Easy Air Fryer Homemade Croissants (Printable)

Flaky, buttery pastries made effortlessly in the air fryer—perfect for breakfast or brunch with authentic French flavor.

# 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

→ For Brushing

09 - 1 egg, beaten

# Directions:

01 - Dissolve yeast in warm milk with 1 tsp 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 center and fold dough over 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 croissant shape.
08 - Place 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 beaten egg wash.
10 - Place 2-4 croissants in air fryer basket without overcrowding. Air fry for 8-10 minutes until golden brown and cooked through. Repeat with remaining croissants.
11 - Cool slightly before serving warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The air fryer creates the most incredibly crisp exterior while keeping the inside tender and flaky
  • You get professional results without the intimidation of traditional pastry techniques
02 -
  • If your butter starts melting into the dough while rolling, stop immediately and return everything to the fridge
  • The air fryer temperature varies by model, so check your first batch a minute early to avoid over browning
03 -
  • Work quickly during lamination and keep everything cold to prevent butter from seeping out
  • The egg wash can be reapplied halfway through air frying for an even deeper golden color

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