Air Fryer Sopapillas – A Quick and Easy Recipe 

Sopapillas are a traditional Mexican dessert that is made with fried dough and topped with butter and cinnamon sugar. It’s a delicious treat that can be enjoyed year-round!

With an air fryer, you can make this sweet treat in minutes without all the mess of frying.

Contents

How to Make Air Fryer Sopapillas?

Here’s how to make sopapillas in the air fryer. 

1. Making the Dough 

The first step to making air fryer sopapillas is to make the dough.

In a medium bowl, combine 2 cups of all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, and 1/2 teaspoon of salt. Stir in 3 tablespoons of melted butter and 1/2 cup of warm water until a dough forms.

Knead the dough for about 2 minutes, then cover it with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let it rest for 15 minutes. 

2. Preheat Your Air Fryer 

  • Once your dough has rested, preheat your air fryer to 375 degrees F.
  • On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to about 1/4 inch thickness. Use a round cookie cutter or a glass to cut the dough into circles.
  • Place the sopapillas in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overcrowd them (you may need to do this in batches).
  • Cook for about 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
  • Remove them from the air fryer and let them cool slightly before topping them with butter and a cinnamon sugar mixture. 

3. Topping Your Air Fryer Sopapillas 

In a small bowl, combine 1/4 cup of sugar and 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon.

sopapillas drizzled with honey served on a white plate - Air Fryer Sopapillas

Brush each sopapilla with melted butter (or coconut oil if desired) and sprinkle with the cinnamon sugar mixture on both sides.

The combination of sweet cinnamon sugar mixed with crispy fried dough is absolutely delicious!  

Why Don’t My Air Fryer Sopapillas Puff Up? 

Let’s look at some of the reasons why your sopapillas may not be coming out as expected. 

1. Not Enough Leavening

One of the most common issues causing sopapillas to not puff up is not using enough leavening in the dough.

If you are using baking powder or yeast as a leavener, make sure that you use enough to help your dough rise properly.

Additionally, make sure that your baking powder or yeast isn’t too old; if it has expired, it won’t do its job properly and your sopapillas won’t puff up. 

2. The Dough Is Too Dry

The other most common issue causing sopapillas to not puff up is having dough that is too dry.

To get the best results, your dough should have a slightly wet consistency (similar to biscuit dough).

If it is too dry, it will not be able to expand and puff up as much when fried. Make sure to add enough liquid (milk, water, etc.) until your dough reaches the correct consistency before frying.  

3. Not Rolling The Dough Thin Enough

Another trick for getting those perfectly puffy sopapillas is making sure you are rolling out your dough thin enough prior to frying.

The thinner the better! This allows more air pockets which will create more space for expansion when heated in oil or air-fried. 

Are Sopapillas And Churros the Same?

Let’s take a look at sopapillas and churros and find out what sets them apart. 

1. Sopapillas:

Sopapillas are small fried pastries made from dough that is usually sweetened with sugar (although there are savory versions as well).

The dough is deep-fried in oil until it puffs up and turns golden brown. Sopapillas are often served as dessert with a drizzle of honey or sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. They can also be filled with fruit or used as a topping for ice cream. 

2. Churros:

Churros are also deep-fried pastries made from dough, but they have a distinct shape that sets them apart from sopapillas. Churro dough is piped through a star-shaped nozzle before being fried in oil until golden brown.

As with sopapillas, churros are often served covered in sugar or cinnamon sugar and may be filled with jam or chocolate spread before being served. 

3. The Big Difference 

The biggest difference between sopapillas and churros lies in their shape—sopapillas are round while churros have the distinctive star shape we mentioned above.

Additionally, while both treats are usually sweetened with sugar or other sweet toppings, sopapillas tend to be slightly sweeter than churros due to the added sugar in their dough recipe. 

How Do You Reheat Sopapillas in An Air Fryer?

Reheating your sopapillas in an air fryer is a great way to make them just as crispy and delicious as when they were first made.

  • To do this, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (205°C).
  • Place your sopapillas in the air fryer basket and cook for about 4-5 minutes or until heated through.
  • Serve warm and enjoy!

The combination of the air fryer’s heat and the sopapilla’s crispy exterior make for a delicious treat. 

If you prefer to add some extra flavor, brush your reheated sopapillas with melted butter or coconut oil before serving. You can also sprinkle with a bit of sugar and cinnamon for an even more delicious treat!

No matter how you choose to eat them, your reheated sopapillas will be the perfect snack or dessert.

Variations:

Air Fryer Sopapillas are a delicious and simple treat that can easily be transformed with a few simple steps.

  • Instead of the traditional topping of honey, why not go for something with a little more decadence? Drizzle melted chocolate over the warm puffed-up pillows for an easy churro-like bite that packs some serious punch.
  • Want more out of your sopapilla experience? Add some savory flair to the mix and serve unseasoned sopapillas as fluffy bread alongside Mexican pulled Pork – now you have an unbeatable sweet and savory combo.
  • Or have fun with your flavors by making sopapilla cheesecake bars! Simply spread on some Keto Cream Cheese Frosting after air frying for a heavenly bite that is sure to please all palates.

Conclusion: 

Making sopapillas in an air fryer is an easy way to enjoy this traditional Mexican dessert without all the mess from frying them up in oil!

All you need are some simple ingredients like flour, baking powder, salt, butter (or coconut oil), water, sugar, and ground cinnamon – no deep-fat frying is required!

Plus they’re ready in minutes so you can enjoy these sweet treats right away! So why not give it a try? With just 10 minutes of prep time needed plus 5-7 minutes of cooking time per batch – you’ll be enjoying delicious air fryer sopapillas before you know it.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc, or its affiliates.

Kapnos Taverna Author - Small
About the author

Natalie is a food enthusiast who spends all of her time trying out new recipes, testing out new appliances, and making her kitchen as awesome as possible. She is a professional writer and blogs here about her love of food & kitchen.

Leave a Comment