Some of the best desserts are the ones that bring a little fun to the kitchen and give everyone something warm to gather around. These Air Fryer Cherry Chimichangas do exactly that, taking inspiration from classic cheesecake-filled pastries while adding a crisp, cinnamon-sugar finish that makes them perfect for sharing after dinner or serving at weekend gatherings.
This recipe turns a Butter Braid® Cherry Pastry into a sweet, handheld treat. The flaky pastry is wrapped around a creamy cherry cheesecake filling that is cooked to a golden brown in an air fryer before being rolled in cinnamon sugar for the finishing touch. It’s a warm, comforting treat that makes it easy to create moments around the table with the people you love most.
Materials Needed
- Greased baking sheet
- Medium-sized mixing bowl
- Rolling pin
- Sharp knife or pizza cutter
- Air fryer
- Cooking spray
- Shallow bowl
- Pastry brush
Storage Information
Store your Air Fryer Cherry Chimichangas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Because of their dairy-based filling, freezing is not recommended. This dish is best served warm. Reheat in your air fryer at 350°F for 5-10 minutes, or until warmed through.
Tips for Making Air Fryer Cherry Chimichangas
- Don’t overfill your chimichangas. Too much filling can cause leaking during the air frying process. A few tablespoons per pastry works best.
- Pinch the seams of your chimichangas tightly to ensure the cheesecake filling stays inside the pastry while cooking.
- If your filling feels too soft, chill for about 15-20 minutes before assembling.
How to Make Air Fryer Cherry Chimichangas
Air Fryer Cherry Chimichangas
Course: DessertCuisine: MexicanDifficulty: Moderate8
servings230
kcal10
Ingredients
- Cheesecake Filling:
8 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 tbsp. sour cream
2 tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. lemon zest
1 1/2 c. chopped cherries
Filling from the Butter Braid® Cherry Pastry
- Chimichangas
1 Butter Braid® Cherry Pastry, thawed
Flour
Melted butter
1/2 c. sugar
1 tbsp. cinnamon
Directions
- Prepare the Pastry
- Remove the Cherry pastry from its packaging and set it out on a greased baking sheet to rise for about 2 hours, or until fully thawed.
- Carefully, deconstruct the pastry and remove the filling. Place the filling into a medium-sized mixing bowl. Set the dough aside.
- Make the Cheesecake Filling
- In the medium-sized mixing bowl with the cherry filling, add the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar, vanilla, and lemon zest. Mix until smooth and creamy.
- Fold in the chopped cherries. Set the mixture aside.
- Prepare the Chimichangas
- Dust your counters with flour. Move the pastry dough onto the floured surface. Gently roll out the pastry dough using your rolling pin.
- Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut the pastry dough into rectangles or squares large enough to wrap around the filling.
- Spoon the cheesecake filling into the center of each piece of dough.
- Fold in the sides of the dough and roll up gently like a burrito or turnover, sealing the edges by pinching the dough together.
- Air Fry the Chimichangas
- Preheat the air fryer to 375°F.
- Lightly spray the air fryer basket with cooking spray.
- Place the chimichangas in the basket seam-side down, leaving space between each one.
- Air fry for 7-9 minutes, flipping halfway through. The chimichangas should be golden brown and flaky.
- Cinnamon Sugar Finish
- Mix together the cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl.
- Lightly brush the warm chimichangas with the melted butter using a pastry brush or similar tool.
- Roll the chimichangas in the cinnamon-sugar mixture until fully coated.
- Serve warm.
Air Fryer Cherry Chimichangas Recipe Video
Tips for Making Air Fryer Cherry Chimichangas
- Don’t overfill your chimichangas. Too much filling can cause leaking during the air frying process. A few tablespoons per pastry works best.
- Pinch the seams of your chimichangas tightly to ensure the cheesecake filling stays inside the pastry while cooking.
- If your filling feels too soft, chill for about 15-20 minutes before assembling.
- Storage Information: Store your Air Fryer Cherry Chimichangas in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in your air fryer at 350°F for 5-10 minutes, or until warmed through.
