Air-Fryer Bunuelos: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

There are many variations of bunuelos, from Colombia to Spain, but they are all fried dough treats, usually coated in cinnamon and sugar. They can be made with a variety of flours, from grain-free to gluten-free, and can be deep-fried or air-fried. Air-fried bunuelos are a healthier alternative to their deep-fried counterparts and can be made in an air fryer in a similar way to deep-fried bunuelos.

Choosing the right ingredients

Tortillas: For the traditional bunuelos, choose grain-free tortillas. You can use the Siete Foods Cassava + Coconut Grain-Free Tortillas, or any similar option available to you. If you want to make triangle-shaped chips, cut the tortillas accordingly. This will make them easier to eat as a snack.

Seasoning: The key seasoning for bunuelos is cinnamon sugar. You can use a ready-made option like Primal Palate Cinnamon Sugar Cookie Seasoning, or make your own blend. Combine coconut sugar, or any other type of sugar, with cinnamon to create a delicious cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Oil: When making bunuelos in an air fryer, you can use a spray oil, such as avocado oil spray. This will help to coat the tortillas evenly and ensure they cook to a perfect crispness.

For a more indulgent treat, you can also make dairy-free bunuelos with Country Crock® Plant Butter Sticks with Avocado Oil, which you melt before adding to the mixture.

Flour: If you want to make Colombian bunuelos, which are deep-fried cheese balls, you will need a combination of cornstarch and cassava flour (also known as tapioca starch). This blend will give your bunuelos a crunchy exterior and a soft, fluffy interior. You can also add baking powder to help control the amount of fat absorbed during frying.

Cheese: Authentic Colombian bunuelos use Queso Costeño, a hard, salty, fresh cheese. However, this cheese can be challenging to find outside of Colombia. A great substitute is Cotija cheese, a salty and dry Mexican cheese similar to Parmesan. Finely grate the cheese to ensure a smooth dough and prevent your bunuelos from bursting open during frying.

Additional ingredients: To enhance the flavour and texture of your bunuelos, you can add milk and eggs to the dough. Some recipes also include a small amount of vegetable oil for frying. If you want to fill your bunuelos, you can use pastry cream, egg custard, or your favourite marmalade.

Preparing the dough

To prepare the dough for bunuelos, you will need the following ingredients:

• Flour
• Sugar
• Baking powder
• Baking soda
• Salt
• Vegetable oil or another frying oil
• Eggs
• Lemon zest
• Butter

Some recipes also call for milk, cheese, and/or egg custard.

To make the dough, start by combining water, butter, granulated sugar, lemon zest, and a pinch of salt in a small saucepan. Bring this mixture to a boil. As soon as it boils, add the flour and baking powder and begin stirring with a wooden spoon. Keep stirring until the dough starts to come away from the sides of the pan. Remove the dough from the heat and let it cool down for a few minutes.

When the dough is warm but no longer hot, stir in the eggs, one by one. Use a hand mixer if necessary to ensure that the dough is smooth. Set the dough aside for 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours.

If you want to fill your bunuelos with custard, now is the time to make it while the dough is resting.

Once the dough has rested, you can start frying. Pour vegetable oil or another frying oil into a large, heavy-bottomed frying pan to a depth of about 1.5 inches. Heat the oil on medium-high. When the oil is hot enough, start dropping spoonfuls of dough into it. Turn the bunuelos over when the bottoms are golden, and remove them from the oil when they are golden and floating.

Shaping the dough

First, make sure you have all the necessary ingredients for the dough. For example, for Colombian bunuelos, you will need grated cheese, cornstarch, cassava flour, sugar, baking powder, eggs, and milk. For Spanish bunuelos, you will need butter, granulated sugar, lemon zest, flour, baking powder, and eggs. For dairy-free air-fried bunuelos, you will need flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, plant-based cream, plant-based butter, and vanilla extract.

Once you have all the ingredients, you can start shaping the dough. In a large bowl, mix the dry ingredients, such as flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda, if using. In a separate bowl, combine the wet ingredients, such as eggs, milk, plant-based cream, and vanilla extract, if using. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix until well combined. You may need to use your hands to knead the dough until it forms a smooth, play dough-like consistency.

