Air Fryer Apple Rings with Puff Pastry (Ready in 25 Min)

These air fryer apple rings are thick apple slices wrapped in strips of puff pastry, coated in cinnamon sugar and air fried until the pastry is flaky and golden. They take about 15 minutes to wrap and 10 minutes to cook, and each one tastes like a bite of apple pie with a donut’s shape.

Puff pastry apple rings are my favorite way to use up fall apples when I don’t want to make a whole pie. The air fryer puffs the pastry fast and caramelizes the sugar before the apple goes soft, something the oven takes twice as long to do. [One line on why you make these: an after-school snack, a holiday brunch, what your family calls them.]

If you love apples wrapped in puff pastry, my Air Fryer Puff Pastry Apple Roses use the same store-bought pastry for a fancier look.

Why you’ll love these apple pastry rings

• A real apple slice inside. There’s no cooked filling. The apple softens inside the pastry but keeps a little bite.
• Six simple ingredients. Puff pastry, apples, lemon juice, one egg white, sugar and cinnamon.
• Ready in 25 minutes. Faster than any apple pie, and no oven to heat.
• Kid-friendly. Each apple puff pastry ring looks like a mini donut, so they disappear at parties.

Ingredients for puff pastry apple rings

The exact amounts are in the recipe card below.

• Puff pastry: one box (2 sheets), thawed overnight in the fridge so it stays cold.
• Apples: 2 large, firm apples (see the chart below).
• Lemon juice: keeps the slices from browning while you wrap.
• Egg white and water: the wash that makes the cinnamon sugar stick and turns the pastry glossy.
• Cinnamon sugar: ½ cup sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon cinnamon.
• Melted butter (optional): brush on right after cooking for shine.

Best apples for air fryer apple rings

Apple	Texture after air frying	Flavor
Granny Smith	Holds its shape, slight bite	Tart, balances the sugar
Honeycrisp	Holds its shape, juicy	Sweet-tart
Fuji	Softer	Sweet
Gala	Softest	Mild and sweet

Skip Red Delicious and McIntosh; they turn mealy. [Which apple you used in the photos and why.] Softer apples you don’t use here are perfect for Air Fryer Apple Pie Baked Apples.

How to make air fryer apple rings

Step 1: Slice the apples. Peel and core the apples, then cut them into ¼- to ½-inch rounds. Widen each center hole to about 1 inch with a small round cutter or paring knife so the pastry can loop through. Brush both sides with lemon juice and pat dry.

Step 2: Cut the puff pastry. Unfold the cold pastry on a lightly floured board, press the seams closed and cut ½-inch strips with a pizza cutter.

Step 3: Wrap the rings. Loop 2 to 3 strips through the center and around each slice until the apple is mostly covered (see the wrapping tips below).

Step 4: Coat in cinnamon sugar. Whisk the egg white with 1 tablespoon water and brush both sides of each ring. Press each ring into the cinnamon sugar and spoon extra over the top.

Step 5: Air fry. Line the basket with parchment or spray it lightly. Arrange the rings in one layer without touching. Air fry at 380°F for 6 to 8 minutes, flip, then cook 2 to 4 minutes more until deep golden.

Step 6: Cool briefly. Let them rest 5 minutes; the apple is very hot right out of the basket.

How to wrap an apple puff pastry ring

Wrapping is the only fiddly step. Pinch the end of a strip against the inside of the hole, then wind it through and around, overlapping each pass by about a third. Start the next strip where the last one ended and press the ends together. Tuck the final end underneath so it doesn’t unravel as the pastry puffs. If the pastry turns soft or sticky, chill the tray for 10 minutes before coating.

Tips I learned testing these

I fit 4 apple rings in a single layer in my Ninja Air Fryer, leaving space between each one. Thin apple slices softened faster, so I recommend keeping the slices even. Cold puff pastry was easier to wrap; if yours gets warm and sticky, chill it briefly before continuing.

• Watch the sugar. If the tops darken before the pastry is cooked through, drop to 360°F for the last few minutes.
• Keep the pastry cold. Warm puff pastry won’t puff; it bakes flat and greasy.
• Pat the apples dry. Wet slices steam the pastry from the inside and leave soggy bottoms.
• Cook in batches. Crowded rings steam instead of crisp.

Variations

• Apple filling circles: No fresh apples? Cut the pastry into 3-inch circles, add a spoonful of canned apple pie filling and top with a pastry ring. The filling shortcut is the same one I use in my Air Fryer Apple Turnovers. Air fry at 380°F and start checking at 8 minutes.
• Cinnamon sugar puff pastry squares: For a quicker, no-wrap version, try my Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Apple Puff Pastry.
• Crescent dough: Crescent dough works in place of puff pastry and bakes up softer, like my Air Fryer Caramel Apple Danish.
• Pie crust: Refrigerated pie crust gives a crisper, less flaky shell, closer to my Air Fryer Copycat McDonald’s Apple Pie.
• Spices: Swap a teaspoon of the cinnamon for apple pie or pumpkin pie spice.
• Brown sugar: Gives a deeper caramel crust; add a minute to the cook time.
• Glazed: Drizzle with caramel sauce or a simple powdered sugar icing once cool.

What to serve with apple puff pastry rings

Serve them warm with vanilla ice cream, whipped cream or caramel sauce for dipping. For a fall brunch, set them out next to Air Fryer Apple Pancake Dippers. For a cozy dessert for two, pair one ring with Air Fryer Apple Crisp for Two.

How to store and reheat

These are best the day they’re made. Keep leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for 1 day or in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes to re-crisp; the microwave makes them soggy.

To freeze: Wrap the rings but don’t coat them. Freeze on a tray, then bag them. Brush with egg wash, coat in cinnamon sugar and air fry from frozen, adding 2 to 3 minutes.

FAQs about air fryer apple rings

Can I make apple circles with puff pastry in the oven? Yes. Bake at 375°F for 15 to 20 minutes on a parchment-lined sheet until golden.

Do I need to peel the apples? No, but peeled slices are easier to wrap and the pastry grips them better.

Can I skip the egg wash? Brush with milk or melted butter instead. Without any wash, the cinnamon sugar falls off.

Why are my apple puff pastry circles soggy underneath? The basket was crowded or the slices were wet. Pat the slices dry, cook in a single layer and flip for the last few minutes.

Can I use frozen puff pastry? Yes. Thaw it in the fridge overnight, or on the counter for about 40 minutes, so it unfolds without cracking.

Are puff pastry apple rings gluten-free? Only with a gluten-free puff pastry; standard puff pastry contains wheat.

What else can I make with leftover apples? Turn them into a full Easy Air Fryer Apple Pie From Scratch, or slice them thin and dehydrate apples in the air fryer for a snack that keeps for weeks.

Love apple desserts?

If these air fryer apple rings were a hit, try my Air Fryer Apple Pie Cinnamon Twists next. They use the same pastry-and-cinnamon-sugar idea with apple butter twisted inside.