Air Fryer Apple and Pear Desserts

What better way to use your air fryer than to take advantage of two of the best fall fruits, the apple and pear.  There are a wide variety of apples to choose from depending on your preference for tart, sweet, crisp, or soft, although the firmer apples will hold up to baking better.  Choose apples that have a good color and feel firm to the touch.  Keep them in the refrigerator to maintain texture and taste.  Opt for those with a nice scent.

Pears also come in quite a few choices.  Interestingly pears are harvested when mature but not fully ripe.  They will fully ripen from the inside out.  So when you bring them home, leave them on the counter or in a bowl for a few days.  After that you can store them in the fridge.  Although Bartletts will change from green to yellow, most pears won’t change color.  Press at the stem with your thumb and if it gives to pressure, it is ready to eat.

Do your research on which will work best for your purposes of snacks, baking, or other preparations.

Apple Crisp

Ingredients:

• 3 medium apples, diced
• 2 teaspoons lemon juice
• 4 tablespoons butter, melted
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup old fashioned oats
• ¼ cup all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:

• Wash and dry apples; peel and dice flesh into small bites
• Combine apples and lemon juice in a bowl.
• In a separate bowl combine butter, sugar, oats, flour, and cinnamon. Stir until it becomes a crumble.
• Spray small ramekins or other oven safe containers, with cooking spray. Spoon apple mixture equally into the ramekins.
• Air fry at 300 degrees for 10 minutes. Check with a fork to see if the apples are soft.
• Spoon topping over the mixture and then return to the air fryer at 300 degrees for an additional 5 minutes until the topping is golden brown the the filling is bubbling.

Apple Fritters

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1/3 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 2 eggs
• 2 large apples, peeled, cored and small diced
• oil for brushing or spraying

Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• ½ stick butter
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• 1 tablespoon milk, if needed

Directions:

• Preheat air fryer to 400.
• Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon in a medium bowl.
• Make a well in the center and add milk, teaspoon of vanilla, lemon juice, and eggs. Stir until well combined and then fold in apples.
• Line the basket of the air fryer with parchment paper or use an air fryer basket liner. Brush lightly with oil or spray.
• Add batter ¼ cup at a time to the lined basket. Do not overcrowd.  Lightly dab oil on the tops.
• Cook at 400 for 4 to 5 minutes or until deep golden brown.
• Continue with the balance of the batter.
• Cool on a rack and drizzle with glaze while warm.

Glaze:

• Melt butter in a small saucepan until it foams and turns brown. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.
• Place powdered sugar in a small bowl and add browned butter, milk, and tablespoon of vanilla, whisking until smooth.

Pear Crisp

Ingredients:

• 2 pears, peeled, cored and diced
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
• 2 tablespoons quick-cooking oats
• 1 tablespoon all purpose flour
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon butter, softened

Directions:

• Preheat air fryer to 360.
• Combine pears, lemon juice, and ¼ teaspoon cinnamon in a medium bowl and toss to coat. Divide into 2 ramekins.
• In another bowl combine oats, flour, brown sugar, and remaining cinnamon. Add softened butter and mix with a fork until crumbly.  Sprinkle over pears.
• Bake in the air fryer until the pears are soft and bubbling, arout 18 to 20 minutes.

Glazed Pears

Ingredients:

• 4 small pears
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1 sheet frozen puff pastry

Directions:

• Core pears, leaving the stem. Alternately, core and slice pears.
• In a medium bowl combine butter, brown sugar, honey, and cinnamon. Coat each pear with the mixture.
• Cut the puff pastry into strips about ½ to ¾ inch wide.
• Starting at the top of the pear, wrap the pastry around the fruit until it is completely covered.
• Brush lightly with another coat of honey mixture.
• Cook at 360 degrees until the pastry is golden brown, about 8 to 10 minutes.