Description
Crispy, golden air fried Babybel cheese rounds make a perfect snack or appetizer. Coated in seasoned panko breadcrumbs and quickly air fried, they are delightfully crunchy on the outside and gooey melted cheese on the inside. This easy recipe uses an air fryer to achieve a delicious fried texture without the extra oil and mess of deep frying.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese
- 12 Mini Babybel cheese rounds
Breading
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 large eggs
- 1 cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
Other
- Cooking spray (for air fryer)
Instructions
- Prepare the Babybel cheese: Unwrap each Babybel cheese round and remove the wax coating. Pat each cheese round dry with a paper towel to remove any moisture.
- Set up breading stations: Arrange three shallow bowls – one with all-purpose flour, one with beaten eggs, and one with Panko breadcrumbs mixed with Italian seasoning if using.
- Bread the cheese rounds: Dredge each cheese round first in the flour, shaking off any excess. Then dip into the beaten eggs, followed by coating thoroughly with the Panko breadcrumb mixture. For extra crispy coating, repeat the egg dip and breadcrumb coating step once more.
- Freeze the breaded cheese: Place the breaded Babybel rounds on a tray or plate and freeze for 10 to 15 minutes. This step helps prevent cheese from leaking while air frying.
- Preheat the air fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 375°F (190°C) for a few minutes to ensure it’s hot enough.
- Air fry the cheese rounds: Lightly spray each cheese round with cooking spray to help with browning. Arrange them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Air fry for 5 to 6 minutes, flipping halfway through the cooking time to ensure even crisping.
- Serve immediately: Remove the crispy air fried Babybel cheese rounds carefully and serve hot with your favorite dipping sauces for a gooey cheesy treat.
Notes
- Freezing the breaded cheese before air frying is key to prevent melting cheese leakage.
- You can double coat with egg and breadcrumbs for extra crunch.
- Use non-stick cooking spray to help develop a golden crust without excess oil.
- Serve immediately for best texture as the cheese will be gooey and the coating crispy right out of the air fryer.
- Optional Italian seasoning can be adjusted or omitted based on flavor preference.
