The air fryer cream puffs are a delightful and light interpretation of a classic pastry dessert. The magic of the air fryer allows you to achieve golden and crispy puffs on the outside, maintaining softness and lightness inside, without the excess oil typical of traditional frying.
To make air fryer cream puffs, just mix the basic ingredients: flour, butter, sugar, and eggs. The dough is then shaped into small bites and placed in the air fryer, where they will be cooked evenly without the addition of other ingredients. The result will be light and delicious puffs, ready to be filled with custard, cream, or any other filling.
This recipe not only offers a healthier way to enjoy cream puffs but also opens the door to creative variations. You can experiment with different fillings, both sweet and savory, glazes, and decorations, customizing them according to your preferences or the occasion. Whether you’re a dessert enthusiast or simply want a lighter version of a classic, air fryer cream puffs are the perfect choice to satisfy your sweet tooth without guilt.
If you’re looking for other choux pastry and cream puff recipes to make in the oven, also try:
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Very Cheap
- Rest time: 15 Minutes
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 26
- Cooking methods: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All Seasons
- Energy 26.39 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 2.08 (g) of which sugars 0.07 (g)
- Proteins 0.85 (g)
- Fat 1.67 (g) of which saturated 1.00 (g)of which unsaturated 0.66 (g)
- Fibers 0.06 (g)
- Sodium 36.00 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 7 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for Air Fryer Cream Puffs
- 1/2 cup water
- 3 tbsp butter
- 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 pinch salt
Tools for Air Fryer Cream Puffs
- Pot
- Wooden Spoon
- Piping Bag
- Parchment Paper
- Air Fryer
How to Make Air Fryer Cream Puffs
To prepare the air fryer cream puffs, start by making the base choux pastry. In a pot, pour the water, add the butter and a pinch of salt, and cook until it starts to boil. Add all the flour.
Stir quickly over low heat. Stop when no film forms on the bottom of the pot, and the dough forms a ball. Let it cool slightly. In the meantime, crack the eggs and weigh them. They should be about 110 g. Beat them with a fork. Slowly pour them into the dough, constantly stirring. Add a little at a time, only when the previous amount is completely absorbed. Let everything cool.
Put the choux pastry into a piping bag (choose whether to use a decorative or plain nozzle). Shape the puffs, to your desired size, directly on parchment paper inside the air fryer.
Preheat the air fryer and cook at 350°F for 5 minutes, then increase the temperature to 390°F and cook for another 6 minutes. Let them cool and fill as you wish!
Enjoy your meal!
Storage
Air fryer cream puffs keep for several days, although they tend to lose their initial crispiness.
FAQ
Can I use the same dough to bake them in the oven?
Yes, always use a fan oven.
Can I use this dough for the sweet version?
The choux pastry has a neutral taste, suitable for both sweet and savory fillings.
What size are the cream puffs?
You can make them any size you prefer, even in a ring shape like zeppole. The result is always perfect.
