Easy Air Fryer Homemade Croissants (Printable View)

Flaky, buttery French pastries made effortlessly in your air fryer for golden breakfast treats.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 2 cups all-purpose flour, plus extra for dusting
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 1 tsp salt
04 - 1 packet (7 g) active dry yeast
05 - 1/2 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
07 - 1 large egg

→ Butter Block

08 - 3/4 cup cold unsalted butter

→ Egg Wash

09 - 1 egg, beaten

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Dissolve yeast in warm milk with 1 teaspoon of sugar in a small bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until mixture becomes foamy.
02 - Combine flour, remaining sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add melted butter, egg, and activated yeast mixture. Stir until combined, then knead for 5-8 minutes until smooth. Shape into a ball, cover, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
03 - Place cold butter between two sheets of parchment paper. Pound and roll into a 6x6 inch square. Refrigerate until firm.
04 - On a floured surface, roll chilled dough into a 12x12 inch square. Position butter block at center and fold dough edges over butter, sealing completely.
05 - Roll dough into a 16x8 inch rectangle. Fold into thirds like a letter. Rotate 90 degrees, roll out, and fold again. Wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
06 - Repeat rolling and folding process one more time, then refrigerate for an additional 30 minutes.
07 - Roll dough into a 16x10 inch rectangle. Cut into 8 triangles. Starting from wide end, roll each triangle toward tip. Place on parchment-lined tray, cover, and let rise in warm place until puffy, about 1-2 hours.
08 - Preheat air fryer to 320°F. Brush croissants with egg wash. Place 2-4 croissants in basket without overcrowding. Air fry for 8-10 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Repeat with remaining croissants.
09 - Cool slightly before serving warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • You get bakery style results without heating up your entire kitchen or waiting for traditional ovens
  • The recipe works surprisingly well for first time laminated dough beginners who want to impress friends
02 -
  • Warm dough makes butter melt into layers instead of staying distinct, so keep everything chilled between folds
  • Overcrowding the air fryer basket causes uneven cooking and prevents proper rising
03 -
  • Use a ruler or measure against your hand to get even sized triangles for consistent baking
  • Place air fryer rack at least two inches from heating element to prevent burning tops

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