Air-Fryer Fried Dough: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Making fried dough in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to satisfy your sweet tooth without the mess of traditional frying. This method offers a healthier alternative to deep-frying, as it requires significantly less oil while still achieving a crispy exterior and soft, fluffy interior. The process is simple: start by preparing your dough, then roll it out and cut it into your desired shape. Brush the air fryer basket with butter or spray it with cooking oil to prevent sticking, and place the dough inside, making sure not to overcrowd the basket. Set the air fryer to 350°F and fry the dough for around 5 minutes, flipping it halfway through. Once cooked, brush the fried dough with melted butter and sprinkle with toppings of your choice, such as cinnamon sugar, chocolate sauce, or grated cheese.

Choosing the right oil for frying

When choosing the right oil for frying in an air fryer, there are several factors to consider, including the smoke point of the oil, the type of food being cooked, and the desired taste. Here are some tips to help you select the best oil for frying:

• Smoke Point: The smoke point of an oil is the temperature at which it starts to break down and emit smoke. When choosing an oil, select one with a higher smoke point than the temperature you will be cooking at. Oils with high smoke points include avocado oil, peanut oil, sunflower oil, light olive oil, and clarified butter (ghee).
• Type of Food: Consider the type of food you are cooking. For example, if you are cooking vegetables or foods with little to no fat, it is best to remove moisture before coating them with oil. On the other hand, if you are cooking fish, pizza, or chicken, you can pour oil into the bottom of the air fryer basket.
• Taste: Oils can be categorized into neutral-tasting oils and fragrant oils with stronger tastes. Neutral oils like deodorized avocado oil, organic virgin sesame oil, and grapeseed oil are ideal for spicy or strongly flavoured recipes as they do not alter the taste of the food. Fragrant oils like extra virgin olive oil and organic cooking sunflower oil can enhance the flavour of milder dishes.
• Health: Air fryers are a healthier alternative to deep frying as they require significantly less oil. When choosing an oil, consider one that is rich in healthy fats, such as avocado oil, which is rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fats, or sunflower oil, which is rich in vitamin E and unsaturated fats.

Remember, when using an air fryer, you only need a small amount of oil, and you can use a spray bottle or brush to apply it lightly to your food.

Preparing the dough

Ingredients

Firstly, you will need to gather your ingredients. The exact ingredients you will need depend on the type of dough you are making. For example, if you are making a vegan dough, you will need to use plant-based milk and butter. If you are making gluten-free dough, you will need to use a gluten-free flour blend with an extra spoonful of tapioca starch.

For a basic dough, you will need:

• Flour
• Baking powder
• Salt
• Sugar
• Butter
• Milk
• Vanilla extract

Method

Once you have gathered your ingredients, it is time to start making the dough. Here is a step-by-step guide:

• Mix your dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar) in a large bowl.
• Add the wet ingredients (melted butter, milk, and vanilla extract) to the dry ingredients and mix until combined.
• Transfer the dough to a board or flat surface and knead it with your hands for about 2-5 minutes.
• Form the dough into a ball and let it rest for 10 minutes.
• After the dough has rested, divide it into 8-16 pieces, depending on the size of your air fryer.
• Roll each piece of dough into a circle, about 1/4-1/2 inch thick.

Now your dough is ready to be cooked in your air fryer!

Shaping the dough

Firstly, after preparing your dough, divide it into smaller pieces. The number of pieces will depend on the size of the dough balls or disks you want to make. For dough balls, aim for a size similar to a small red potato. For dough disks, roll out each piece to about 1/4 inch to 1/2 inch thick. This will ensure even cooking and provide more surface area for toppings.

Next, if you are making dough twists, cut each dough piece into two halves and twist them together 3 to 4 times. This will give your fried dough a unique shape and texture.

If you want to make bite-sized treats, you can shape the dough into small balls. Just remember to adjust the cooking time as they may cook faster, and be sure to turn them halfway through for even browning.

Once you have shaped your dough, place the pieces on a cookie sheet or a greased air fryer pan, making sure they don't overlap. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the dough in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Finally, brush the shaped dough with melted butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking and give them a golden colour. You can also sprinkle sugar or cinnamon sugar on top before air frying for a sweet and crispy coating.

Air-frying the dough

Prepare the Dough

Before air-frying, you will need to prepare the dough. You can make the dough from scratch or use store-bought dough. If making from scratch, mix the dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar) in a large bowl. Then, add the wet ingredients (melted butter, milk, and vanilla extract) and mix until combined. Transfer the dough to a flat surface and knead it with your hands for a few minutes.

Shape the Dough

Divide the dough into smaller pieces and shape them into balls or flatten them into circles or disks. If using store-bought dough, such as pizza dough or biscuit dough, you may need to cut or roll it into your desired shape.

Preheat the Air Fryer

Preheat your air fryer to around 350°F (175-177°C). It is important to preheat the air fryer to ensure even cooking and browning.

Prepare the Air Fryer Basket

Lightly spray or brush the air fryer basket with olive oil, melted butter, or cooking spray to prevent sticking. You can also line the basket with perforated parchment paper for easier cleanup.

Place the Dough in the Air Fryer

Place the shaped dough into the air fryer basket in a single layer, making sure they don't overlap. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to cook the dough in batches to avoid overcrowding.

Air-Fry the Dough

Set the air fryer temperature to 350°F (175-177°C) and cook the dough for about 5 minutes. For dough shapes that are not flat, such as balls, cook for 3 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 3 minutes or until done. For flat dough shapes, cook for 5 minutes, then flip and cook for an additional 3-5 minutes until golden brown and puffed up.

Brush with Butter (Optional)

Once the dough is cooked, remove it from the air fryer and brush it with melted butter if desired. This step will add richness and help any toppings adhere to the dough.

Toppings

The beauty of fried dough is its versatility when it comes to toppings. A classic option is to sprinkle the warm dough with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar for a sweet treat. You can also get creative and experiment with various sweet or savoury toppings, such as chocolate sauce, fruit compote, whipped cream, grated cheese, or herbs.

Serve and Enjoy

Fried dough is best enjoyed warm, straight out of the air fryer. It is a delicious treat that can be served as a dessert, snack, or even an appetizer.

Storing and Reheating

Fried dough is best enjoyed fresh, but you can store leftovers in an airtight container. It will stay fresh at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. To reheat, place the fried dough back in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-5 minutes until warmed through and crispy.

Serving suggestions

There are endless ways to serve air-fried dough, depending on whether you want to go down the sweet or savoury route.

For a sweet treat, you could sprinkle the dough with cinnamon sugar, powdered sugar, honey, maple syrup, chocolate sauce, Nutella, fruit jams, whipped cream, or fresh berries. For a more indulgent option, you could top the dough with a combination of peanut butter and sliced bananas, apple slices with caramel sauce, bacon bits with maple syrup, or goat cheese and honey.

If you're looking for a savoury option, you could sprinkle the dough with olive oil and garlic salt, grated cheese (like Parmesan or cheddar), pesto, marinara sauce, chopped herbs (like parsley or cilantro), or sliced olives or jalapeños.

You can also get creative and experiment with different combinations of toppings to find your favourite!

Frequently asked questions