12 Air Fryer Desserts That Will Have You Going Back for Seconds

We love to provide you with a "why didn't I think of that?" moment. Especially if it leads to a "where have you been all my life?" sentiment. Well, we think baking in your air fryer might qualify as both. Remember those iconic crispy fruit pies from fast food restaurants in your youth (or last week)? You might be shocked at how close an air fryer version comes. Things that sound a little dicey when actually fried (like Oreos) suddenly become manageable, quick and mess-free when air fried, instead. If you don't have a stand-alone air fryer appliance but do have an air fryer function on your oven, that can work well; just pay close attention to any instructions regarding nonstick spray or parchment paper, and be sure to use a rack for maximum air circulation.

You might never go back to baking hand pies when you taste this version, crispy on the outside and bursting with fresh berries. Yes, making your own dough from scratch adds to the labor, but we promise the flavor (and texture!) is so worth it. "Bake" time is shockingly quick — you'll have barely whipped up the icing by the time these are done.

Give us a near-instant hot chocolate chip cookie, right out of the oven, and we'll give you a crown. These aren't exactly instant the first time you make them, but since the dough balls freeze and thaw well, think of them as an investment for future cravings. Any night you come home from work just dying for a warm cookie, take a few out to thaw; by after dinner, they'll be ready for a quick air fry.

Somewhere along the line, this cliche of the late-night fast food restaurant worker's sneaky treat went mainstream at fairs and carnivals around the country, and now has earned its own reputation for a worth-it dessert. A light batter that goes crisp in the air fryer really takes these iconic cookies to a whole new level. Sure, they're harder to twist apart, but they still go great with a glass of milk.

There's a lot going on here (in a good way) and yet these barely take more work than a traditional s'more. Actually, since you're not assembling around a campfire, and have ample work surfaces, we'd even say you could almost prepare these with your eyes closed. Adding caramel sauce, coconut chips and peanut butter to the mix with traditional s'more ingredients really turns them into something that eats like a s'more but tastes like something fit for a restaurant dessert menu.

If you love churros but have always been intimidated over wielding a piping bag right into a hot vat of oil, great news! The air fryer recreates that crispy/hot doughnut-y texture of a churro, but with zero drama. A little homemade dulce de leche for dipping really makes these a no-brainer.

We've really nerded out on the engineering here to yield perfect little individual cobblers. The filling air fries first, to cook the peaches to just the right amount of firm/fresh/yielding. While that's going on, you whip up the crumbly topping, and apply before a final round in the air fryer. You'll definitely want to keep vanilla ice cream on hand, because that hot/cold contrast is truly amazing.

Love s'mores? Here's an evil-genius combination that will drive everyone wild. Included is cookie butter, for an extra injection of sweet-salty-creamy, and a potato chip, for salty crunch! Recipe developer, Larisa Alvarez advises going with soft chocolate chip cookies, because they will become crispy upon air-frying. Yasss queen.

Pecans bring an unexpected tannic nuttiness that really complements the bitterness of brownies, for all of those who love their chocolate bittersweet. If, however, you prefer sweeter, you can always take a page from the classic turtle profile and drizzle with some caramel sauce. These are divine on their own but timing them to be warm from the oven so you can scoop on some ice cream is next-level.

Saints alive, you can practically hear the strains of the brass bands on Bourbon Street when you take one bite of these pillowy beignets. The pastry has been a traditional offering at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans forever. It might seem a little extra to say to treat yourself to a can of their iconic chicory-infused coffee to go with it, but luckily it's now available in nationwide and online grocery stores, so why not be extra?

The name "Elvis" conjures two things — Presley's hip-swiveling music and his now iconic favorite flavor profile: peanut butter and banana with bacon. What can we say? It really works, and even more so in a s'more. They don't call him The King for nothing.

This is one homey dish that actually has ended up on restaurant dessert menus, and now you can recreate it at home. And best of all, it's proportioned for one, so the amounts are tiny and it air fries up fast. The only danger is how habit-forming it is.