These air fryer cinnamon apple empanadas are one of my favorite quick desserts to make. They come out golden, flaky, and filled with warm apple cinnamon goodness.
The whole thing takes about 15 minutes from start to finish. You don’t need any fancy ingredients or skills to pull these off.
The filling is sweet and perfectly spiced, and the crust gets so crispy in the air fryer. Honestly, they taste like something you’d get from a bakery.
They work great as a dessert, a snack, or even something fun to make with your family on a weekend afternoon.
If you have an air fryer and a sweet tooth, you’re going to love these. Let me show you how to make them.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
No Deep Frying Needed – You get all the crispiness without the mess or extra oil of traditional frying.
The Cinnamon Sugar Topping is Everything – That sweet sparkly coating on top adds the best crunch and flavor to every single bite.
Warm Apple Pie Flavor in Every Bite – That sweet cinnamon-spiced apple filling tastes like fall wrapped in a flaky pocket of pastry.
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
Don’t Overfill the Empanadas
I recommend using about one tablespoon of filling per circle – maybe even a little less. It’s tempting to load them up, but too much filling makes it nearly impossible to seal the edges properly.
If the seal breaks open during air frying, the filling leaks out and burns onto the basket. You’ll end up with a mess and empanadas that are open on one side instead of golden and sealed.
A smaller amount of filling also gives the dough room to puff up and get flaky, which is honestly the best part.
Chop the Apple Filling Really Small
The apple chunks in canned pie filling are way too big for empanadas this size. I’ve found that chopping them into pieces about the size of a pea works perfectly.
Smaller pieces spread out more evenly inside the dough and make every bite taste consistent. Big chunks create air pockets around them and can poke through the dough when you try to seal it.
Seal the Edges Twice
After you fold the dough over, press the edges together with your fingers first to get a good initial seal. Then go over the entire edge with a fork, pressing firmly to crimp it shut.
If the dough feels dry and won’t stick to itself, dip your finger in a little water and run it along the inside edge before pressing it closed. This acts like glue and keeps everything locked tight during air frying.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Caramel Apple Pie Taquitos
- Air Fryer Mini Apple Pies
- Air Fryer Cinnamon Apples
- Air Fryer Beef Empanadas
- Air Fryer Churros
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to preheat my air fryer before cooking these?
It depends on your air fryer model, but preheating for about 2-3 minutes at 350F is a good idea. It helps the empanadas start crisping right away and gives you a more even golden color all around.
If you skip preheating, you might need to add an extra minute or two to the cook time. Just keep an eye on them toward the end so they don’t get too dark.
Air Fryer Cinnamon Apple Empanadas
- air fryer
- cookie cutter
- 1 box Refrigerated Pie Crust
- 1 cup Canned Apple Pie Filling
- 1 large Egg
- 1 tbsp Water
- 2 tbsp Cinnamon Sugar Blend
- Unroll the pie crusts onto a flat surface and use a round cookie cutter or a glass to cut out 4-inch circles.
- Chop the apple pie filling into smaller, bite-sized pieces so it fits easily inside the dough.
- Place a small spoonful of the apple filling in the center of each pie crust circle.
- Fold the dough over into a half-moon shape and crimp the edges tightly with a fork to seal.
- Whisk the egg and water to make an egg wash, brush lightly over the empanadas, and sprinkle generously with the cinnamon sugar blend.
- Air fry at 350F for 8 to 10 minutes until golden and flaky.