Filhoses na Air Fryer (Portuguese Fried Dough)

These air fryer filhoses are a lighter take on the traditional Portuguese holiday treat. They’re soft and fluffy inside, lightly crisp outside, and coated in cinnamon sugar.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Rise Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 10–12 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 12 filhoses

Ingredients

Dough

• 2¼ teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
• ¾ cup warm milk (110°F/43°C)
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 2½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt
• Zest of 1 lemon (optional)

Cinnamon Sugar Coating

• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

For the Air Fryer

• Olive oil or avocado oil cooking spray

Instructions

1. Activate the yeast: In a bowl, combine the warm milk, yeast, and 1 teaspoon of the sugar. Let stand for 5–10 minutes, until foamy.
2. Make the dough: Add the remaining sugar, flour, egg, melted butter, vanilla, salt, and lemon zest. Mix until a soft dough forms.
3. Knead: Knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
4. Shape: Punch down the dough and divide it into 12 equal pieces. Flatten each piece into a circle about ¼ inch (6 mm) thick, making a small hole in the center if desired.
5. Preheat: Preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 3 minutes.
6. Air fry: Lightly spray both sides of the dough with cooking oil. Arrange in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each piece. Cook for 5–6 minutes, flip, spray lightly again, and cook for another 4–6 minutes, until golden brown.
7. Coat: While still warm, toss each filhós in the cinnamon sugar mixture until evenly coated.

Tips

• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket; cook in batches if needed.
• A light coating of oil helps achieve a beautifully golden finish.
• The dough should be soft but not sticky. Add a little more flour if needed.
• Serve warm for the best texture and flavor.

Optional Variations

• Orange Flavor: Replace the lemon zest with orange zest.
• Pumpkin Filhoses: Mix ½ cup pumpkin purée into the dough and reduce the milk slightly.
• Filled: Add a spoonful of chocolate spread or fruit jam before sealing and shaping.
• Spiced: Add a pinch of nutmeg or ground cardamom to the dough.

Serving Suggestions

Serve with:

• Coffee or espresso
• Hot chocolate
• Tea
• Fresh berries
• Honey or chocolate sauce for dipping

Storage

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days.

Reheating

Reheat in the air fryer at 325°F (160°C) for 2–3 minutes until warm, then dust with a little extra cinnamon sugar if desired.