Air Fryer Homemade Croissants (Printable)

Golden, flaky croissants made effortlessly in the air fryer—buttery layers of French pastry perfection for breakfast.

# 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

# Directions:

01 - Dissolve yeast in warm milk with 1 teaspoon of sugar. 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 out, 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. Starting from the wide end, roll each triangle toward the tip to form crescent shapes.
08 - Place shaped croissants 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 egg wash 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. Cool slightly before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The air fryer creates that impossibly flaky exterior without heating up your entire kitchen
  • Nothing beats pulling apart layers you created yourself, still warm from the basket
02 -
  • If your butter starts softening during folding, pop everything back in the fridge immediately
  • Overcrowding the air fryer basket creates steam, which kills the flaky texture completely
03 -
  • Use a ruler for those first few folds until you develop an eye for it
  • Freeze unbaked croissants on a tray before transferring to a bag for make-ahead breakfasts

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