The Best Easy Air Fryer Apple Pie Bombs

Craving that warm, gooey, cinnamon-spiced flavor of a classic apple pie but just don’t have the hours to peel, slice, and bake a full-on dessert? You’re not alone. The comforting aroma of apple pie is one of life’s great pleasures, but the time commitment can be a major hurdle on a busy weeknight.

Here’s the deal: you want that soul-warming dessert experience without the all-day baking project. You’re looking for a shortcut that doesn’t sacrifice flavor, a treat that can satisfy a sudden craving or delight a crowd with minimal fuss and cleanup.

That’s where this game-changing recipe comes in. The BEST RECIPE for Apple Pie Bombs is a quick and easy dessert made by wrapping refrigerated biscuit dough around a spoonful of sweet apple pie filling, air frying it to golden-brown perfection, and rolling it in a blanket of cinnamon sugar. In this post, I’ll walk you through the simple, step-by-step process to create these irresistible bites of heaven. We’ll cover everything from the 5 essential ingredients to pro tips for preventing leaks, fun flavor variations, and even an oven-baked method if you don’t have an air fryer.

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Craving Cozy Apple Pie Flavors Without the All-Day Baking Project?

In my experience, the best recipes are the ones that deliver maximum joy with minimum effort. I absolutely love the taste of homemade apple pie, but as a busy parent, I don’t always have hours to spare for baking from scratch. That’s why these easy air fryer apple pie bombs have become my absolute go-to dessert for a quick family treat. They capture everything wonderful about apple pie—the warm spiced apples, the buttery crust—in a perfect, single-serving “bomb” that explodes with flavor. Air Fryer Apple Pie Bombs are a quick and easy dessert made by wrapping refrigerated biscuit dough around a spoonful of apple pie filling. These “bombs” are then cooked in an air fryer until golden brown and coated in a delicious cinnamon-sugar mixture for a perfect bite-sized treat.

Why You’ll Be Obsessed With This Apple Pie Bomb Recipe

You’ll love this recipe because it’s the perfect combination of speed, simplicity, and crowd-pleasing flavor. It’s one of those rare desserts that works for a quiet night in, a potluck, or a fun baking project with the kids.

Here’s exactly why this recipe will become a new favorite:

Lightning Fast: Seriously. You can go from a craving to biting into a warm, gooey dessert in under 20 minutes flat. It’s faster than ordering takeout!
5 Simple Ingredients: There’s no complex shopping list here. All you need is a can of refrigerated biscuit dough, some apple pie filling, butter, sugar, and cinnamon. That’s it.
Incredibly Easy: This recipe is practically foolproof. If you can open a can of biscuits and use a spoon, you can make these. It’s so simple the kids can help, making it a fantastic family activity.
Perfectly Portioned: Forget about slicing and serving. These are individual, hand-held treats that are perfect for sharing and eliminate messy cleanup.
Air Fryer or Oven: While the air fryer gives them an incredible crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside texture, we’ll show you exactly how to make them perfectly in your conventional oven, too.

How to Make The Best Easy Air Fryer Apple Pie Bombs

Get ready for the easiest dessert you’ll make all year. This is my fool-proof guide to making perfect apple pie bombs every single time. We’ll go step-by-step, and I’ll share the little secrets I’ve learned to guarantee a successful outcome, even if you’re a total beginner in the kitchen.

1. Gather & Prep Your Ingredients

The first step is simply getting your simple ingredients and workstation ready for assembly. This “mise en place” approach makes the entire process smooth and fast.

Ingredients:

1 can (16.3 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury Grands! Biscuits (8 count)
1 cup apple pie filling (store-bought canned filling is perfect for this)
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Step-by-Step Directions:

Prep Biscuits: Pop open the can of biscuits. Separate each of the 8 large biscuits into its two natural layers, giving you 16 thinner biscuit rounds in total. Gently use your fingers or a rolling pin to flatten each round to about 4 inches in diameter.
Prep Filling: Open your can of apple pie filling. If it contains large apple chunks, pour it onto a cutting board and give it a rough chop. You want the pieces to be small, around pea-sized. This is crucial for easy sealing and preventing lumps.
Mix Coating: In a small, shallow bowl (wide enough for rolling a bomb), whisk together the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon until they are completely combined. Set this aside for later.

Pro Tip: Separating the biscuit layers is the secret to getting a crispy, cooked-through bomb that isn’t doughy in the middle. The thinner dough cooks faster and more evenly. Don’t skip this step!

Pin this recipe to your ‘Easy Desserts’ board for later!

