These Air Fryer Nutella Toast Pies are the little dessert that saves the day. Take two slices of soft sandwich bread, tuck a spoonful of chocolate hazelnut spread inside, crimp the edges, and ten minutes later you have a golden, crackly pocket of warm Nutella that oozes the second you bite in. No pastry dough, no rolling pin, no deep fryer, no mess.
Advertisements1
I started making these on nights when my kids begged for something sweet and I had exactly zero energy left. Now they are the most requested after-school snack in our house, and honestly the adults fight over them too. The air fryer does all the work, giving you that fried-pie crispness with a fraction of the oil and none of the splatter.
The real magic is the texture contrast. The outside shatters like a doughnut, the inside stays molten, and a swipe of melted butter plus a cinnamon-sugar dusting pushes it right over the edge. Once you nail the crimping, you can fill these with anything you love, so treat the recipe below as a starting point and run with it.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
About the Ingredients
12 slices soft white sandwich bread
Standard sliced white bread works best because it stays flexible enough to seal. Brioche or Texas toast is a delicious upgrade, but avoid crusty sourdough since it cracks when you fold it.
3/4 cup (200g) Nutella or chocolate hazelnut spread
Any chocolate hazelnut spread works, including store brands and dairy-free versions. If yours is stiff from the fridge, warm it for 10 seconds so it spreads without tearing the bread.
3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter, melted
Salted butter is fine too, just skip any added salt in the cinnamon sugar. For a dairy-free version, brush with melted coconut oil instead.
2 tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar
White sugar gives the classic sparkle, but turbinado adds a nice crunch. Brown sugar works in a pinch though it gets sticky fast.
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Fresh cinnamon is worth it here since it is the main flavor outside the chocolate. Pumpkin pie spice is a great swap if you want a cozy twist.
1 large egg, beaten (optional egg wash)
The egg wash gives the deepest golden shine, but melted butter alone is perfectly good. Skip the egg entirely and brush with milk if you prefer.
1 tablespoon powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
Totally optional, but it makes them look bakery-fancy. A drizzle of warm Nutella or a pinch of flaky sea salt is even better.
Nonstick spray or a light brush of oil, for the basket
Use a neutral high-heat oil like avocado or canola. Never use aerosol spray on a nonstick air fryer basket, as it can damage the coating over time.
Tips & Tricks
Do not overfill
Keep the filling to about 1 tablespoon per pie and stay 1/2 inch away from the edges, or the seams burst and the Nutella burns onto the basket.
Seal like you mean it
Press out all the air and crimp hard with a fork dipped in flour, then flip and crimp the other side for a double seal.
Work in batches
Air fry in a single layer with space between pies so the hot air circulates and every edge crisps instead of steaming.
Watch the last two minutes
Nutella goes from perfect to scorched quickly, so pull them the moment the tops are deep golden brown.
Pro Tips
Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Mix the cinnamon sugar
Stir the granulated sugar and cinnamon together in a small shallow bowl and set it aside. This goes on at the very end, so having it ready keeps you from scrambling while the pies are hot.
2. Make the pies
Lay 12 bread slices flat and spread about 1 tablespoon of Nutella on each, leaving a 1/2-inch border all the way around. Top with the remaining 12 slices and press gently to close.
3. Crimp the edges
Press out any air, then seal each pie by pressing the tines of a fork firmly around the entire border. Flip and crimp the second side too, because a double seal is what keeps the filling inside.
4. Brush and vent
Brush the tops lightly with beaten egg or melted butter and poke one small vent hole in the center of each pie with a toothpick. This helps them brown evenly and keeps steam from blowing out the seams.
5. Preheat the air fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 350F (175C) for 3 minutes. A hot basket gives you that instant sizzle on the bottom crust, which is exactly what you want.
6. Air fry in batches
Lightly oil the basket and arrange 3 to 4 pies in a single layer with space between them. Air fry at 350F (175C) for 6 to 8 minutes, flipping halfway, until both sides are deep golden brown and the edges look crisp and bubbling.
7. Check for doneness
The pies are ready when the surface is evenly golden, the edges are firm and dry to the touch, and a gentle press on the center feels hollow rather than squishy. If the filling starts to bubble out, pull them immediately.
8. Finish and serve
Brush the hot pies with the remaining melted butter, toss them in the cinnamon sugar, and dust with powdered sugar if you like. Let them rest 1 minute before eating, because that molten center is genuinely hot.
Delicious Variations
S'mores Pies
Swap half the Nutella for marshmallow fluff and add a few mini chocolate chips and crushed graham crackers before sealing.
