latin American dessert. They are made from a denser dough that is also deep-fried. Churros are typically served warm and dusted with cinnamon sugar or served with a chocolate dipping sauce. They are often shaped into long, thin strips, while sopapillas are smaller and puffier.

Sopapillas are typically made from a flour-based dough that does not contain yeast. This results in a light and flaky texture, rather than a soft and chewy one. The dough is rolled out thinly and cut into circular, square, or triangular shapes before being deep-fried. The frying causes the dough to puff up, forming a hollow pocket in the centre.

Churros, on the other hand, are made from a dough that is piped through a pastry bag into long ribbons and then deep-fried. The dough for churros is typically denser and chewier than that of sopapillas.

Both sopapillas and churros can be made in an air fryer, resulting in a healthier version of the dessert as it requires less oil and fat. Sopapillas made in an air fryer may not puff up as much as those made using the traditional deep-frying method, but they are still delicious and crispy on the outside, with a fluffy interior.

Frequently asked questions