You'll experience times when all the internet, Facebook, Instagram, and magazine articles touting "desserts to die for" just won't cut it. You won't want to spend the time, money, and calories on those spectacular desserts, especially if you'll be preparing dessert for one or two people. Nonetheless, that doesn't mean that you'll be stuck with Oreos or something from the bakery (if you can/want to go to the bakery during the pandemic). The "recipe" I'm offering you today takes minutes to prepare and minutes to bake in the air fryer. I use the term "recipe" loosely, because the dessert really doesn't require a recipe. It's that easy. What you will need is puff pastry. I use the cheap stuff (relatively) from Lidl, which comes in nice 4- X 8-inch rectangles, but you can cut down almost any brand of puff pastry sheets to similar dimensions. I slather one puff pastry sheet with a little raspberry jam, dust on some cinnamon sugar, roll up the puff pastry, dust on more cinnamon sugar, and bake the puff pastry. Magic happens in the air fryer as the pastry puffs and turns into something crunchy, sweet, and good. And yes, if you don't have raspberry jam, use another flavor--strawberry, blackberry, orange-ginger--whatever you like. You'll have a fancy, easy, fast dessert that will be just right for one or two (if you feel like sharing).
Air Fryer Raspberry-Cinnamon Puffs -- Makes 1 Puff
4- X 8-inch puff pastry sheet, thawed (or cut down a larger sheet to similar dimensions)
1 tablespoon of raspberry (or other) jam or fruit spread
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of sugar
Cut a piece of baking parchment paper just large enough to fit in your air fryer basket. Lay the puff pastry rectangle on the paper. With the back of a spoon, smear the jam over the top of the pastry. Combine the cinnamon and sugar and sprinkle half over the top of the jam. Roll up the pastry, starting from the short side, like a jelly roll. Place the roll, seam side down, on the parchment paper. Dampen your fingers with water, and rub the water over the roll. This will help the cinnamon sugar adhere. Sprinkle the remaining cinnamon sugar mixture over the damp roll. Place the parchment with the roll in the air fryer basket and place the basket in the air fryer. Set the temperature to 360 degrees and bake the puff for 10-15 minutes or until puffed, golden, and a little flaky. Let the puff cool slightly before eating it warm. The puff is fine "as is," and it's even better with a little ice cream alongside. Enjoy!
