Air-Fryer Croissant: Is It Possible?

Yes, you can cook croissants in an air fryer! Whether you're cooking them from frozen or fresh, the air fryer is a great way to make croissants without having to turn on your oven. It's also a quick way to reheat croissants, giving them that fresh-from-the-bakery taste and texture in just a few minutes.

How to cook croissants in an air fryer

Ingredients

• Croissants (fresh, frozen, or refrigerated canned crescent dough)
• Cooking spray or oil spray
• Optional fillings: ham, cheese, chocolate spread, fruit jam, butter, etc.
• Optional toppings: egg wash, milk, or melted butter

Method

First, decide if you want to add any fillings to your croissants. If so, use a knife to cut the croissants in half lengthways, then add your chosen fillings. Put the top back on the croissants to close them off. If you are using refrigerated canned crescent dough, unroll the dough and separate the triangles at the perforations before rolling each triangle into a crescent shape.

Next, preheat your air fryer to between 165°C/330°F and 180°C/350°F. Spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray or oil to prevent sticking. Then, place your croissants into the basket in a single layer, spaced apart to allow hot air to circulate. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the croissants in batches.

Cook for 6-12 minutes, checking regularly to avoid overcooking. The croissants are ready when they are crispy and golden brown. Enjoy your croissants warm, perhaps with a cup of coffee or tea!

How to reheat croissants in an air fryer

Step 1: Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C/180°C). Preheating ensures that your croissants start reheating immediately, helping to achieve that perfect texture.

Step 2: Prepare the Croissants

Place your croissants in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Be sure to give them some space so that the hot air can circulate around each one, ensuring even reheating. If you’re reheating multiple croissants, you may need to do this in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Step 3: Reheat the Croissants

Air fry the croissants for 3-5 minutes, checking them halfway through. The exact time will depend on the size and thickness of your croissants. You can also air fry frozen croissants; these may take slightly longer, around 10-12 minutes.

Step 4: Enjoy!

Once reheated, carefully remove the croissants from the air fryer using tongs or a spatula. Croissants are best enjoyed warm, so dig in as soon as they're ready to savour that freshly baked taste and texture.

Tips:

• Don’t overcrowd the basket. This ensures that each croissant reheats evenly, with a perfect balance of crispness and warmth.
• Watch the time: Croissants can go from perfectly warm to overcooked quickly, so keep a close eye on them, especially if they’re smaller or already quite brown.
• Add a little extra flavour: For a special treat, slice open the croissant and add a little chocolate spread, fruit jam, a touch of sugar or cinnamon, or even some ham and cheese.

How to make sweet croissants in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• Croissants (pre-made or canned crescent roll dough)
• Cooking spray or oil
• Filling of your choice (e.g. Nutella, strawberries, blueberries, icing sugar)

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 170°C or 350°F.
• If using canned crescent roll dough, open the container and unroll the dough on a clean kitchen surface. Score along the perforated lines to create large triangles.
• Starting from the shortest side, roll the pastry until you reach the edge. Curve the ends to form a crescent shape.
• Brush the croissants with egg wash, milk, or melted butter (optional).
• Spray your air fryer basket with cooking oil.
• Place the croissants in a single layer, spaced apart, in the preheated air fryer.
• Air fry at 330°F/165°C for 6-7 minutes, or until golden brown.
• If desired, add fillings of your choice. For sweet croissants, try filling with Nutella, strawberries, or blueberries, and dust with icing sugar.
• Enjoy your freshly made sweet croissants!

Tips:

• Don't roll the crescent dough too tightly; allow room for the dough to expand and cook through.
• If using pre-made croissants, cut them in half before filling and air frying.
• Keep an eye on your croissants as they cook—they can burn quickly!

How to make savoury croissants in an air fryer

Ingredients:

• Croissants
• Ham
• Cheese (e.g., tasty cheese slices, Swiss, gouda, or Jarlsberg)
• Optional fillings: cream cheese, tomato, herbs, and pesto

Utensils:

• Chopping board
• Knife

Method:

• Preheat your air fryer to 170-180°C/340-350°F for 5 minutes.
• Use a knife to cut the croissants in half lengthways.
• Layer ham slices and your choice of fillings on the bottom half of the croissant.
• Top with cheese slices.
• Put the top back on the croissants to close them off. Secure with a toothpick if the top keeps flying off.
• Place the croissants into the air fryer basket in a single layer, spaced apart.
• Air fry for 2 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and the croissants are a light golden brown.
• Serve immediately.

Tips:

• Keep an eye on your croissants as they cook very quickly.
• If you are using frozen croissants, air fry them for 1 minute first to make them easier to cut in half.
• If you are making sweet croissants, toast them and add the fillings once toasted.
• If you are making savoury croissants with mozzarella sticks, roll the crescent dough around the cheese before placing in the air fryer.

How to make crescent rolls in an air fryer

Ingredients

• 1 can of crescent roll dough
• Cooking spray or oil
• Flavour additions (optional)

Method

• Open the can of crescent roll dough and unroll it on a clean surface.
• Separate the pre-cut triangles by scoring along the perforated lines.
• Roll each triangle into a crescent shape, starting from the shortest side and rolling to the pointy edge. Don't roll them too tightly, as the dough needs room to expand.
• If desired, brush the crescent rolls with flavour additions such as an egg wash, milk, butter, or garlic powder.
• Spray your air fryer basket with cooking oil or brush it with oil to prevent sticking.
• Place the crescent rolls in a single layer in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching each other or the sides of the basket. Leave enough space for the hot air to circulate and for the rolls to expand. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook them in batches.
• Air fry at 330-350°F/165°C for 6-7 minutes, or until the crescent rolls are lightly golden and cooked through. Check the rolls after 5 minutes to ensure they do not burn.
• If cooking multiple batches, subsequent batches will cook faster as the air fryer will already be preheated.

Tips

• You can line your air fryer basket with perforated parchment paper for easy cleanup, but it is not necessary.
• If your crescent rolls are still slightly raw in the middle after cooking, turn off the air fryer and leave them in the closed air fryer to allow the residual heat to cook the centres.
• If you are using an oven-style air fryer, your crescent rolls may burn on top or remain raw in the middle. Test one or two first before cooking a full batch.

Frequently asked questions