BITE-SIZED BLISS: MINI AIR FRYER PIZZAS ON HOMEMADE ENGLISH MUFFINS
5/5
“Welcome to a winter wonderland of flavor and fun! As the chilly winds swirl outside, it’s time to cozy up indoors with something truly delightful: mini pizzas on homemade English muffins. Picture this: warm, fluffy dough topped with tangy tomato sauce, gooey cheese, and your favorite toppings, all perfectly crisped to perfection in the air fryer. But these aren’t just any pizzas – they’re bite-sized wonders that bring joy to every bite.
Whether you’re planning a family night in, hosting a game night with friends, or simply seeking a snack to satisfy even the pickiest of eaters, these mini pizzas are your ticket to culinary bliss. What’s more, by crafting your own English muffins from scratch, you not only infuse each bite with a touch of homemade goodness but also take full control over the ingredients, ensuring a healthier option for you and your loved ones.
So, grab your apron and get ready to embark on a flavor-packed journey that’s as fun to make as it is to devour. Let’s dive into the world of mini air fryer pizzas on homemade English muffins – where every bite is a celebration of warmth, flavor, and pure culinary joy.”
The Connection
Nowadays, this is a quick and easy meal that I make with my son and I often. I used to try to make pizza dough from scratch and have tried so many different recipes, but every time the consistency, thickness and texture would come out different.
For a long time after this, my son preferred frozen or take-out pizza, so I took a step back and found a recipe that I can do consistently.
The Perfect Base
Dive into the delightful world of homemade English muffins with a simple and approachable recipe. The best part is you can use the standing mixer instead of kneading by hand in order to achieve that elastic consistency needed.
The recipe also is 50% all purpose flour and 50% whole wheat to create a more nutritious option. With a few staple household ingredients like yeast, flour and milk, this dough can be whipped up quickly.
The dough takes a little bit of time to rise, however they are quick to shape and cook since no oven is needed. Yup! One of the easier steps about making English muffins is they turn out so much better when cooked over the stove in a nonstick skillet. And they come out so fluffy!
The Prep Guide
Prepping the pizzas for their fry session is quite simple and so much more fun when getting the kiddos involved. Most of the other ingredients are already prepared, so now it’s just time to assemble and let your little one pick and choose what kinds of toppings they want on their personal pizza pie.
This is where you can truly let your kiddo get creative – make a happy face out of mini pepperonis, olives and peppers. Or let them create their own pattern of toppings with olives, pineapple and tomatoes. My son personally likes black olives, mini pepperoni, and pineapple and loves to sprinkle on the cheese and create his own patterns on each.
Air Fryer Friendly
Another great reason this is part of our usual rotation is the minimal clean-up. We build our mini pizzas in the air fryer directly. Depending on how crispy you prefer your cheese and edges, are easily air-fried to perfection within 5 minutes. Talk about a quick and easy dinner!
The Finishing Touches
Once air-fried and cooled slightly, cut into fours for the kids to make it easy to eat with their little hands. Serve with a side of their favorite vegetable or fruit to create a wholesome meal. When I eat this, I finish it with a drizzle of balsamic glaze and chili flakes.
Either Way, this meal will leave the whole family with a big smile on their face – it’s quick, customizable, and fun for everyone!
Mini Air Fryer Pizzas on Homemade English Muffins
Equipment
- Standing mixer
- 3-4" cookie cutter
- Air Fryer
- Large non stick frying pan
- Sheet Pan
- Parchment Paper
Ingredients
For the English Muffins (makes about 10):
- 3/4 cup warm water 105°F-115°F
- 2 tsps sugar
- 1 packet fast active dry yeast
- 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour plus extra for dusting
- 1 ¼ cups whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 tbsp melted butter
- 1 egg
- 1 cup milk
For the Pizzas:
- Pizza sauce of your choice
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Variety of kid-friendly toppings pepperoni, olives, sausage, vegetables, fruits, etc.
Instructions
Make the English Muffins:
- Combine the milk, water, and sugar in a bowl or glass measuring cup then stir together and warm in the microwave until just warmed (about 110F) add the yeast and stir once more. Set aside for 5-7 minutes or until a foamy top develops.
- Add flour and salt to the standing mixer fitted with the paddle attachment and give it a light whisk.
- Add egg and melted butter to the yeast mixture and give it a light mix until incorporated.
- With the standing mixer on low, slowly drizzle in the wet ingredients until incorporated. Then increase speed to medium and mix for approximately 7-9 minutes, until a stretchy dough forms.
- Turn dough into a greased bowl and cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel in a warm place for 1 hour to allow it to double in size.
- Turn the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Pat down to one even layer and using a 3” cookie cutter, cut them into circles. For any scraps, re-roll or pat down again and cut into more dough circles.
- Place muffins on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and semolina, corn meal or almond flour. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise for another 45 minutes.
- In a heated medium low skillet with more semolina, corn meal or almond flour, place 3-4 muffins at a time and cook until browned on each side, making sure to cover with a lid while they cook (approximately 5 minutes on each side).
- Let cool on a cooling rack.
Assemble the Pizzas:
- Air fry just the english muffin, cut-side open horizontally, for 2-3 minutes at 375 degrees fahrenheit.
- Spread a thin layer of sauce on each muffin half. Top with cheese and desired toppings.
- Air fry for 8-10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Enjoy hot and delicious!
Notes
- For a quicker option, use store-bought English muffins.
- Get creative with the toppings! Let kids choose their favorites or incorporate seasonal ingredients.
- Make it a learning experience! Discuss different food groups and the benefits of using healthy ingredients.
- Have fun and enjoy the process of creating delicious memories with your family!
