The air fryer is simple, it’s a small oven that cooks food using hot air. This means that cooking food in an air fryer is similar to cooking it in a traditional oven, except you might need to adjust the time and temperature a bit. With air fryers being smaller than your average oven, cooking large portions doesn’t usually work too well, but in this case, that’s exactly what we need! This recipe yields a smaller batch of dough, enough to make about two servings. We say “about” because technically, 1-2 rolls would likely be a normal serving, and in this case, you get 3 per person. So yeah, we’re going to be a bit indulgent, but after all, they are cinnamon rolls.

If you read this recipe wondering why the heck you’re only using an egg yolk, let us tell you. A whole egg will just make the dough too eggy, and calling for half an egg just feels weird. The solution? Just. The. Yolk. It’s the part of the egg that has all the fats and flavor anyways (aka the best part!), which makes the dough that much richer and adds a nice color.

After working on our cookbook, Cooking for Two with Your Air Fryer, the fascination with writing recipes that make smaller portions really stuck with us. The inspiration for this recipe came after seeing recipes using refrigerator cinnamon roll dough. Don’t let us fool you, those are delicious, but they still make a lot, and, let’s be honest, nothing beats homemade cinnamon rolls. So it was off to the kitchen! This recipe has several iterations, not all were failures, but they weren’t successes either. Regardless of how many tries it took, here we are! They are delicious, like as good as the mall, delicious. And while it takes about 2 hours to make, most of that is waiting for the dough to rise both times. So really, if you don’t count that part, it’s really not too bad!

Frosting: We all know cinnamon rolls are usually coated in a thick layer of cream cheese frosting that melts into a rich glaze from the heat of the rolls. That being said, without veering too far off from the traditional frosting but not wanting to leave you with an odd amount of cream cheese to use up, you can either opt for a traditional powdered sugar icing with a little vanilla extract and milk (or water) or go with the cream cheese and grab some bagels for breakfast!

Dough: We’ve been asked a few times if this recipe could be adapted to use crescent roll dough or bread dough, and honestly, sure, we don’t see why not. Just make sure you adjust the cooking time, as needed (no one wants a raw center). If you give it a try, definitely let us know!

Filling: While cinnamon rolls are called that because they’re filled with cinnamon, there sure are other great fillings you can try. Jam, chocolate hazelnut spread, nuts, or almond paste are a few things that come to mind that would make incredible fillings; if you’re looking to change it up a bit.

Whether you’ve always cooked for two or have recently started this journey, this recipe can seem like a lot of effort. While yes, it does take some waiting time, the actual effort isn’t too bad. With just some patience, it’s totally worth it. Just because you’re cooking smaller portions doesn’t mean you don’t deserve great food!

What if my air fryer doesn’t set to 325 degrees?
If your air fryer’s temperature only moves in increments of 10 degrees, just reduce the temperature to 320 degrees. You may need to add a minute or two to the baking time, but it’s better to be safe and have it cooked all the way through in the middle!

Do I really have to knead the dough?
There is good news and bad. Yes, you’ll have to knead the dough, but the good news is you only need to do it about 10-15 times. The kneading gets the gluten going, making the dough more elastic; this is vital for the right texture!

What can I do if my dough isn’t rising?
Ugh! It’s the worst when this happens! Let’s troubleshoot this together. When you added the yeast to the milk in step one, did it foam up? In this step, it’s best to wait to check for two things. 1. That the yeast isn’t old/dead. And 2. To make sure the milk wasn’t too hot and killed the yeast. Ok, so the yeast foamed? Your kitchen may be too cold, it might be best to say the dough will rise eventually, but if it’s taking longer than you’d care to wait, there is a trick that can help! Turn your oven (or air fryer) on for a minute, just enough to warm it. Place the covered dough inside and see if that isn’t a better environment for it to rise (but don’t get it too hot, just about 70-80° or so).

Can I really use foil in my air fryer?
This has been a real topic of debate, but yes, you can use foil in your air fryer, but it must be secure! If the foil loosens and gets stuck to the heating element, it could be disastrous! Try cutting a piece large enough to tuck the corners of the foil under the dish. You don’t necessarily have to do this, but just make sure it’s secure, and you should be completely fine.