Easy Air Fryer Homemade Croissant (Printer-friendly)

Flaky, buttery croissants made effortlessly in the air fryer for a perfect breakfast treat.

# 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 unsalted butter, cold

→ For Brushing

09 - 1 egg, beaten for egg wash

# How To Make It:

01 - Dissolve yeast in warm milk with 1 tsp of sugar in a small bowl. Let sit for 5 minutes until foamy and activated.
02 - Mix flour, remaining sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add melted butter, egg, and yeast mixture. Stir until combined, then knead for 5-8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Form 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 dough into a 12x12 inch square. Place butter block at the center and fold the dough over the butter, sealing edges completely.
05 - Roll out into a 16x8 inch rectangle. Fold into thirds like a letter. Turn 90 degrees, roll, and fold again. Wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
06 - Repeat rolling and folding process one more time, then refrigerate for another 30 minutes.
07 - Roll dough into a 16x10 inch rectangle. Cut into 8 triangles using a sharp knife or pizza cutter.
08 - Starting from the wide end, roll each triangle toward the tip to form a croissant shape. Place on parchment-lined tray, cover, and let rise in a warm place until puffy, about 1-2 hours.
09 - Preheat air fryer to 320°F. Brush risen croissants with beaten egg for golden color.
10 - Place 2-4 croissants in the air fryer basket without overcrowding. Air fry for 8-10 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Repeat with remaining croissants.
11 - Allow croissants to cool slightly before serving warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The air fryer creates impossibly crisp exteriors while keeping the inside tender and buttery, just like your favorite bakery
  • You get all the satisfaction of homemade laminated dough without the anxiety of traditional pastry techniques
  • These croissants freeze beautifully before baking, meaning you can wake up to fresh pastry on any random Tuesday morning
02 -
  • If your butter starts melting into the dough during rolling, stop immediately and refrigerate everything because warm butter equals no layers
  • Do not skip the chilling times between folds because cold dough keeps the butter in distinct layers instead of absorbing it
  • Air fryer temperatures vary wildly, so check your first batch after six minutes and adjust accordingly for subsequent batches
03 -
  • Use a ruler or measure with your hand to ensure even rectangles, which leads to consistently sized croissants that bake evenly
  • Keep a spray bottle of water nearby to lightly mist the dough if it starts drying out while you work

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