Easy Air Fryer Brioche Buns Recipe

If I had known brioche buns were this easy to make at home, I would have started making them ages ago. These air fryer brioche buns are soft, fluffy, slightly sweet, and honestly so nice when they are still warm.

Come join me on Facebook here for easy recipes, cozy bakes, and little kitchen tips from my kitchen to yours.

And the best part? You do not even need to turn on the oven. The buns bake right in the air fryer and only need about 15 to 20 minutes once they go in.

Check out my air fryer brioche buns recipe video below and see just how easy they are to make! If you like it, give the video a like and subscribe to my YouTube channel for more easy air fryer baking recipes.

---

Why you’ll love these air fryer brioche buns

These buns have that lovely soft, fluffy inside you want from a brioche-style bread roll, with a thin golden top from the egg wash. They are slightly sweet, but not dessert-level sweet, so you can use them in quite a few different ways.

The egg and milk give the dough some richness, while the oil keeps the buns nice and soft. In my opinion, they are especially good when they are still warm, and you can pull one away from the others with your hands.

The flavor is simple and lightly sweet, which means they work just as well with butter and jam as they do with something savory.

They are also really satisfying to pull apart while they are still a little warm. How can you not love that?!

Air fryer brioche bun ingredients

You only need a handful of basic brioche bun ingredients for this recipe. I like that there is nothing unusual here, and there is a good chance most of it is already sitting in your kitchen.

• 1 large egg
• 3 tablespoons (40 g) granulated sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons (7 g) instant dry yeast
• 1 cup (240 g) lukewarm milk
• 1/4 cup (60 g) mild olive oil, avocado oil, or another cooking oil
• 4 cups (500 g) all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon (5 to 6 g) salt
• 1 beaten egg, for brushing the tops

For the oil, I like using a mild olive oil or avocado oil because neither one gives the buns an overpowering flavor. A neutral cooking oil also works if that is what you normally bake with.

Note: Traditional brioche is usually made with butter, but this version uses oil instead. It still gives you soft, fluffy buns, just with a lighter flavor and without that rich buttery taste.

Equipment you’ll need

You really do not need much equipment for this easy brioche bun recipe. A large bowl and your hands will do most of the work.

• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Wooden spoon or sturdy spatula
• Dough cutter or sharp knife
• Pastry brush
• Air fryer

How to make brioche buns in the air fryer

This is one of those recipes that looks much more impressive than the amount of work that actually goes into it. Just give the dough enough time to rise, and do not rush that part.

Step 1: Start the brioche dough

For these brioche buns, start by cracking one large egg into a mixing bowl. Then, add three tablespoons of sugar, one and a half teaspoons of instant dry yeast, and one cup of lukewarm milk.

Give all the ingredients a good whisk until the egg is broken up and the sugar and yeast are mixed through the milk. The milk should feel just slightly warm, not hot.

Top Tip: Use lukewarm milk, not hot milk. It should feel just slightly warm to the touch, because milk that is too hot can damage the yeast and stop the dough from rising properly.

Step 2: Add the oil

Then, add one quarter cup, or 60 milliliters, of oil and give all the ingredients another good whisk until the oil is mixed through. A mild olive oil or avocado oil both work nicely here without giving the buns a strong flavor.

You do not need to whisk for ages. Once the mixture looks fairly even and the oil is no longer sitting in one obvious layer on top, you can move on.

Step 3: Add the flour and salt

Then, add four cups of all-purpose flour in two or three portions, mixing well after each addition. Adding it gradually makes the dough much easier to work with than tipping all the flour in at once.

Add one teaspoon of salt with the flour as well. Keep mixing as you add the last portion, and once the dough starts coming together into one soft, slightly sticky mass, stop adding flour and get ready to knead it.

Step 4: Knead and shape the dough

Then, take the dough out of the bowl and place it on your work surface. Give it a little knead for a few minutes, just until it feels smoother and more elastic and is no longer rough or shaggy.

Once it feels smoother and easier to handle, shape it into a nice round ball, just like you see me doing in the video.

Step 5: Let the dough rise

Take a clean mixing bowl and lightly spray the inside with a little oil. Place the dough ball into the bowl, then lightly spray the top of the dough as well so the outside does not dry out while it sits.

Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and leave the dough to rise for about one hour, or until it has roughly doubled in size. If your kitchen is cooler, it may take a little longer, so look at the dough rather than worrying too much about the clock.

Top Tip: The size of the dough is a better guide than the one-hour timing. If it has not doubled yet, give it more time instead of shaping it too early.

