This air fryer bread is crusty, warm, and satisfyingly chewy, making it an irresistible addition to any meal. Serve it with a generous slather of butter, a drizzle of honey, or your favorite jam for a scrumptious treat that's perfect for any occasion.

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If you're someone who loves bread but is trying to cut down on oil and calories, then air fryer bread might be the perfect solution for you. Air fryers use hot air to fry food, meaning you can achieve a crispy, golden-brown crust on your bread without needing to use much oil. Plus, because the air circulates around the food, you can cook your bread evenly on all sides.

Air fryer bread is incredibly versatile and can be used to make all sorts of different bread-based dishes. You can make classic garlic bread or cheesy breadsticks for a delicious snack or use your air fryer bread to make a sandwich or a panini. You can even use your air fryer bread to make French toast or bread pudding!

Baking bread in an air fryer is surprisingly easy and requires only a few ingredients. With just warm water, sugar, active dry yeast, salt, flour, and a little bit of olive oil or canola oil, you can make delicious bread with a crispy, golden-brown crust using an air fryer.

Once you've got everything ready, all you need to do is shape the dough into the desired shape, dust it with flour, and pop it in the air fryer. In just a few minutes, you'll have perfectly cooked, crispy bread that's sure to satisfy your cravings.

Why You'll Love Air Fryer Bread

• Easy: Making air fryer bread is a breeze, taking only a few simple steps to make it. With minimal ingredients and preparation, throwing bread in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to add a fresh side to your meal.
• Airy and Crunchy: Air fryer bread is known for its signature texture. The hot air circulating around the bread creates a crispy crust while keeping the inside soft and fluffy. You'll get the best of both worlds with this recipe.
• Customizable: This air fryer bread recipe is easily customizable to suit your preferences. You can add herbs, spices, cheese, or even sweet ingredients like chocolate chips or dried fruit to make it your own. 
• Budget-friendly and family-friendly: Air fryer bread is a cost-effective way to enjoy fresh bread at home without breaking the bank. Plus, it's a hit with the whole family, and you can get the kids involved in the kitchen to help with the preparation.

Ingredients

• Warm Water: The temperature of the water is crucial for activating the yeast, so it's important to use a thermometer to ensure the water is between 90-95 degrees Fahrenheit. If you don't have a thermometer, shoot for water that is warm to the touch, but not hot.

• Granulated Sugar: This ingredient provides food for the yeast and aids in fermentation, so it's essential to include it in the recipe.

• Active Dry Yeast: Make sure to use fresh yeast that is not expired or your bread may not rise properly.

• Salt: Along with adding flavor, salt helps regulate the fermentation process of the yeast.

• All-Purpose Flour: Choose a high-quality flour for the best results. You can use either 3 ¾ cups or 2 cups (or 240g) of flour, depending on whether you want a larger or smaller loaf of bread.

• Olive or Canola Oil: Use either of these oils for greasing the bowl and coating the dough before cooking.

• Cornmeal: You'll be using this in dusting the air fryer basket to prevent sticking and ensure a crispy crust.

Substitutions

• Flour: If you like the flavor of whole wheat bread, you can substitute half of the flour with whole wheat flour.

How to Make Air Fryer Bread

For the complete recipe and measurements, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Step 1: Whisk the dry yeast, warm water, and sugar together in a large mixing bowl until combined. Allow the mixture to sit for 5-10 minutes or until it becomes frothy.

Step 2: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and salt. Add ½ cup of the flour to the yeast mixture at a time, stirring well after each addition until fully incorporated. As the dough thickens, consider switching to kneading it by hand.

Step 3: Place the dough onto a surface dusted with flour and knead it for 5-10 minutes, or until it becomes smooth and stretchy, adding more all-purpose flour as necessary to prevent it from sticking to your hands or the counter.

