Air-Fried Sopapillas: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Sopapillas are a traditional Mexican dessert that is typically deep-fried and served with honey or cinnamon sugar. However, you can make a healthier version of this sweet treat in an air fryer. Air-fried sopapillas are a tasty and healthier alternative to the traditional deep-fried version. They are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, and the cinnamon sugar topping adds the perfect amount of sweetness. This recipe will show you how to make delicious sopapillas in an air fryer in under 30 minutes.

Making the dough

Firstly, gather your ingredients. For the dough, you will need flour, baking powder, salt, and a liquid such as water or milk. Some recipes also call for a form of fat, such as butter, oil, or shortening, to be added to the dough.

In a large bowl, combine the dry ingredients: flour, baking powder, and salt. Give them a good mix to ensure they are evenly distributed. If your recipe includes a fatty ingredient, now is the time to add it. Using your hands or a fork, work the fat into the flour mixture until it is well incorporated. This step may take a while, so be patient and keep mixing until you have a consistent texture.

Next, you will need to add your liquid. Pour a small amount of hot (but not scalding) water into the bowl and begin to work the dough with your fingers, gradually adding more water as needed. Continue mixing until the dry ingredients are moistened and a dough begins to form. You may need to adjust the amount of liquid depending on the consistency of your dough—it should be moist enough to hold together but not sticky.

Once you have a rough dough, it's time to knead it. Lightly flour your work surface and turn out the dough. Knead the dough for a few minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic. This step helps to develop the gluten in the dough, which will give your sopapillas a nice texture.

After kneading, form the dough 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 allows the gluten to relax, making the dough easier to roll out later. It also helps the dough to retain its shape during cooking.

Once the dough has rested, you can move on to the next step: rolling and cutting. Lightly flour your work surface again and place the dough on it. Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough to your desired thickness. Most recipes recommend a thickness of around 1/4 inch. Once the dough is rolled out, use a knife, cookie cutter, or pastry cutter to cut it into your desired shape.

And there you have it! Your sopapilla dough is now ready to be cooked in your air fryer. Remember to spray your air fryer basket and the dough with a light coating of oil before placing them in the air fryer to cook. Enjoy the delicious results!

Frying the sopapillas

Once you've prepared the dough, it's time to fry the sopapillas. Start by spraying the air fryer basket with olive oil or non-stick cooking spray. This will prevent the dough from sticking to the basket. Place the dough in the basket, making sure not to overcrowd it. Set the air fryer temperature to between 350°F and 375°F. The cooking time will vary depending on the desired level of browning, but it should take around 3 to 8 minutes. For even cooking, flip the sopapillas halfway through the cooking process. Once they are golden brown, remove them from the basket.

If you're making cinnamon sopapillas, brush the sopapillas with melted butter and sprinkle a mixture of cinnamon and sugar on top. You can also drizzle honey on top for extra sweetness. For a chocolatey twist, drizzle with melted chocolate instead of honey. If you prefer your sopapillas savoury, you can skip the cinnamon sugar and honey and serve them with a side of salsa and sour cream.

Sopapillas are best served fresh and warm, as they tend to lose their crispiness over time. If you have any leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. To reheat, simply place them back in the air fryer at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes until they are heated through and crispy again.

Cinnamon sugar topping

To make the cinnamon sugar topping, combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. The exact measurements will depend on your taste preferences, but a common ratio is 1/4 cup of sugar to 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon. You can also adjust the amount of cinnamon to suit your taste, adding more if you prefer a stronger cinnamon flavour.

Once you have cooked your sopapillas and brushed them with butter, sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture over the top. The butter will help the cinnamon sugar stick to the sopapillas and create a delicious, sweet glaze.

For an extra indulgent treat, you can also drizzle the sopapillas with honey before serving. This adds another layer of sweetness and complements the cinnamon sugar perfectly.

If you want to get creative, you can also experiment with different types of sugar or sweetener. For example, you could use powdered sugar, granulated sugar, or a sugar substitute like Splenda Monk Fruit Sweetener. You could also add other spices to the cinnamon sugar mixture, such as a pinch of nutmeg or ground cloves, for a unique flavour profile.

Honey drizzle

Honey is a key ingredient in the traditional sopapillas recipe. Sopapillas are typically served warm and drizzled with honey or sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. The honey adds a sweet and sticky element to the pastry, complementing the crispy and fluffy texture of the sopapillas.

When making sopapillas in an air fryer, the honey drizzle remains an essential component. After cooking the sopapillas, you can brush them with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Then, drizzle the honey on top to finish the dessert.

For an extra indulgent touch, you can also add a dollop of homemade whipped cream on top of the honey-drizzled sopapillas. This combination of warm, crispy pastry, sweet honey, and creamy whipped cream is sure to be a delightful treat.

Additionally, you can experiment with different types of honey to find your preferred flavour. Whether you prefer a milder variety or a stronger, more assertive honey, the options are endless to customise your sopapillas to your taste.

Remember, sopapillas are best served fresh, as they tend to lose their crispiness over time. So, enjoy your freshly made, honey-drizzled sopapillas while they're still warm and crispy!

Serving suggestions

Sopapillas are a versatile dish that can be served in a variety of ways, both sweet and savoury. Here are some serving suggestions for air-fried sopapillas:

Savoury

For a savoury option, you can fill the sopapillas with ground meat and cheese and serve them with a side of salsa and sour cream. This makes for a delicious lunch or dinner meal.

Sweet

For a sweet treat, the traditional way to enjoy sopapillas is to sprinkle them with cinnamon sugar and drizzle them with honey. You could also dust them with powdered sugar, granulated sugar, or a sugar-cinnamon mixture.

If you want to get creative, you can fill the sopapillas with a sweet berry jam or spread some cream cheese frosting on top for a quick sopapilla cheesecake. For a chocolatey twist, drizzle them with melted chocolate instead of honey, similar to a churro.

Sopapillas also go well with a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream, or with a warm drink like coffee or hot chocolate.

Frequently asked questions