2. Fill, Fold, and Seal Your Bombs

This is the most important assembly step. A good seal is the key to preventing the delicious apple filling from leaking out during the cooking process.

Materials Needed:

Your prepped biscuit rounds
Your chopped apple pie filling

Step-by-Step Directions:

Add Filling: Place one of your flattened biscuit rounds in your hand or on a clean surface. Spoon about 1 tablespoon of the chopped apple pie filling right into the center. Resist the urge to add more!
Seal Tightly: Gently stretch and pull the edges of the dough up and over the filling, bringing them together at the top. Pinch the seams together very firmly to create a complete seal. You want to make sure there are no gaps for the filling to escape.
Roll Smooth: Once sealed, gently roll the dough ball between your palms to smooth out the seams and create a nice, uniform round shape.
Repeat: Continue this process for all 16 biscuit rounds, placing the finished bombs on a plate or parchment paper.

Lesson Learned: The most common mistake is overfilling! I know it’s tempting to pack as much apple goodness in there as possible, but it will cause leaks in the air fryer. In my first few attempts, I had a couple of messy blowouts. A well-sealed bomb with a little less filling is so much better than a messy, empty one. Trust me on this.

Love this easy technique? Share it with a friend who needs a quick dessert idea!

3. Air Fry to Golden Perfection

Now for the magic. The air fryer will transform these little dough balls into crispy, golden-brown treasures with a perfectly gooey center in just a few minutes.

Materials Needed:

Your sealed apple pie bombs
Air Fryer
Cooking spray (optional, for non-stick)

Step-by-Step Directions:

Preheat Air Fryer: Set your air fryer to 350°F (177°C) and let it preheat for a few minutes.
Arrange in Basket: Lightly spray your air fryer basket with cooking spray if your model tends to stick. Carefully place the apple pie bombs in a single layer in the basket, making sure to put them seam-side down. Leave a little space between each one so the hot air can circulate and cook them evenly. You will likely need to cook these in 2-3 batches.
Cook: Air fry for 6-10 minutes. They are done when they are a deep golden brown and feel cooked through (they won’t be squishy).

Pro Tip: Every air fryer is a little different. Power and cooking speed can vary a lot between brands and models. The first time you make these, I recommend checking them at the 6-minute mark and then peeking every minute after that. You’ll quickly learn the perfect timing for your specific machine.

Save this pin for the next time you need an amazing air fryer recipe!

4. The Final Touch: Butter & Cinnamon Sugar

This final step is non-negotiable! Coating the hot bombs in melted butter and cinnamon sugar is what gives them that classic, irresistible, churro-like finish.

Materials Needed:

Hot, cooked apple pie bombs
Your bowl of melted butter
Your bowl of cinnamon-sugar mixture

Step-by-Step Directions:

Butter First: As soon as a batch of bombs comes out of the air fryer, get to work. While they are still piping hot, use a pastry brush to coat one completely in melted butter. Alternatively, you can just drop it right into the bowl of butter and roll it around with a fork.
Roll in Sugar: Immediately transfer the buttered bomb into the bowl of cinnamon sugar. Roll it around until it’s generously coated on all sides. The sugar will cling perfectly to the melted butter.
Serve Warm: Place the finished, coated bombs on a serving plate or cooling rack. Repeat quickly with the rest of the batch. These are absolutely heavenly when enjoyed immediately while they’re still warm and the filling is gooey.

Lesson Learned: You have to coat them while they’re hot! This is the most crucial part of the final step. The heat from the freshly cooked bomb helps the butter soak in just a little and makes the cinnamon sugar stick like magic. If you wait for them to cool, the butter won’t adhere as well and the sugar will just fall off.

Your family will love these! Pin this recipe to try this weekend.

Your Apple Pie Bombs, Your Way: Easy Variations & Swaps

One of the best things about this recipe is how incredibly easy it is to customize. Think of the basic recipe as a canvas for your dessert creativity. By swapping the dough, tweaking the filling, or adding a fun topping, you can create a whole new dessert experience with minimal extra effort. This is where you can really have fun and cater to your family’s specific tastes.

Dough Alternatives: Biscuits vs. Crescent Rolls

The type of dough you use will change the final texture of your bombs, with biscuits being fluffy and sturdy, while crescent rolls are flaky and buttery.

