Fall always makes me crave warm apple desserts, but I don’t always have time to make a whole pie from scratch. That’s where these air fryer apple pie taquitos come in. They give me all the cozy flavors I want in about half the time.
I love how crispy these get in the air fryer without needing a ton of oil. The tortillas turn golden and crunchy while the apple filling stays soft and sweet inside. Plus, they’re way easier to eat than a messy slice of pie.
Want something quick for dessert tonight? These are perfect. Need a fun treat to share with friends? Same. Honestly, I make these whenever I want apple pie but don’t want to spend my whole afternoon in the kitchen.
Why You’ll Love These Apple Pie Taquitos
- Quick and easy dessert – Ready in under 30 minutes, these taquitos are perfect when you’re craving something sweet but don’t want to spend hours in the kitchen.
- Simple ingredients – With just five basic ingredients you probably already have on hand, there’s no need for a special grocery store trip.
- Crispy without the oil – The air fryer gives you that perfect golden, crispy exterior without all the mess and calories of deep frying.
- Kid-friendly treat – These handheld apple pies are fun to eat and make a great after-school snack or dessert that the whole family will enjoy.
- Creative twist on classic flavors – All the warm, cozy flavors of apple pie wrapped up in a crispy tortilla – it’s like having your favorite dessert in a completely new way.
What Kind of Tortillas Should I Use?
For these apple pie taquitos, you’ll want to stick with soft flour tortillas rather than corn tortillas. Flour tortillas are more pliable and won’t crack when you roll them up with the filling, plus they give you that nice golden color when they crisp up in the air fryer. Medium-sized tortillas work perfectly here – they’re big enough to hold a good amount of filling but not so large that they become unwieldy to roll. Make sure your tortillas are fresh and soft; if they seem a bit stiff, you can warm them in the microwave for about 10-15 seconds to make them easier to work with.
Options for Substitutions
This simple dessert recipe is pretty forgiving when it comes to swaps:
- Apple pie filling: If you don’t have canned filling, you can make your own by dicing 3-4 apples and mixing them with 2 tablespoons sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg. You could also try cherry or peach pie filling for a fun twist.
- Flour tortillas: Corn tortillas work too, but they’re a bit more fragile so handle them gently. You can also use larger burrito-sized tortillas – just cut them down to size or make bigger taquitos.
- Butter: Melted coconut oil or vegetable oil will work just fine if you’re out of butter. You could even use cooking spray in a pinch, though the flavor won’t be quite as rich.
- Sugar and cinnamon coating: Feel free to mix things up with the coating – try adding a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the cinnamon sugar, or use brown sugar instead of white for a deeper flavor.
Watch Out for These Mistakes While Cooking
The biggest mistake when making apple pie taquitos is overfilling them with the pie filling, which causes them to burst open during cooking and creates a messy situation in your air fryer. Stick to about 2-3 tablespoons of filling per tortilla and make sure to roll them tightly, sealing the edges with a little water if needed. Another common error is skipping the butter brush – this step is crucial for getting that golden, crispy exterior that makes these taquitos so good. Don’t forget to flip them halfway through cooking to ensure even browning, and if your tortillas seem too stiff to roll, warm them in the microwave for 10-15 seconds to make them more pliable.
What to Serve With Apple Pie Taquitos?
These crispy apple pie taquitos are perfect on their own, but they’re even better with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side for dipping. I love serving them with a drizzle of caramel sauce or a dollop of whipped cream to make them feel extra special. They also pair nicely with a warm cup of coffee or hot chocolate, especially during fall and winter months. For a fun presentation, you can dust them with a little extra cinnamon sugar right before serving and arrange them on a platter with small bowls of different dipping sauces.
Storage Instructions
Keep Fresh: Store your leftover apple pie taquitos in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. They’re actually pretty good cold too, but I know most people prefer them warm! Just make sure they’ve cooled completely before putting them away so they don’t get soggy.
Freeze: These freeze really well for up to 2 months! I like to freeze them on a baking sheet first, then transfer to a freezer bag once they’re solid. This way they won’t stick together and you can grab just however many you want for a quick snack.
Reheat: Pop them back in the air fryer at 350°F for about 2-3 minutes to get that crispy outside again. If they’re frozen, add an extra minute or two. You can also use the oven at 375°F for about 5 minutes, but the air fryer really brings back that perfect crunch!
| Preparation Time | 10-15 minutes |
| Cooking Time | 12-15 minutes |
| Total Time | 22-30 minutes |
| Level of Difficulty | Easy |
Estimated Nutrition
Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):
- Calories: 1750-1900
- Protein: 10-16 g
- Fat: 42-50 g
- Carbohydrates: 350-375 g
Ingredients
- 1 can (21 oz) apple pie filling
- 6 medium flour tortillas
- 4 tbsp melted butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon powder
Step 1: Fill and Roll the Tortillas
- 6 medium flour tortillas
- 1 can (21 oz) apple pie filling
Lay the flour tortillas flat on a clean surface.
Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the apple pie filling across the center of each tortilla.
Then, roll each tortilla up tightly to form taquitos.
Step 2: Brush with Butter
- 4 tbsp melted butter
- rolled taquitos from Step 1
Using a pastry brush, brush the outside of each rolled taquito generously with melted butter.
This helps the cinnamon sugar adhere and also makes the taquitos extra crispy.
Step 3: Coat with Cinnamon Sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon powder
- buttered taquitos from Step 2
In a shallow, flat dish, mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon powder until well combined.
Roll each buttered taquito in the cinnamon sugar mixture, making sure to coat the outside fully and evenly.
I like to roll them twice for a super flavorful crust.
Step 4: Air Fry the Taquitos
- cinnamon sugar coated taquitos from Step 3
Arrange the coated taquitos seam side down in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don’t overlap or touch for even crisping.
Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 9-11 minutes, until they start to become golden and crispy.
Use tongs to flip each taquito over, then air fry for an additional 3-4 minutes until your desired level of crispness is reached.
Let cool slightly before serving—they’re extra hot inside!
Easy Air Fryer Apple Pie Taquitos
Ingredients
- 1 can (21 oz) apple pie filling
- 6 medium flour tortillas
- 4 tbsp melted butter
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon powder
Instructions
- Lay the flour tortillas flat on a clean surface. Spoon about 2 tablespoons of the apple pie filling across the center of each tortilla. Then, roll each tortilla up tightly to form taquitos.
- Using a pastry brush, brush the outside of each rolled taquito generously with melted butter. This helps the cinnamon sugar adhere and also makes the taquitos extra crispy.
- In a shallow, flat dish, mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon powder until well combined. Roll each buttered taquito in the cinnamon sugar mixture, making sure to coat the outside fully and evenly. I like to roll them twice for a super flavorful crust.
- Arrange the coated taquitos seam side down in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap or touch for even crisping. Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 9-11 minutes, until they start to become golden and crispy. Use tongs to flip each taquito over, then air fry for an additional 3-4 minutes until your desired level of crispness is reached. Let cool slightly before serving—they're extra hot inside!
