Air Fryer Castagnole

Name: Air Fryer Castagnole
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 23 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: Type 00 flour Converted from grams to cups for easier measurement. 1 ½ cup; Baking powder Converted from metric to imperial system. 1 tsp; Sunflower seed oil Appropriate conversion from milliliters to tablespoons. 2.4 tbsp; Sugar 2.8 tbsp; Eggs 1; Lemon peel 1; Rum 1 spoonful; Fine salt to taste; Sugar 3 ½ tbsp

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Difficulty: Easy
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 8 min
Serving: 6
Cost: Low
Note + 10 minutes to let the dough rest before frying

PRESENTATION

Recipe by
Valentina Cutaia

Air fryer castagnole are these really good Italian doughnut balls that bring the joy of Carnevale right into your kitchen, but with a twist—modern style. Instead of the usual deep-fried method, this recipe uses the air fryer. Really, it gives them that classic golden outside and a tender inside. Way less greasy, too. They are essential for traditional Italian sweets during Carnival season. You find them all over Italy, from north to south. And you know what? People love them because they’re quick to make. No complicated dough here or tricky frying. Seriously good. They taste just like the ones you'd grab from a street vendor during the festival. There's something sweet about how the air fryer version keeps all the flavor without making you feel heavy after a few. Also, since they’re so simple, even a beginner can pull off these air fryer Italian doughnuts without any hassle.

During Carnival, you’ll find castagnole alongside treats like chiacchiere and bomboloni. But these little balls? They stand out for their soft bite and the way they’re dusted with sugar when still warm. Switching to an air fryer really makes them an easy air fryer dessert. They cook fast, and each batch comes out crispy on the edges. And almost like fried ones, but lighter. The tradition of making these air fryer Carnival desserts is a fun way to keep Italian roots alive. And with every bite, you enjoy that mix of moist dough and a sweet sugar finish. Pretty simple.

A batch of air fryer castagnole fits perfectly with any party spread or holiday table. Especially if you’re looking to try something with a genuine Italian story behind it. So, when the Carnival spirit hits, these air fryer Italian pastries are a go-to for anyone craving a taste of Italy’s best festive treats. No matter where you are. They're not just a dessert—they’re really really a piece of Italian heritage you can savor with every bite, bringing warmth and tradition to any celebration.

INGREDIENTS

Ingredients for 34 Castagnole: Type 00 flour 1 ½ cup (170 g) - Converted from grams to cups for easier measurement.; Baking powder 1 tsp (6 g) - Converted from metric to imperial system.; Sunflower seed oil 2.4 tbsp (35 ml) - Appropriate conversion from milliliters to tablespoons.; Sugar 2.8 tbsp (40 g); Eggs 1; Lemon peel 1; Rum 1 spoonful; Fine salt to taste

For Garnishing: Sugar 3 ½ tbsp (40 g)

Preparation

How to prepare Air Fryer Castagnole

To prepare the air fryer castagnole, in a bowl pour the egg, sugar 1, grated lemon zest 2, and oil 3.

Flavor with rum 4 and mix with a whisk 5 6.

Add the sifted flour 7 and baking powder 8, and finally add a pinch of salt. Mix 9 until obtaining a smooth and compact mixture: no need to knead by hand.

Let the dough rest for 10 minutes in the refrigerator covered with a cloth 10. Take the dough, form a roll 11, and cut it in half with a dough scraper 12.

Shape two long sausages 13 and cut them into chunks to get about 34 pieces 14. Form balls by quickly rolling them between your hands 15.

Once all the castagnole are ready 16, proceed to cooking: place a pierced parchment paper sheet in the air fryer basket, arrange the balls 17, and cook in the air fryer at 356°F for 8 minutes, turning them halfway through cooking. They should be slightly golden 18.

Once ready, quickly dip them in water 19 and then in granulated sugar 20: that way, even if they're not greasy from oil as with classic frying, the sugar will adhere easily. Your air fryer castagnole are ready to be enjoyed 21.

Storage

The air fryer castagnole can be stored at room temperature for one day.
The raw dough cannot be stored.
Freezing is not recommended.

Tip

You can also bake the castagnole in a preheated static oven at 374°F for 12-15 minutes.
Pierced parchment paper sheets specifically for air fryers are available on the market. Alternatively, you can use regular parchment paper sheets and pierce them to fit this type of cooking.

For the translation of some texts, artificial intelligence tools may have been used.

Air Fryer Castagnole

PRESENTATION

INGREDIENTS

How to prepare Air Fryer Castagnole

Storage

Tip

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