Air Fryer Cinnamon Apple Empanadas

These air fryer cinnamon apple empanadas are one of my favorite easy desserts to make. They come out golden, flaky, and filled with warm apple filling that tastes like fall in every bite.

The best part is how simple they are. You only need a handful of ingredients and about 15 minutes to have a batch ready to eat.

Using the air fryer gives them that perfectly crispy outside without deep frying. So you get all the crunch without the mess or extra oil.

They work great as an after-dinner treat, a quick snack, or even something fun to make with your family on the weekend. Once you try them, you will want to make them all the time.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Only 5 Ingredients – You just need pie crust, apple pie filling, an egg, water, and cinnamon sugar. That’s it. You probably already have most of these in your kitchen right now.

Ready in Minutes – These empanadas come together so fast in the air fryer. From start to finish, you’re looking at about 15 to 20 minutes, which makes them perfect for a quick dessert or snack.

No Deep Frying Needed – Traditional empanadas are usually deep fried in a pot of oil, but the air fryer gives you that same golden, crispy shell without all the grease. They come out so much lighter and less messy.

Perfect for Beginners – If you’re new to air fryer cooking or baking in general, this is a great recipe to start with. There’s no complicated folding techniques or homemade dough to stress about.

Ingredients

• 1 box Refrigerated Pie Crust
• 1 cup Canned Apple Pie Filling
• 1 large Egg
• 1 tbsp Water
• 2 tbsp Cinnamon Sugar Blend

How to Make

Step 1

Unroll the pie crusts onto a flat surface and use a round cookie cutter or a glass to cut out 4-inch circles.

Step 2

Chop the apple pie filling into smaller, bite-sized pieces so it fits easily inside the dough.

Step 3

Place a small spoonful of the apple filling in the center of each pie crust circle.

Step 4

Fold the dough over into a half-moon shape and crimp the edges tightly with a fork to seal.

Step 5

Whisk the egg and water to make an egg wash, brush lightly over the empanadas, and sprinkle generously with the cinnamon sugar blend.

Step 6

Air fry at 350F for 8 to 10 minutes until golden and flaky.

Tips

Let the Pie Crust Warm Up a Little

Take the pie crusts out of the fridge about 10-15 minutes before you start working with them. If the dough is too cold, it cracks and breaks when you try to fold it over.

You want it cool enough to handle but soft enough to bend without splitting. If you see cracks forming when you fold, give it another few minutes on the counter.

Don’t let it sit out too long though. If it gets too warm and sticky, it becomes hard to work with and won’t crisp up as nicely in the air fryer.

Chop the Apple Filling Into Small Pieces

The apple pieces in canned pie filling are way too big to fit inside a 4-inch empanada. Take a knife and chop them up into small bite-sized bits so they lay flat inside the dough.

If you leave the pieces too large, they poke through the dough or create air pockets that make sealing really difficult. Smaller pieces also mean every bite has a nice even amount of filling.

You can do this right on a cutting board or even chop them up inside the can with kitchen scissors. Either way works fine.

Don’t Overfill Them

It’s tempting to load up each empanada with filling, but a small spoonful is all you need. About one tablespoon per circle is the sweet spot for a 4-inch round.

If you put too much filling inside, the edges won’t seal properly and everything leaks out during cooking. You’ll end up with a mess in your air fryer basket and flat, soggy empanadas.

Less filling also means the dough around the edges stays thick enough to get that nice golden, flaky crunch you’re looking for.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer Churros
• Air Fryer Cinnamon Roll Bites
• Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Donut Cakes
• Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
• Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I seal the empanadas so they don’t open up in the air fryer?

After placing a spoonful of apple pie filling in the center of each dough circle, fold the dough over and press the edges firmly together with your fingers. Then use a fork to crimp all the way around the sealed edge, which locks everything in place and gives them that classic empanada look.

Make sure not to overfill them. If too much filling is pushing against the edges, the seal is more likely to pop open while cooking. About a tablespoon of filling per empanada is usually the sweet spot.