The Perfect Autumn Dinner Party using the Duronic Air Fryer
As the first chill of autumn begins to fill the air and the leaves start to turn golden, there’s nothing better than gathering friends and family for a cozy, seasonal dinner party.
With the crisp air outside, the warmth of a hearty meal shared indoors is the perfect way to embrace the start of autumn. And what we told you that you could prepare an entire autumn-inspired menu using just your Duronic AF24 or AF34 air fryer? That’s right—from the starter to the dessert, this versatile air fryer makes cooking easy, delicious, and efficient.
In this blog post, we’ll guide you through an entire autumn dinner party menu featuring three delectable dishes—all prepared using the air fryer.
For the starter, we’ll kick things off with Red Onion and Goat’s Cheese Bruschetta, followed by a comforting Toad in the Hole for the main course, and we’ll finish with a classic, heartwarming Apple Pie for dessert.
Whether you’re a seasoned air fryer enthusiast or just starting to explore its possibilities, the Duronic Air Fryer is the perfect kitchen companion for creating this cozy autumn feast. Let’s dive into the recipes and get ready to impress your guests with this unique, all-air fryer dinner party!
Air Fryer Red Onion and Goat’s Cheese Bruschetta: An Easy Autumn Starter
Using your air fryer, you can prepare the entire dish with minimal effort—caramelizing the onions, toasting the bread, and even warming the goat’s cheese all in one! This recipe keeps everything simple and makes your kitchen cleanup a breeze, leaving you more time to enjoy the evening with your guests.
Ingredients
• 2 large red onions, thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1 baguette or rustic loaf of bread, sliced into 1/2-inch thick slices
• 150g (about 5 oz) soft goat’s cheese
• 1 tablespoon honey (optional)
• Fresh thyme or rosemary for garnish
Instructions
1. Caramelize the Red Onions in the Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 160°C (320°F).
In a small air fryer-safe dish or bowl, toss the thinly sliced red onions with olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and brown sugar. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Place the dish in the air fryer and cook for 15 minutes, stirring every 5 minutes to ensure the onions cook evenly and become nicely caramelized. Once they are soft, golden, and slightly sticky, remove them from the air fryer and set aside.
2. Toast the Bread in the Air Fryer
While the onions are cooking, prepare your bread slices. Brush each side of the bread with olive oil.
Once the onions are done, place the bread slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer (you may need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer). Toast the bread at 180°C (350°F) for 3-5 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the slices are golden and crispy.
3. Warm the Goat’s Cheese in the Air Fryer
After toasting the bread, you can quickly warm the goat’s cheese to make it extra creamy. Place small dollops of goat’s cheese on top of each slice of toasted bread and return them to the air fryer for about 1 minute at 160°C (320°F). This will slightly soften the cheese without melting it completely, creating the perfect texture for your bruschetta.
4. Assemble the Bruschetta
Once the cheese is warm, top each piece of bruschetta with a spoonful of the caramelized onions. If you like, drizzle a bit of honey over the top for a hint of sweetness. Garnish with fresh thyme or rosemary for a pop of autumn flavour.
5. Serve
Serve the bruschetta immediately while the bread is still crispy and the cheese is warm. These bite-sized appetizers are packed with flavour and make the perfect starter for your autumn dinner party.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Bruschetta
• Watch the Onions: Keep an eye on the onions as they caramelize, and turn them regularly to prevent burning. You want them soft and golden, not crispy.
• Bread Choice: Use a sturdy bread like a baguette or sourdough that will hold up well under the toppings and stay crisp.
• Batch Cooking: Depending on the size of your air fryer drawer, you may need to toast the bread and melt the cheese in batches. Keep the prepared slices warm by covering them loosely with foil while you work on the others.
Air Fryer Toad in the Hole: The Perfect Autumn Recipe
As the crisp air of autumn starts to settle in and the leaves turn golden, it’s time to embrace hearty, comforting meals. There’s something about this season that calls for warm dishes that make you feel cozy from the inside out. One of our favourites? Toad in the Hole, a classic British dish made of sausages baked in a fluffy Yorkshire pudding batter. And the best part? You can make it in the air fryer for a quick, easy, and less messy version that’s perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends!
Why It’s the Perfect Autumn Dinner
Autumn is all about comfort, and this dish delivers that in spades. The savoury sausages combined with the light, yet crispy, batter give you the best of both worlds: satisfying and hearty, without being too heavy. Plus, making it in the air fryer cuts down on cooking time and cleanup, so you can spend more time enjoying the season.
So, grab your air fryer, your favourite sausages, and let’s get started with this delicious recipe!
Ingredients
• 4 sausages (pork or your favourite variety)
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
Instructions
Preheat the Air Fryer
Set your air fryer to 180°C (350°F) and let it preheat for about 5 minutes. Just like with a traditional oven, preheating ensures even cooking, especially for the batter to rise perfectly.
2. Cook the Sausages
While the air fryer is preheating, lightly coat the sausages with a little oil. Place them in the air fryer basket and cook for 8-10 minutes, turning halfway through, until they’re golden brown. Remove and set aside.
3. Prepare the Batter
While the sausages are cooking, whisk together the flour, eggs, milk, salt, and pepper in a bowl until smooth. You want a consistency similar to pancake batter. Allow the batter to rest for 5-10 minutes; this helps it rise beautifully. Please see our HM3 mixer to aid you in making this recipe!
4. Heat the Oil
To get that perfect Yorkshire pudding puff, the oil needs to be hot. Pour 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil into a small oven-safe dish, silicone liner or other deeper tray that fits inside your air fryer. Place it in the air fryer for about 3 minutes to heat the oil.
