Air Fryer Crescent Rolls: Perfect Timing For Crispy Treats

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 these rolls is that they can be made in under 10 minutes and require no preheating time. The circulating hot air of the air fryer makes the canned crescent dough rise beautifully, resulting in a crispy, flaky exterior and a warm, tender interior.

Preheat the air fryer to 350°F

Preheating your air fryer to 350°F is a crucial step in achieving the perfect crescent rolls. This temperature ensures that your crescent rolls cook evenly and efficiently, resulting in a flaky and delicious treat. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you master the process:

Step 1: Prepare the Air Fryer

Firstly, ensure your air fryer is clean and free of any residue from previous cooking sessions. If needed, give it a quick wipe with a damp cloth to remove any crumbs or grease. This step is important for food hygiene and to prevent any unwanted flavours from transferring to your crescent rolls.

Step 2: Set the Temperature

Set the temperature of your air fryer to 350°F. This temperature is ideal for cooking crescent rolls, as it allows them to cook through without burning. Depending on your air fryer model, you may need to refer to the user manual to understand how to adjust the temperature settings.

Step 3: Allow for Preheating

Give your air fryer a few minutes to reach the desired temperature. Preheating ensures that your crescent rolls start cooking at the right temperature as soon as they are placed inside. This step is essential for consistent and even cooking. Most air fryers will have a preheat light or indicator to let you know when it's ready.

Step 4: Monitor the Temperature

Keep an eye on the temperature gauge or indicator light to ensure that your air fryer maintains a consistent temperature of 350°F. Some air fryers may have automatic temperature controls, while others may require manual adjustments. Refer to your air fryer's instructions for specific details.

Step 5: Prepare the Crescent Rolls

While your air fryer is preheating, you can use this time to prepare your crescent rolls. Open the can of crescent roll dough and unroll the sheet of dough onto a piece of parchment paper or a cutting board. Separate the triangles and roll each one up, starting from the wide end and moving towards the point, to form the crescent shape.

Step 6: Final Checks

Before placing the crescent rolls into the air fryer, double-check that the temperature is still at 350°F. This ensures that your air fryer is at the optimal temperature for cooking. If you need to make any adjustments, do so now to maintain consistency.

Preheating your air fryer to 350°F is a simple yet important step in the process of making crescent rolls. By following these steps, you'll be on your way to enjoying warm, flaky, and perfectly cooked crescent rolls in no time!

Roll out the crescent roll dough

To roll out the crescent roll dough, first, divide the dough into equal portions to make it more manageable. Then, roll out a portion of the dough into a long rectangle shape. The thinner the dough is rolled, the more flaky layers the crescent rolls will have. Aim for a thickness of about 1/8 of an inch.

Once the dough rectangle is rolled out, trim away any rough edges. Then, cut the dough into long, skinny triangles. Ideally, the triangles should be about 2 inches wide at the wide end and about 4 inches long. However, the exact dimensions are not extremely important.

To shape the crescents, start at the wide end of a triangle and roll towards the narrow end, ensuring the point is tucked under the roll. Then, simply bend the roll into a curved crescent shape.

Shape the dough into a crescent

Shaping the dough into a crescent is a simple process. First, you'll need to pop open the can of crescent roll dough and unroll the sheet of dough onto a flat surface. You can use parchment paper or a cutting board for this step.

Once the dough is unrolled, you'll see that it's already been divided into pre-cut triangles. Carefully separate these triangles, as they will form the basis for your crescent rolls.

Now, it's time to start shaping! Take one triangle and roll it up, starting from the long end and moving towards the narrow point. As you roll, the dough will naturally curve and form that classic crescent shape. Repeat this process for each triangle until you have a beautiful batch of crescent rolls ready for the air fryer.

If you want to get creative, you can even stuff your crescent rolls with delicious fillings like cheese or pizza toppings before rolling them up. Experiment with different flavours and fillings to find your favourite combinations!

Once your crescent rolls are shaped, it's time to place them in the air fryer and let the cooking begin!

Place the crescent rolls in the air fryer basket

When you're ready to cook your crescent rolls, it's time to place them in the air fryer basket. This is a simple but important step, as you want to make sure they cook evenly and don't stick to the basket.

First, you'll want to prepare your air fryer basket. You can do this by brushing or spraying the basket with oil, or lining it with air fryer parchment paper. Parchment paper is not necessary, but it can make for easier cleanup if you prefer to use it. If you do use parchment paper, it's important to make sure it's perforated so that air can still flow freely around the crescent rolls.

Now it's time to place the crescent rolls in the basket. Arrange them in a single layer, making sure they're not touching each other or the sides of the basket. This is important to ensure even cooking and to allow the rolls room to expand. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the crescent rolls in batches. For example, if you have a smaller air fryer, you may only be able to fit four crescent rolls at a time.

When arranging the crescent rolls in the basket, it's also a good idea to leave some space between each roll. This will help ensure that they cook evenly and don't stick together. Depending on the size and shape of your air fryer basket, you may need to experiment a bit to find the best arrangement.

Once you have the crescent rolls arranged in the basket, you're almost ready to start cooking. Just remember to leave some room for expansion, as the rolls will rise and expand during cooking. And if you're cooking a large batch, you may need to work in batches to ensure even cooking.

With the crescent rolls placed in the air fryer basket and some room left for expansion, you're now ready to move on to the next step of cooking your delicious treats!

Air fry at 330°F for 5-7 minutes

Air frying crescent rolls at 330°F for 5-7 minutes is a quick and easy way to get delicious, flaky, and fluffy crescent rolls. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you achieve the perfect results:

Step 1: Prepare the Crescent Rolls

Start by opening the can of crescent roll dough and carefully separating the pre-cut triangles. It's important not to roll them too tightly. Instead, roll them slightly loose, starting from the wide end down to the point, to allow the dough to expand and cook evenly. You can also slightly curl the ends of the dough into a crescent shape if you prefer.

Step 2: Prepare the Air Fryer Basket

You have a couple of options when it comes to preparing your air fryer basket. You can either spray it with oil or line it with perforated parchment paper or a silicone liner. Parchment paper or a liner can help the crescent rolls keep their shape and prevent sticking, but they may slightly affect the airflow. If you choose to use parchment paper, cut an 8-inch round piece to place in the bottom of the basket.

Step 3: Place the Crescent Rolls in the Air Fryer

Arrange the crescent rolls in a single layer in the prepared air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching each other or the sides of the basket. Leave enough space between them to allow for expansion during cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the crescent rolls in batches.

Step 4: Air Fry at 330°F for 5-7 Minutes

Set your air fryer to 330°F and cook the crescent rolls for 5-7 minutes. Keep a close eye on them, as all air fryers cook differently. Start checking on them at the 4- or 5-minute mark to ensure they don't burn. The crescent rolls are ready when they are golden brown on the outside and cooked through.

Step 5: Brush with Butter (Optional)

Once the crescent rolls are cooked, you can brush a little butter on top for extra flavour. It's best to do this after cooking so you can fully taste the butter. You can also serve the crescent rolls with butter and jam on the side.

Tips for Success:

• If you are cooking multiple batches, you may need to reduce the timing by a few minutes for subsequent batches since your air fryer will already be preheated.
• If your crescent rolls are browning too quickly or burning, try turning them over halfway through the cooking process.
• If you find that your crescent rolls are raw in the centre, try turning off the air fryer and leaving them in the closed air fryer to utilise the residual heat and allow the centres to cook through.

Frequently asked questions