Step 6: Divide the dough

Once the dough has risen nicely and roughly doubled in size, remove the plastic wrap and gently press it down to release some of the trapped air. Then, place the dough back onto your work surface.

Use a dough cutter to divide it into nine equal portions, just like you see me doing here. Keeping the pieces fairly even helps all nine brioche buns cook at roughly the same rate.

Step 7: Shape the brioche buns

Take each piece of dough and roll it into a smooth, round ball. Tuck the edges underneath as you shape it, then gently roll it against the work surface until the top looks smooth and the ball holds its shape.

Do not worry if every bun is not absolutely identical. Homemade buns are allowed to look homemade, and honestly, I think they look better that way.

Step 8: Arrange them in the air fryer

Lightly grease the air fryer basket with a little oil and place the dough balls inside. Arrange them nice and evenly across the basket.

They can sit quite close together because they will puff up more as they bake, and you will end up with those lovely soft pull-apart brioche buns.

Step 9: Brush with egg

Then, brush the tops with a little beaten egg for that nice golden, shiny finish. You only need a thin coating over each bun, so there is no need to soak the tops.

Step 10: Air fry the brioche buns

Bake the brioche buns in a preheated air fryer at 320°F (160°C) for about 15 to 20 minutes. Start checking around 15 minutes because air fryers can cook quite differently from one model to another.

The tops should be nicely golden, and the buns in the middle should feel set rather than doughy when gently pressed. If the tops are getting dark before the center buns are done, reduce the temperature slightly and give them another few minutes.

Top Tip: Start checking the brioche buns at 15 minutes. If they are already nicely golden on top but still need a little more time, lower the air fryer temperature slightly and keep baking until they are cooked through.

And voilà, the brioche buns are ready. Your kitchen smells amazing, and look how soft and fluffy they turned out.

Give them a few minutes to cool down a little, then pull one apart while it is still warm. That soft inside is sooo satisfying!

How long to bake brioche in the air fryer

For these air fryer brioche buns, around 15 to 20 minutes at 320°F (160°C) works well. I would always start checking at the shorter end of that range rather than simply leaving them for the full 20 minutes.

Air fryer wattage, basket size, and how tightly the buns are packed can all change the cooking time slightly. If you are using a different air fryer from mine, the first time you make them is really about learning exactly where your machine lands within that range.

Related Recipe: If you think these brioche buns were easy, wait until you see this 5-ingredient air fryer bread recipe. You will want to try this one next.

How to store these brioche buns

Let the buns cool before storing them; otherwise, trapped steam can make the outside slightly damp. Once cool, keep them in an airtight container or sealed bag at room temperature for around two days.

For longer storage, freeze the buns in a freezer-safe bag or container. I like freezing them individually or separating them before freezing because it makes it much easier to take out one or two at a time.

How to reheat these air fryer buns

These are really nice warmed up again, especially if you are serving them with butter. Put one or two buns back into the air fryer at around 300°F (150°C) for a couple of minutes, just until warmed through.

Do not leave them in for too long because reheating bread too aggressively can dry it out. You want them warm and soft, not toasted unless that is what you are going for.

What to serve with these sweet brioche buns

Fresh and warm with a little butter is probably my favorite way to eat them. Add jam, honey, or another favorite spread, and they are so good for breakfast or with coffee.

Because this sweet brioche bun recipe is only lightly sweet, you can also use the buns for sandwiches or breakfast rolls. I love recipes that can go either way like that because nothing is left sitting around waiting for one very specific use.

More air fryer baking

If you like baking in your air fryer, have a look through some of my other air fryer bread and baking recipes below. There are lots of simple ideas if you want to keep that air fryer busy without turning on the oven.

• Air Fryer Bread Rolls – These air fryer bread rolls come out soft and tender inside with a lovely golden top. They’re an easy way to enjoy freshly baked rolls without using the oven.
• Yogurt Cake in Air Fryer – This simple air fryer yogurt cake is soft, moist, and easy to make with everyday ingredients. It’s a lovely little cake when you’re in the mood for something sweet.
• Easy Air Fryer Doughnuts – These homemade air fryer doughnuts are soft and fluffy with a lightly golden outside. They’re a fun sweet treat without the need for deep frying.

And if you try these air fryer brioche buns, leave me a comment below or let me know in the YouTube comments how they turned out. If you have a question about the brioche buns recipe, ask away, and I will try to reply to all the comments and questions.