Discover the secret to making delectable bread in your air fryer, using only six ingredients!
Get ready for the aroma of freshly baked bread. One of the best things about making this air-fryer bread recipe is that you don’t have to combine the yeast with water and sugar before mixing it with your flour. The simpler the recipe, the happier I am. And you can’t get easier than mixing everything in one bowl. After combining the flour, instant yeast, salt, and honey, mix in the warm water and olive oil, then knead the dough for a few minutes until it forms a ball. Set it in an oiled bowl, cover it, and let it double for an hour.
Once the hour is up, shape it into a smooth ball on a lightly floured surface, then let it rest again for only 15 minutes. You are then ready to transfer the dough to your air fryer and let the magic begin. Don’t forget to score the top of the loaf before baking, and ensure the dough has plenty of room to rise in the air fryer. No pan is needed; place the dough ball on parchment paper to cook.
See, I told you it was simple to make this bread. But what we really should be talking about is how amazing this bread tastes. It is perfect with butter, dipped in olive oil, or used for delicious sandwiches. The exterior is nice and crusty, and the inside is tender and fluffy.
Since air fryers vary, it may take your bread longer or shorter to cook. If the exterior starts to brown before you hear the hollow sound when tapping the loaf, cover it with aluminum foil to prevent further browning while it finishes cooking. You can also use a thermometer to check the loaf’s internal temperature, aiming for about 190°F before removing it from the air fryer.
Make a focaccia-style bread with this dough
You can use this same recipe for air-fryer bread to make a focaccia-style loaf. Once the dough has doubled in the first hour, turn it out onto a lightly floured piece of parchment paper and shape it into two separate rectangles, stretching them to about eight by six inches and about a half inch thick. If your dough is thicker, make it into three individual loaves. Drizzle or brush olive oil over the top of the dough, then use your fingers to make deep dimples over the entire surface. You can cook the bread on the parchment paper or in foil pans at 400°F for 10 to 12 minutes, or until cooked through and golden.
If using parchment paper, consider turning the bread after six minutes to brown both sides. When you flip the bread, brush on olive oil and add any toppings you like. I prefer using foil pans and skipping the flipping. That way, I can add toppings at the start of baking. Toppings can include flaky sea salt, melted butter with crushed garlic, freshly ground coarse black pepper, and chopped herbs like rosemary, basil, parsley, dill, sage, thyme, or oregano. You can also add halved cherry tomatoes, olives, sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, and raw or caramelized onions to flavor your focaccia.
How do I store leftovers?
There are multiple ways to store air-fryer bread, including at room temperature, in the refrigerator, and in the freezer. If you plan on consuming all the bread within 2 days, storing it at room temperature in an airtight container is the best option. You can also wrap it in plastic wrap or place it in an airtight container and refrigerate it for up to 1 week. Longer storage is best with freezing. Place the unsliced loaf in a zippered freezer bag and squeeze out all the excess air. You can freeze the bread for up to 3 months and defrost it overnight in the refrigerator. If you want to freeze it in slices, pre-slice the bread and wrap a few slices in freezer plastic wrap before placing them in the zippered bag.
Serving suggestions
Serve freshly baked air-fryer bread with a comforting bowl of Crock-Pot Beef Stew, Clam Chowder, or this incredible Texas Chili Recipe. Enjoy a buttered slice of bread with Vegetable Lasagna, Chicken Cornbread Casserole, or Irish Shepherd’s Pie. You can even slice the bread and use it to make delicious Pumpkin French Toast.
Air-Fryer Bread
Ingredients
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1 1/4 teaspoons salt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
- 1 1/4 cups warm water 110°F
- 2 tablespoons olive oil plus extra for coating
Instructions
- Combine the flour, instant yeast, salt, and honey in a large bowl. Add the warm water and olive oil. Stir and knead until a sticky, shaggy dough develops. Form into a ball and transfer it to a greased bowl.
- Cover the bowl with a clean towel or plastic wrap and let the dough rise in a warm spot for about 1 hour until it doubles in size.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface and shape it gently into a smooth ball. Cover it loosely and let it rise for 15 minutes.
- Place the shaped dough on a piece of parchment paper. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 5 minutes. Use a sharp knife to score the top of the dough. Transfer the dough (with the parchment) into the air fryer basket, making sure there is space above for rising.
- Cook at 400°F for 5 minutes, then lower the temperature to 350°F and cook for 15 minutes. Flip the loaf carefully and cook for another 15 minutes until the bottom sounds hollow when tapped. Remove the bread and let it cool on a rack before slicing, approximately 1 hour.
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