The castagnole in air fryer, a light and tasty dessert. Castagnole are one of the iconic desserts of Italian tradition, especially during the Carnival period. Small golden balls, crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, represent a real treat for adults and children alike. Thanks to the air fryer, you can enjoy them in a lighter version than traditional frying, significantly reducing the use of oil without sacrificing authentic taste.
The air fryer allows you to achieve light and golden castagnole, with a pleasantly soft texture inside and a crunchy crust outside. By using only a minimal amount of oil, calories are reduced, making this dessert more suitable for those following a balanced diet or wanting to indulge in a treat without overdoing it.
Whether for a family party, a snack with friends, or just to satisfy a craving, castagnole in the air fryer are the perfect choice for an irresistible and light dessert.
For these delicious treats, we used the recipe of Bendetta Rossi with a few small variations and halving the quantity.
- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Very inexpensive
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: 25 castagnole weighing about 0.42 oz each.
- Cooking methods: Air frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Carnival
Ingredients for castagnole in air fryer:
- 2 3/4 tbsp vegetable oil
- 1.4 oz granulated sugar
- 1 medium egg (at room temperature)
- 1 tsp vanilla baking powder
- 2 tbsp rum
- 5.8 oz all-purpose flour
- as needed powdered sugar
Tools for castagnole in air fryer:
- 1 Air fryer
- 1 Rolling pin
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Air fryer parchment paper
Steps for preparing and cooking castagnole in air fryer:
In a large bowl, put the granulated sugar, the room-temperature medium egg, the vegetable oil, and the rum (you can substitute with anise liqueur or with orange or lemon zest or with vanilla). Mix the ingredients well, then gradually add the flour with the sifted baking powder.
When the ingredients start to combine, transfer the mixture to a wooden or silicone work surface and work the mixture well to obtain a smooth and homogeneous dough.
Take a small quantity of dough with your hands (about 0.42 oz) and make balls.
Place a perforated sheet of baking paper for the air fryer on the air fryer grill (this way the base of the castagnola will be smooth and not with the grill marks), place the castagnole slightly apart from each other (for a 4-liter fryer, you need a double cooking), spray some oil and cook at 392°F for 4 minutes, then open the basket, spray some more oil and finish cooking at 356°F for 4 minutes (this way they are perfectly golden), they do not need to be turned.
Place the castagnole on a plate and continue cooking the other castagnole if you have a small fryer, then once cooled, dust them with powdered sugar.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
What are the benefits of cooking in an air fryer?
– less fat thanks to the hot air technology that uses little oil
– even cooking with heat distributed evenly for perfect browning
– reduced times thanks to quick preparation without the need for constant supervision compared to traditionally fried products.What variations can be made?
They can be flavored with citrus zest, vanilla, or anise liqueur.
They can also be filled with custard or decorated with dark chocolate.
