Apple flautas will always remind me of my childhood. If you grew up in the 90s like I did, you probably remember the Schwann’s man making his rounds. I can still picture my mom pulling a box of frozen apple flautas from his freezer truck full of frozen goodies, and I knew dessert was about to get seriously upgraded. Warm, crispy, and coated in cinnamon sugar, it truly didn’t get much better. These days I make my own version using the air fryer, which is a little lighter compared to deep frying, but I promise they’re every bit as delicious as you remember!
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Homemade Air Fryer Apple Flautas
While testing this recipe for apple flautas, I was honestly surprised by just how easy and quick they are to make. And not only are they so, so good, they’re also incredibly inexpensive. All you need is a couple of apples and a few pantry staples!
Typically, flautas are a savory Mexican dish stuffed with meats, cheese, or beans, then fried until crunchy. This recipe takes the same idea but fills the tortillas with warm fried cinnamon apples instead. I’ve also heard people call apple flautas apple pie taquitos, and honestly, that’s the perfect description. They’re like bite-sized rolled up apple pies with a crunchy tortilla shell…the perfect cozy, hand-held dessert! 😋
Recipe Success Tips & Suggestions
- You can use any size air fryer, but you may need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer basket.
- Don’t overfill the tortillas or they won’t roll up and stay closed!
- Swap the filling! The apple mixture in this recipe is like a quick, stovetop apple pie filling (and it’s INCREDIBLY delicious!), but you can try other fruit fillings if you like. Try cherry sauce, blueberry pie filling, peach sauce, or whatever fruit you want. I’d avoid anything too watery, though, as it’ll spill out of the tortillas and into your air fryer. Simmer homemade sauces for longer to thicken them up.
- Want to try the oven? I make these apple flautas in the air fryer because it’s just so easy and convenient. But I’m sure they’ll be equally delicous baked in the oven! Follow the directions below and bake until golden and crisp.
Apple Flautas
Cost $2.33 recipe / $0.38 serving
Ingredients
For the Filling:
- 2 Granny Smith apples (peeled and diced, (medium-sized, 280g, 2 ½ cups once diced) $1.90*)
- 3 Tbsp brown sugar ($0.20)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon ($0.05)
- 1 tsp lemon juice ($0.03)
- ⅛ tsp salt ($0.01)
- 1 tsp cornstarch ($0.01)
- 2 Tbsp water ($0.00)
To Assemble:
- 6 small flour tortillas (6-inch, $0.11)
- non-stick cooking spray ($0.02)
Instructions
- Gather all ingredients, then peel and dice the apples into small cubes.**
- In a medium skillet over medium heat combine diced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt. Stir occasionally for 5-6 minutes until the apples start to soften.
- In a small bowl, mix cornstarch and water. Pour the slurry into the apple mixture and cook for 1–2 minutes until thick and glossy. Remove from heat and let mixture cool slightly.
- Spoon a line of the apple filling down the center of each tortilla. Roll tightly and place seam-side down.
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F. Spray the basket with non-stick cooking spray. Arrange the flautas in a single layer (work in batches if needed), seam-side down. Air fry for 6–8 minutes, flipping halfway, until crisp and golden brown.
- Let the flautas cool slightly before serving. You can enjoy them as is, or roll them in cinnamon-sugar while they’re still warm for an extra treat.***
See how we calculate recipe costs here.
Equipment
- Medium Skillet
- Air Fryer (any size)
Notes
Nutrition
Have you tried this recipe?Mention @budgetbytes or tag #budgetbytes on Instagram!how to make Apple Flautas step-by-step photos
Gather all of your ingredients.
Prep the apples: Start by peeling and dicing 2 Granny Smith apples.
I like to cut my apples into quarters to remove the core. Then I slice the quarters into sticks and dice the apples small.
Make the filling: Add the diced apples, 3 Tbsp brown sugar, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tsp lemon juice, and a pinch of salt to a medium skillet over medium heat. Stir occasionally for 5-6 minutes until the apples begin to soften.
Thicken the filling: Mix 1 tsp cornstarch and 2 Tbsp water together in a small bowl to make a slurry. Pour the cornstarch slurry into the apple mixture and cook for 1-2 minutes until thickened and glossy.
Remove the skillet from the heat to allow the filling to cool slightly.
Assemble the apple flautas: Spoon a line of the apple filling directly down the center of each small flour tortilla. Don’t overfill them! Roll the tortillas up tightly and place them seam side down. Repeat until all 6 small flour tortillas are filled.
Air fry: Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray and arrange the flautas in a single layer (seam side down). Work in batches here if needed.
Air fry for 6-8 minutes, flipping halfway through until crisp and browned.
Serve: Let your homemade apple flautas cool for a few minutes to allow the filling to thicken up slightly. You can serve them as is, but I love rolling them in some cinnamon-sugar while they’re still warm! Enjoy.
sERVING sUGGESTIONS
These easy apple flautas make the perfect dessert, but they’re also great for a sweet breakfast or snack. I love serving them warm and rolled in cinnamon sugar, with a drizzle of caramel sauce, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or whipped cream. You can even slice them into bite-sized pieces and serve them with little dipping bowls of caramel, melted chocolate, or Greek yogurt for a fun party treat!
Storage & Reheating
So long as you don’t mind a softer texture, you can store leftover apple flautas in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can also freeze them after air frying. Let them cool completely, then freeze in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring to a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 2 months.
To reheat, I like to use the air fryer (350°F for 4–5 minutes), but you can also warm them in the oven at 350°F for 10–12 minutes or pop them in the microwave for 30–45 seconds (though they won’t be as crisp).
I made these tonight but I subbed out the fresh apples for canned cooked apples (not apples pie filling) because I didn’t have apples. My family really liked them a lot. The cinnamon sugar wasn’t sticking to them so I gave them a quick spray of cooking spray. That solved that situation. I would definitely make them again (and again!).
What if I don’t have an air fryer?
Hi Mel! You can make these in the oven as well using the same instructions. Thanks!
At what temperature and for how long?
400°F for 6-8 minutes, just like the air fryer. :)
Thank you, Paige!
I don’t have an air fryer…should I pan fry them or bake them?
Hey, Joy. This recipe isn’t mine, but you can bake them in the oven following the same directions! I saw Jennie commented on someone else’s post asking the same question. :) They are so good!