Step 4: Clean the mixing bowl and coat it with either olive or canola oil. Place the dough into the bowl and cover it with a damp cloth, allowing it to rise in a warm location for approximately 1 ½ hours or until it has doubled in size.

Step 5: Once the dough has risen, gently punch it down and transfer it to a floured surface.

Step 6: Shape the dough into a round loaf, then brush the bottom and sides of the air fryer basket with either olive or canola oil and sprinkle it with cornmeal before placing the dough inside the fryer. Score the top of the dough with a sharp knife, making ¼-½-inch deep cuts. 

Step 7: Place a damp dishcloth over the air fryer basket and allow it to rise in a warm spot for 45 minutes to 1 hour or until it becomes puffy and risen.
Step 8: Preheat the air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 3-5 minutes. Lightly brush the top of the dough with about 1 tablespoon of olive or canola oil.

Step 9: Add the basket of dough to it and fry bread in the air fryer for 23-25 minutes or until the bread turns golden brown and sounds hollow when tapped.

Step 9: Remove the bread from the air fryer basket and place it on a wire cooling rack to cool. Serve and enjoy!

Recipe Pro-Tips

• Air fryer temperature: air fryers can vary greatly in their temperature. For the most accurate read on your appliance's temperature, insert an oven thermometer into the air fryer. If you don't have an oven thermometer, keep an eye on the bread after 20 minutes and adjust the cooking time as needed.

• Allowing the dough to rise: The time it takes for the dough to rise will vary depending on the temperature and humidity of your kitchen. Be patient and let it rise until it has doubled in size, which can take up to 1 ½ hours.

• Resting time after baking: To ensure the best texture and easier slicing, allow the bread to rest on a wire cooling rack for at least 15-20 minutes after removing it from the air fryer basket.

• Choosing the right yeast: Active dry yeast or instant yeast are both good choices for this recipe. Make sure your yeast is fresh and within its expiration date for best results. If using active dry yeast, dissolve it in warm water before adding it to the dough.

• Keep yeast fresh: To keep quick-rise yeast fresh the longest, store it in a freezer-safe container in the freezer.

• Weighing the flour: Measuring flour by volume can be inaccurate and result in dry or dense bread. Weigh the flour with a kitchen scale to ensure the most accurate measurement and consistent results.

Recipe Variations

• Whole wheat: Replace half of the all-purpose flour with whole wheat flour and substitute 2 tablespoons of honey for the granulated sugar. This will result in bread with a slightly nutty flavor and a touch of sweetness.
• Parmesan cheese: Mix ¼ cup of grated parmesan cheese into the dough before shaping it into a loaf. You can also sprinkle some additional parmesan cheese on top of the bread before air frying it for a cheesy and crispy crust.

Serving Suggestions

You can enjoy air fryer bread any time of day or night, whether it's a fancy holiday dinner or a quick weekday lunch. Serve it as a side along with a meal or make a sandwich or panini with it.

If enjoying on its own, spread it with butter or drizzle with honey. I also love to toast thick slices of it to make cinnamon sugar toast!

Storage Directions

• Storing: Storing your air fryer bread is easy! You can simply store it in an airtight container or plastic bag at room temperature for up to 3 days after it has cooled completely.
• Freezing: For longer storage, you also freeze the bread in a freezer-safe bag for up to 3 months.
• Reheating: To reheat the bread, let it sit at room temperature first before wrapping it in foil and heating it in a preheated 350°F oven for 5-10 minutes. To make air fryer toast, ou can also slice the bread and toast it in a toaster or oven until heated. Avoid reheating frozen bread in the microwave, as it can make it soggy and less flavorful.

Recipe FAQs

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Tools Needed to Make This Recipe

• Measuring Cups & Spoons
• Food Scale (Optional)
• Whisk
• Sharp Knife
• Air Fryer

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• No Yeast Dinner Rolls
• Honey Whole Wheat Beer Bread (No Yeast!)
• Oatmeal Bread (No Yeast!)

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