These delicious little Air Fryer Mini Apple Danishes use refrigerated crescent roll dough, so they only take 30 minutes to make from start to finish! They’re a great way to use up some extra apples and take your breakfast to the next level.
I am always trying new things with my Air Fryer and when I discovered that I could make mini apple danishes, I did a little happy dance in my kitchen!
No more early morning trips to the bakery and hoping they still have some pastries left. Now, I can make my own mini apple danishes in just half an hour.
This is a fairly low-sugar recipe — it only uses ⅓ cup of brown sugar for eight servings — so you can feel good about starting your day with this breakfast treat. Definitely less sweet than the cinnamon rolls you’d get from your neighborhood bakery.
As an added bonus, your house will smell incredible all day long from the simmering apples. Bath and Body Works has nothing on this!
Gala vs. Honeycrisp Apples
Not sure which type of apple to use for these Air Fryer Mini Apple Danishes? Here’s a quick rundown of Gala and Honeycrisp apples, the two kinds of apples I recommend for this recipe:
- Gala Apples – they’re one of the most popular kinds of apples in the world because they can be grown in both the southern and northern hemispheres. They’re right in the middle when it comes to how sweet, juicy, and crunchy it is, which makes it highly versatile and great for baking.
- Honeycrisp Apples – they’re a little more expensive, but most people consider them to be the best. They’re slightly tart, slightly sweet, and pretty juicy and crunchy. They hold up well in baking if you want a slightly chunky texture.
- Other Options – If you don’t have access to either Gala or Honeycrisp apples, you can use Jonagold, Braeburn, or Pink Lady apples.
These sweet little babies are very easy to make, most of the work is cooking the cinnamon apples. To save time, you can substitute your favorite fruit preserves such as raspberry and strawberry jam, or lemon curd for the apple pie filling.
The base is made of refrigerated crescent roll dough which only takes popping open the can and slicing and flattening the dough. After the 10-minute prep, the danishes cook to golden, flaky goodness in the air fryer in 20 minutes!
The icing glaze is made out of cream cheese, confectioners sugar, and milk and will take you just a few minutes to whip up… no mixer required!
The decorative icing is optional and you can skip it if you want to cut some of the calories. But although these mini danishes are delicious without it, a few drizzles do make them prettier and more tempting.
How to serve
- Serve for breakfast or a midday snack and enjoy a piece or two with your morning coffee or your favorite afternoon refreshment.
- Stored in a container with a tight-fitting lid, these air fryer mini apple pie danishes will keep well at room temperature for 1 to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- To freeze, arrange in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet and freeze until firm. When frozen, transfer into a resealable bag and freeze for up to 1 month
Ingredients
For the Apple Pie Filling
- 3 medium gala or honey crisp apples
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon powder
For the Cream Cheese Filling
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 tablespoons confectioner's sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Danishes
- 1 tube (8 ounces) refrigerated crescent roll dough
For the Icing Glaze
- 2 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/3 cup confectioner's sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
Equipment
Instructions
For the Apple Pie Filling
- Peel, core, and dice the apples.
- In a small pan over medium heat, combine the apples with the butter and cook for about 2 to 4 minutes.
- Add the brown sugar and cinnamon and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes.
- Add the water and simmer for about 3 to 4 minutes or until sauce is reduced and thick, and apples are tender.
For the Cream Cheese Filling
- In a medium bowl, combine the 4 ounces of cream cheese, 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar, and vanilla extract. Mix until well combined and smooth. Set aside.
For the Danishes
- Remove the crescent roll log from packaging and slice into 8 equal circles. Flatten and create a well on each slice using hands. Arrange in a single layer on a well-greased air fryer tray.
- Place 1 tablespoon of the cream cheese mixture in each well. Top with a tablespoon of the apple pie mixture.
- Preheat the air fryer to 350 F. Once heated, add the tray of danishes and cook for about 5 minutes. You may have to cook in batches, depending on the size of your fryer.
- Remove immediately once cooking is complete.
For the Icing Glaze
- While danishes are cooking, prepare the icing glaze. In a small bowl, combine the 2 ounces cream cheese, 1/3 cup confectioners sugar, and milk well.
- Transfer to a piping bag or ziplock bag with a corner trimmed off to pipe. Drizzle the icing across the danishes. Serve warm.
Nutrition Information
“This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.”
Leave a Comment