Strawberry Cheesecake Pies
Mix 4 ounces softened cream cheese with 1 tablespoon powdered sugar and 2 tablespoons strawberry jam, then spread that instead of Nutella.
Banana Nutella Pies
Add 3 thin banana slices on top of the Nutella, but keep the filling shallow so the seams still seal properly.
How to Store Air Fryer Magic: Nutella Toast Pies Recipe! 🥧✨
Refrigerator
Store cooled pies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. They stay safe but the bread softens, so they are best reheated.
Freezer
Freeze baked pies in a single layer on a sheet pan, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 2 months. You can also freeze them unbaked after crimping, which gives the best fresh texture.
Reheating
Reheat in the air fryer at 320F (160C) for 3 to 4 minutes until crisp again. Avoid the microwave, which turns the crust chewy and rubbery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you put Nutella in an air fryer?
Yes, Nutella is perfectly safe in an air fryer as long as it stays sealed inside the bread. The problem is exposed spread, which can burn onto the basket, so always keep it enclosed and never fill past the 1/2-inch border.
Q: How long do you air fry Nutella toast pies?
Air fry them at 350F (175C) for 6 to 8 minutes, flipping halfway through. Thinner bread cooks in about 6 minutes while thick brioche may need the full 8, so judge by the deep golden color rather than the clock alone.
Q: Why did my toast pies explode in the air fryer?
They explode because trapped steam and too much filling force the seams open. Fix it by using only 1 tablespoon of Nutella, pressing out all the air, crimping both sides with a fork, and poking a tiny vent hole in the top.
Q: Can I make these without an air fryer?
Yes, bake them on a parchment-lined sheet pan at 375F (190C) for 10 to 12 minutes, flipping once. They come out slightly less crisp but still delicious, or you can pan-fry them in a little butter for 2 minutes per side.
Q: Do I need to preheat the air fryer for this recipe?
Preheating for 3 minutes at 350F (175C) gives you a noticeably crisper bottom crust and more even browning. If your air fryer has a preheat function, use it; if not, just run it empty for 3 minutes.
Grab your bread, your jar of Nutella, and your air fryer, and make these tonight. They take about 20 minutes start to finish, and I promise the whole batch disappears before it cools. If you try a fun filling, tell me about it in the comments. Cook smart, eat happy.
Air Fryer Magic: Nutella Toast Pies Recipe! 🥧✨
Air Fryer Nutella Toast Pies turn sliced bread and chocolate hazelnut spread into crisp, gooey hand pies in 20 minutes with almost no cleanup.
🧂 Ingredients
- 12 slices soft white sandwich bread
- 3/4 cup (200g) Nutella or chocolate hazelnut spread
- 3 tablespoons (42g) unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 large egg, beaten (optional egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, for dusting (optional)
- Nonstick spray or a light brush of oil, for the basket
📋 Instructions
- 1Mix the cinnamon sugar — Stir the granulated sugar and cinnamon together in a small shallow bowl and set it aside. This goes on at the very end, so having it ready keeps you from scrambling while the pies are hot.
- 2Make the pies — Lay 12 bread slices flat and spread about 1 tablespoon of Nutella on each, leaving a 1/2-inch border all the way around. Top with the remaining 12 slices and press gently to close.
- 3Crimp the edges — Press out any air, then seal each pie by pressing the tines of a fork firmly around the entire border. Flip and crimp the second side too, because a double seal is what keeps the filling inside.
- 4Brush and vent — Brush the tops lightly with beaten egg or melted butter and poke one small vent hole in the center of each pie with a toothpick. This helps them brown evenly and keeps steam from blowing out the seams.
- 5Preheat the air fryer — Preheat your air fryer to 350F (175C) for 3 minutes. A hot basket gives you that instant sizzle on the bottom crust, which is exactly what you want.
- 6Air fry in batches — Lightly oil the basket and arrange 3 to 4 pies in a single layer with space between them. Air fry at 350F (175C) for 6 to 8 minutes, flipping halfway, until both sides are deep golden brown and the edges look crisp and bubbling.
- 7Check for doneness — The pies are ready when the surface is evenly golden, the edges are firm and dry to the touch, and a gentle press on the center feels hollow rather than squishy. If the filling starts to bubble out, pull them immediately.
- 8Finish and serve — Brush the hot pies with the remaining melted butter, toss them in the cinnamon sugar, and dust with powdered sugar if you like. Let them rest 1 minute before eating, because that molten center is genuinely hot.
Elena focuses on healthy cooking and meal prep for people with limited time and budget. She shares flexible recipes and shortcuts that don’t sacrifice flavor.