5. Assemble the Toad in the Hole
Carefully remove the hot oil (be cautious, it’ll be sizzling!). Quickly pour the batter into the hot oil, then place the sausages on top of the batter. Don’t worry if they sink a little; they’ll rise with the batter as it cooks.
6. Cook in the Air Fryer
Place the dish back into the air fryer and cook for 15-18 minutes at 180°C (350°F) until the batter is golden and puffed, and the sausages are cooked through.
7. Serve and Enjoy!
Once cooked, carefully remove the dish from the air fryer and let it sit for a minute before slicing. Serve with your favourite autumn vegetables—think roasted carrots, parsnips, or even some mashed potatoes—and a rich onion gravy for the ultimate comfort meal.
Tips for the Perfect Toad in the Hole
• Resting the Batter: Letting the batter rest before cooking helps it rise better. If you have the time, make the batter earlier in the day and let it sit in the fridge.
• Sausage Choice: Pork sausages are traditional, but feel free to experiment! Chicken sausages or even veggie sausages work just as well.
This air fryer Toad in the Hole recipe is everything you want in an autumn dinner: warm, comforting, and so easy to make. It will pair perfectly with the season’s coziest evenings. Whether you’re enjoying it on a quiet night in or serving it for a family dinner, this recipe will become a staple in your home for the next few months!
Happy cooking, and happy autumn! 🍂
Air Fryer Apple Pie: A Perfect Autumn Dessert
As autumn arrives with its cool breezes and golden leaves, it’s the perfect time to enjoy cozy treats that celebrate the flavours of the season. One dessert that screams autumn? Apple pie. The combination of sweet, spiced apples and buttery crust makes it a timeless favourite for fall. But what if you could enjoy this classic dessert with a modern twist? Enter the air fryer—your new best friend for making a delicious, golden apple pie in less time and with less fuss than using a traditional oven!
Why Apple Pie is the Ultimate Autumn Dessert
There’s something special about apple pie in the fall. Maybe it’s the smell of cinnamon and apples filling your kitchen or the warmth of a slice fresh out of the oven on a chilly evening. Apples are at their best this time of year, and baking them into a pie is a perfect way to enjoy the season’s bounty. Plus, with an air fryer, you’ll get that flaky, golden crust and tender, spiced apples in a fraction of the time.
So, grab your favourite apples and let’s make a cozy, autumnal apple pie in your air fryer!
Ingredients
For the crust:
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
• 1/4 cup ice-cold water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Pinch of salt
For the filling:
• 3 medium apples (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or a mix), peeled and thinly sliced
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon flour (to thicken the filling)
For brushing:
• 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
• 1 tablespoon sugar (optional, for sprinkling on top)
Instructions
1. Make the Crust
To start, prepare the pie crust. In a bowl, combine the flour, sugar, and salt. Cut the cold butter into the flour mixture using a pastry cutter or your fingers until it resembles coarse crumbs. Slowly add the ice-cold water, one tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes together. Form the dough into a ball, wrap it in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
2. Prepare the Filling
While the dough is chilling, prepare the apple filling. In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon juice, and flour. Toss everything together until the apples are evenly coated and the mixture is thickened slightly. Set aside.
3. Preheat the Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 180°C (350°F) for about 5 minutes. This ensures the pie will cook evenly with that nice golden crust.
4. Roll Out the Dough
Once the dough has chilled, divide it into two portions—one for the bottom crust and one for the top. Roll out the first portion on a lightly floured surface into a circle large enough to cover the base of your air fryer-safe pie dish or a small oven-safe dish that fits inside the air fryer.
5. Assemble the Pie
Place the rolled-out crust into your pie dish, pressing it into the edges. Pour the apple filling on top, spreading it out evenly. Roll out the second portion of dough and place it over the apples. Crimp the edges of the top and bottom crusts together to seal the pie. Make a few small slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape during cooking.
6. Brush with Egg Wash
For that classic golden crust, brush the top of the pie with the beaten egg. If you’d like, sprinkle a little sugar on top for extra crunch and sweetness.
7. Bake in the Air Fryer
Carefully place the pie dish into the preheated air fryer. Cook at 180°C (350°F) for 20-25 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the filling is bubbling. If the top is browning too quickly, you can cover it loosely with foil halfway through cooking.
8. Cool and Serve
Once your apple pie is done, remove it from the air fryer and let it cool for about 10 minutes before slicing. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a dollop of whipped cream for the ultimate autumn treat.
Tips for the Best Air Fryer Apple Pie
• Choose the Right Apples: Granny Smith apples give a nice tartness that balances the sweetness, while Honeycrisp adds a touch of natural sweetness. A mix of both works perfectly!
• Keep the Dough Cold: For the flakiest crust, make sure your butter and water are ice cold. The chill keeps the butter from melting too quickly, which creates that lovely flakiness when baking.
• Pie Size Matters: Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to make a smaller pie or use mini pie dishes. Adjust cooking times accordingly if you’re making a mini version.
There’s nothing quite like a warm slice of air fryer apple pie to welcome the autumn season. The simplicity of using an air fryer makes this recipe an easy way to enjoy a classic dessert without the wait. Plus, the combination of tender apples, warm spices, and flaky crust is sure to bring that cozy fall feeling right into your home.
Enjoy this delightful autumn dessert with family, friends, or even as a well-deserved treat for yourself after a long day of raking leaves. 🍏🍂