For Crescent Rolls: This is a fantastic and popular alternative! Simply unroll the crescent dough and separate it into the pre-cut triangles. Place about a tablespoon of filling on the wide end and roll it up towards the pointy tip. Be sure to pinch the sides firmly to seal it all in. Air fry at 350°F (177°C) for just 5-7 minutes. The result is a lighter, flakier, more croissant-like pastry.
For Homemade Dough: If you’re feeling ambitious, a simple from-scratch biscuit dough or even a sweet roll dough works beautifully. The process remains the same, but you may need to adjust your cooking time based on the thickness and density of your specific dough.

Pro Tip: In my experience, crescent roll dough is delicious but can be a bit trickier to seal perfectly due to its shape. Make sure to firmly pinch all the openings shut to avoid leaks. Canned biscuit dough is definitely more forgiving and a better choice for your first time or for baking with kids.

Which dough will you try first? Let us know in the comments!

Flavor Twists: Caramel, Churro, and More

A simple drizzle or a small addition to the filling can completely elevate this dessert into something truly decadent.

Caramel Apple Pie Bombs: This is a match made in heaven. After you’ve coated the finished bombs in cinnamon sugar, give them a generous drizzle with warm caramel sauce right before serving. For an even more intense caramel flavor, you can mix a teaspoon of thick caramel (the kind used for dipping apples) directly into the apple pie filling before sealing the bombs.
Churro Apple Pie Bombs: Good news! The base recipe is already incredibly similar to a churro. That crispy, fried dough coated in cinnamon sugar is the essence of a churro. The key to the full experience is simply serving them immediately while they are hot and at their crispiest.
Other Pie Fillings: Don’t stop at apple! This recipe works wonderfully with almost any canned pie filling. Cherry pie bombs are amazing, as are blueberry and peach. It’s a great way to use up whatever you have in the pantry.

Lesson Learned: If you decide to add caramel to the inside of the bomb, use a very thick, high-quality caramel sauce. I once tried it with a thin, runny ice cream topping, and it just turned watery when heated and leaked out. A thick caramel will hold its shape much better.

Save this to your ‘Holiday Baking’ board for amazing flavor ideas!

No Air Fryer? No Problem! Classic Oven-Baked Method

You can absolutely make delicious apple pie bombs in a conventional oven; they will just have a slightly softer texture than their air-fried cousins.

Step-by-Step Directions:

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze.
Assemble and seal your apple pie bombs exactly as instructed in the steps above.
Arrange the sealed bombs on the prepared baking sheet, seam-side down.
Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until they are a deep golden brown and cooked all the way through.
As soon as they come out of the oven, proceed with the butter and cinnamon-sugar coating while they are still hot.

Pro Tip: Oven-baked bombs might have a slightly softer bottom where they sat on the baking sheet, compared to the 360-degree crispiness of the air-fried version. They are still incredibly delicious, just with a texture that’s a bit more like a traditional baked dumpling.

Share this recipe with a friend who doesn’t have an air fryer!

Key Takeaways: Your Quick Guide to BEST RECIPE for Apple Pie Bombs

Feeling excited to try them? Here’s a quick cheat sheet with the most important tips to guarantee your apple pie bombs are a smashing success on the very first try.

Use Layered Biscuits: Separating large biscuits (like Pillsbury Grands) into two thinner layers is the #1 secret to a crispy, fully-cooked bomb that isn’t doughy in the middle.
Chop Your Filling: Dicing your canned apple pie filling into smaller, pea-sized pieces makes sealing the bombs a thousand times easier and prevents lumpy, uneven shapes.
Seal Tightly, Don’t Overfill: This is the golden rule. Use only about a tablespoon of filling and pinch those seams with authority to prevent messy leaks in your air fryer or oven.
Coat While Hot: The magic of the perfect coating happens when the bombs are piping hot. Brush with butter and roll in cinnamon sugar immediately after cooking for that irresistible finish.
Know Your Appliance: Air fryer cooking times can vary. Check your first batch early and often to find the sweet spot for your machine (usually 350°F for 6-10 minutes). For the oven, it’s typically 375°F for 15-17 minutes.

Final Thoughts

There you have it—the easiest, most delicious way to get your apple pie fix in under 20 minutes. These little bombs of joy are perfect for a cozy night in, a last-minute party dessert, or just a fun treat to make “just because.” They prove that you don’t need a lot of time or complicated ingredients to create something truly special and comforting.

I hope you and your family love them as much as mine does. They’ve become a staple in our dessert rotation, and I’m always thinking of new ways to customize them.

What fun flavor variations will you try first? Let me know in the comments below

The Best Easy Air Fryer Apple Pie Bombs

Craving Cozy Apple Pie Flavors Without the All-Day Baking Project?

Why You’ll Be Obsessed With This Apple Pie Bomb Recipe