Now, you can start shaping the dough into small balls. For Colombian bunuelos, form small round balls, about 1.5 inches in diameter or about 30 grams each. This will ensure they fry evenly and achieve that perfect crusty exterior. For Spanish bunuelos, you can use a spoon to drop small portions of the dough into the hot oil, as they will expand and take on a light, fluffy texture as they fry. For dairy-free air-fried bunuelos, shape the dough into small, bite-sized balls that will fit comfortably in the air fryer basket without touching.

It is important to note that the size and shape of the dough will affect the cooking time and the final texture of the bunuelos. Smaller, bite-sized balls will cook faster and result in a crispier texture, while larger balls may require a longer cooking time and may have a softer, fluffier texture.

Once you have shaped the dough to your desired size and consistency, you can proceed to the cooking step, whether frying in hot oil or air frying for a healthier alternative.

Air-frying the bunuelos

Air-frying bunuelos is a convenient and healthier alternative to deep-frying them. Here is a step-by-step guide to air-frying bunuelos:

Preparing the Air Fryer and Dough

Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. While the air fryer heats up, prepare the dough by combining the dry ingredients, including flour, sugar, baking powder, and baking soda, in a large bowl. Whisk these ingredients together until well combined. In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients, such as plant-based cream, melted plant-based butter, and vanilla extract.

Combining Wet and Dry Ingredients

Once the wet and dry ingredients are ready, slowly add the wet ingredients to the dry mixture. Stir the two together until they are just combined. Be careful not to overmix the dough.

Shaping the Dough

Next, shape the dough into small, bite-sized balls. This step requires you to use your hands to roll and shape the dough into the desired size. Ensure the dough balls are relatively uniform in size for even cooking.

Placing Dough in the Air Fryer

Carefully place the dough balls into the preheated air fryer basket, making sure they are not touching each other. Leave some space between each dough ball to allow for proper air circulation and even cooking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the bunuelos in batches.

Air Frying the Bunuelos

Close the air fryer and let the bunuelos cook for 8 to 10 minutes. Halfway through the cooking process, shake the air fryer basket to ensure even cooking and browning. Keep a close eye on the bunuelos to avoid overcooking or burning them.

Coating the Bunuelos

Once the bunuelos are golden brown and cooked through, remove them from the air fryer. While they are still warm, roll them in a cinnamon-sugar mixture until they are fully coated. This step gives the bunuelos a delicious, sweet exterior.

Air-frying bunuelos is a relatively simple process, and with these steps, you can enjoy crispy, sweet treats without the need for deep-frying.

Storing and reheating

Buñuelos are best enjoyed freshly made, but if you have leftovers, there are a few ways to store them. If you don't plan on serving them right away, it is best not to sprinkle them with sugar. Instead, add the sugar at serving time after warming them up.

Storing Buñuelos:

If you want to store your buñuelos for a day or two, you can keep them on the counter, covered with a kitchen or paper towel. For longer storage, place them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days.

If you want to keep your buñuelos crispy, it is best not to sprinkle them with sugar until you are ready to serve them. You can store the unsugared buñuelos in an airtight container, and they will stay nice and crispy for another day.

You can also freeze buñuelos if you want to keep them for a more extended period. After frying, let them cool, then wrap them individually in plastic wrap or foil and freeze.

Reheating Buñuelos:

To reheat your buñuelos, you can place them in a preheated oven at 300°F for about two minutes. You can also place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and warm them in a preheated oven at 250°F for 1-2 minutes. Keep an eye on them, as the time may vary depending on your oven and the thickness of the buñuelos.

If you have frozen your buñuelos, you do not need to thaw them before reheating. Place them directly in the oven and heat them until they are warmed through.

Buñuelos are best enjoyed warm and crispy, so reheat them gently and keep an eye on them to avoid overcooking or burning.

If you are making air-fried cinnamon sugar chips (buñuelos), you can store them in an airtight container or ziplock bag for up to 3-4 days. However, they might not last that long, as they are highly addictive!

There are no specific reheating instructions provided for the cinnamon sugar chips. However, you can likely use the same methods as for traditional buñuelos. Place them in a preheated oven at a low temperature for a few minutes to warm them up, and sprinkle with additional cinnamon sugar if desired.

Frequently asked questions