Air Fryer Sopapillas – The Ultimate Dessert Recipe Made Easy

Cooking Sopapillas in an air fryer allows you to enjoy all the traditional tastes of this popular dessert without the extra fat and calories when they are made using the traditional deep-frying method.

However, if you have never had the pleasure of eating a dessert sopapilla, let me explain. In very general terms, sopapillas are pastry dough that when fried, puff up like a pillow. Then it has a topping of cinnamon sugar and a drizzle of honey to sweeten the pastry dough perfectly.

However, depending on your geographical location, you may have experienced sopapillas in a very different way. That is because there are two general kinds of sopapillas, sweet and savory.

In fact, in the area where I grew up, I had only experienced the savory version. This is when the dough is filled with ground meat and cheese and then deep fried. Make it a delicious lunch or dinner meal when served with a side of salsa and sour cream.

So when I learned about the sweeter variety of sopapillas, that were thought to have originated in New Mexico, I was intrigued. My first thought is that they would have a sweet filling.

However, that was not the case of all. Dessert sopapillas consist of pastry dough that puffs up when cooking, but with no filling inside. Instead, a little extra sweetness is added on top, which typically includes a cinnamon sugar mixture and honey, and your dessert sopapilla is ready to eat!

Once these type of sopapillas were described to me, I immediately thought of my Baked Beignets recipe, which are puffed dough sprinkled with powdered sugar. So what is the difference between the two, besides the sweet topping?

The Difference Between A Sopapilla and Beignet

Although they look quite similar, there is a difference between a Sopapilla and a Beignet.

The primary difference is that a beignet begins with a yeast based dough. That is what makes the beignet taste a lot like a traditional doughnut.

On the contrary, a sopapilla is made with a flour based dough that doesn’t contain yeast. The dough will turn out light and flaky, rather than soft and chewy.

Both are delicious and have a found a permanent spot in my kitchen!

Air Fryer Sopapillas Recipe

*A printable recipe card is located at the bottom of this article which contains the specific measurements, temperatures and cook times. However, continue reading below to learn about more helpful tips about this specific recipe.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 cup flour
• 1/4 tsp. baking powder
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 Tbsp. shortening
• 1/4 cup hot water

Serving Ingredients

• 2/3 cup granulated sugar
• 1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp. honey

INSTRUCTIONS

The first step in making sopapillas is to prepare the dough. In a large bowl, mix together the flour, salt, and baking powder.

Then add the shortening and use your hands to integrate it well with the flour. This will take a little time. So be patient and continue to mix until the flour and shortening are well incorporated.

Next, pour a little portion of the hot water into the bowl. The water should be hot, but not scalding, as you are going to continue to work the dough with your hands.

Continue to work the dough with your fingers, mixing the dry ingredients with the water. Continue to add a little water at a time until the mixture becomes a dough consistency.

On your table or countertop, knead the Air Fryer Sopapillas dough for about 4-5 minutes until it becomes a smooth consistency. When this happens, form a ball with the dough and place it back in the bowl.

Let The Dough Rest

Cover the dough with plastic wrap or kitchen towel and let it rest for at least 20 minutes. This resting time helps the gluten to develop within the dough, which makes it easier to roll the dough.

After the resting time is over, remove the dough from the bowl and slightly knead the dough again on a clean, floured surface. Then form the dough back into a ball.

Using the palm of your hand, flatten the ball a little bit, then cut it into 2 pieces using a knife or a pastry cutter. Roll the 2 pieces of dough in your hands to form two smaller balls.

Place one dough ball on your floured working surface and then cover the other one with plastic wrap and set aside. Using a rolling pin dusted with flour, form the dough in a rectangular shape, until it is about 1/8 – 1/4 inch in thickness.

Set the sopapilla aside and preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). While the air fryer is heating up, roll out the other dough in the same way.

Air Frying Instructions

When you are ready to cook the sopapillas, spray the air fryer basket and both sides of the dough with olive oil spray. Place the dough in the basket and set the air fryer timer for 8 minutes.

After 4 minutes, flip each sopapilla and continue to cook. Once the sopapillas are golden brown, they can be removed from the basket.

Immediately brush both sides with the melted butter. Then place the sopapillas on a plate and sprinkle the tops with the granulated sugar and cinnamon on top.

Drizzle the tops with honey and serve immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why aren’t my sopapillas puffed up very much?

If you have tried traditional, deep-fried sopapillas, your sopapillas will have puffed up significantly. Although they will not be as puffy when cooked in the air fryer, they are still absolutely delicious!

2. Can I sprinkle the tops with powdered sugar?

Sopapillas can be eaten plain or with your choice of sweetener. Traditionally honey is drizzled on top, but you can also sprinkle powdered sugar, granulated sugar or a sugar cinnamon mixture on top.

3. Can I make these ahead of time?

Air Fryer Sopapillas are best served immediately. They will become soft and chewy if served cold. Fortunately this is a small batch recipe where both sopapillas will be cooked at the same time.

4. What else can I make my my Air Fryer?

Although this is one of my favorite recipes to make in my NuWave Air Fryer, you can find other great Air Fryer Recipes on my Air Fryer Recipes page located under the Recipe Index at the top of the page.

However, if you are looking for more recipes, be sure to visit my sister website’s Air Fryer recipe page here: Make Your Meals Air Fryer Recipes.

Enjoy! Mary

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