Crispy on the outside, warm and cinnamon-spiced on the inside these apple pie taquitos are a fun twist on classic apple pie, made easy in the air fryer. Flour tortillas get wrapped around a fresh apple cinnamon filling, brushed with butter, and air fried until golden and buttery-crisp, then finished with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar. Top with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce for the ultimate fall dessert.
Why I Love This Recipe
This is one of those desserts that feels like a fun project but comes together surprisingly fast — the whole thing is ready in well under 30 minutes. The tortillas crisp up beautifully in the air fryer with just a light brush of butter, no deep frying required, and the cinnamon sugar finish makes them taste like they came straight from a fall festival. They’re also easy to portion out, which makes them great for parties or whenever you want individual servings instead of slicing a whole pie.
What Kind of Apples to Use
Granny Smith apples are the go-to here — their tartness balances out the sugar and cinnamon nicely. Gala and Honeycrisp apples work well too if you prefer something a little sweeter.
Ingredients
Apple Filling
- ⅔ cup water
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- Pinch of salt
Taquitos
- 6 medium flour tortillas
- ⅓ cup caramel sauce
- 2 tbsp melted butter
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
For serving
- Vanilla ice cream
- Extra caramel sauce
How to Make Air Fryer Apple Pie Taquitos
- Start the filling. Stir the water and cornstarch together in a small saucepan, then add the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Simmer. Bring the mixture to a boil, then let it simmer for 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- Cook the apples. Stir in the diced apples and cook for 5–7 minutes, stirring frequently, until the mixture thickens and the apples soften. Add a splash more water if it gets too thick.
- Finish the filling. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract, lemon juice, and salt.
- Soften the tortillas. Place the tortillas on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a damp paper towel, and microwave for 20–30 seconds to make them more pliable.
- Fill and roll. Spread a spoonful of caramel sauce on each tortilla, then add about ⅓ to ½ cup of the apple mixture down the center. Roll each one up tightly.
- Butter and air fry. Brush the outside of each rolled tortilla with melted butter. Air fry at 370°F for 7–9 minutes, until golden and crisp.
- Make the cinnamon sugar. While the taquitos cook, combine the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Finish and serve. Remove the taquitos from the air fryer, brush with a bit more butter, and sprinkle generously with the cinnamon sugar. Serve warm with vanilla ice cream and extra caramel sauce.
Tips
- Either medium or large flour tortillas work well for this recipe — just adjust the amount of filling accordingly.
- Cooking times vary by air fryer brand and model, so check on the taquitos around the 7-minute mark to avoid overcooking. Part of the beauty of air frying is that you can peek without significantly affecting the cook time.
- Don’t skip softening the tortillas in the microwave — it makes them far easier to roll without cracking.
Storage
These taquitos are best fresh and crisp right out of the air fryer. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days and reheat in the air fryer for a few minutes to re-crisp them before serving.
FAQs
Can I make the apple filling ahead of time? Yes — the filling can be made up to a couple of days in advance and stored in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble and air fry the taquitos.
Can I use a different type of apple? Definitely. Granny Smith gives the most tart, pie-like flavor, but Gala or Honeycrisp work well if you’d like a sweeter filling.
Do I have to use a microwave to soften the tortillas? It’s the quickest method, but you can also warm them briefly in a dry skillet or wrap them in foil and warm them in the oven for a few minutes — the goal is just to make them pliable enough to roll without cracking.
Can I bake these instead of air frying? Yes — bake at 400°F on a parchment-lined baking sheet for about 12–15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until golden and crisp.
Why did my tortillas crack while rolling? This usually means they weren’t warmed enough first. Make sure they’re covered with a damp paper towel and microwaved until soft and pliable before filling.
Can I freeze these? It’s best to freeze the rolled, unbaked taquitos rather than the cooked ones — place them on a baking sheet to freeze individually, then transfer to a freezer bag. Air fry from frozen, adding a few extra minutes to the cook time.
Air Fryer Apple Pie Taquitos
Equipment
- small saucepan
- microwave-safe plate
- damp paper towel
- air fryer
- small bowl for cinnamon sugar
- pastry brush optional
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup water
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 2 Granny Smith apples, peeled and diced
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- pinch of salt
- 6 medium flour tortillas
- 1/3 cup caramel sauce
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- vanilla ice cream for serving
Instructions
- Stir together water and cornstarch in a small saucepan.
- Add sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Bring mixture to a boil and then simmer one minute, stirring frequently.
- Stir in apples and cook for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring frequently. Mixture should be thick but you can add a little more water if needed.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract, lemon juice, and salt.
- Place tortillas on a microwave-safe plate and cover with a damp paper towel. Microwave for 20 to 30 seconds. This will make them more pliable.
- Spread a spoonful of caramel sauce on each tortilla.
- Place about 1/3 to 1/2 cup of apple mixture down the center of each one. Roll up tightly.
- Brush the outside of each tortilla with butter.
- Air fry at 370°F for 7 to 9 minutes.
- While they are in the air fryer, combine sugar and cinnamon in small bowl.
- Remove taquitos from air fryer basket. Brush with a little more butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
- Serve warm with ice cream and more caramel sauce.