German Quark Balls in the Air Fryer
Small, airy German Quark Balls rolled in cinnamon sugar while still warm. This German classic is baked in the air fryer instead of deep-fried — crisp on the outside, light on the inside, and ready in under half an hour.
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 Bagepapir (til airfryer)
- 1 Brush
- 1 Dyb tallerken For the sugar mixture
Ingredients
Dough
- 250 g quark Preferably 20% fat
- 2 pcs eggs
- 80 g sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla sugar
- 1 tsp grated lemon zest From an organic lemon
1 pinch salt- 250 g plain flour
- 2 tsp baking powder
Brushing and Coating
- 30 g butter Melted, for brushing
- 100 g sugar For coating
- 1 tsp cinnamon Optional
Instructions
Preparation
- Mix 250 g quark, 2 pcs eggs, 80 g sugar and 1 tsp vanilla sugar together in a mixing bowl until the mixture is smooth and even. Stir in 1 tsp grated lemon zest and 1 pinch salt.
- Sift 250 g plain flour and 2 tsp baking powder over the quark mixture, and bring the dough together with a spoon. It should be soft and slightly sticky — avoid kneading it, or the balls will turn out chewy instead of light and airy.
- Shape the dough into about 20 walnut-sized balls. Use two teaspoons or lightly dampened hands so the dough doesn't stick. Place the balls on a sheet of baking paper as you shape the rest.
Cooking in the Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 180°C. Cut a piece of baking paper to fit the basket, and poke a few holes in it so the air can circulate.
- Brush the balls all over with 30 g butter. The butter gives them the golden colour that deep-frying would otherwise provide.
- Place the balls in the basket in a single layer with plenty of space — they'll expand as they bake. Bake at 180°C for 10-12 minutes, turning them carefully after 6 minutes so they turn golden all over. They're done when they're golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean from the centre.
Serving
- Mix 100 g sugar and 1 tsp cinnamon in a deep plate. Toss the warm balls in the sugar mixture straight away — the sugar only sticks while they're still steaming.
- Serve the German Quark Balls warm. They're at their best within the first hour, while the crust is still crisp and the inside is light and airy.
Notes
Tips for the perfect result:
Don't let the dough sit and rest. The baking powder starts working the moment the flour hits the quark, so the balls rise best when they go straight into the air fryer. Also stick to a single layer in the basket — if the balls are packed too closely, the sides turn soft instead of golden. Air fryer instead of deep-frying:
The balls turn out slightly less crisp than deep-fried German Quark Balls, but noticeably lighter and without the greasy smell in the kitchen. Brushing with melted butter is the key to the colour — skip it, and they'll turn out pale. Variation:
Swap the lemon zest for grated orange zest, or stir two tablespoons of raisins into the dough. Leave out the cinnamon for the classic German version with plain sugar. Serving:
Serve them with coffee or hot cocoa. A dollop of jam or a little vanilla custard on the side turns them into a proper dessert. Portion size:
If your air fryer is smaller, you can bake the balls in two batches.
Don't let the dough sit and rest. The baking powder starts working the moment the flour hits the quark, so the balls rise best when they go straight into the air fryer. Also stick to a single layer in the basket — if the balls are packed too closely, the sides turn soft instead of golden. Air fryer instead of deep-frying:
The balls turn out slightly less crisp than deep-fried German Quark Balls, but noticeably lighter and without the greasy smell in the kitchen. Brushing with melted butter is the key to the colour — skip it, and they'll turn out pale. Variation:
Swap the lemon zest for grated orange zest, or stir two tablespoons of raisins into the dough. Leave out the cinnamon for the classic German version with plain sugar. Serving:
Serve them with coffee or hot cocoa. A dollop of jam or a little vanilla custard on the side turns them into a proper dessert. Portion size:
If your air fryer is smaller, you can bake the balls in two batches.
Nutrition
Calories: 470kcalCarbohydrates: 78gProtein: 14gFat: 11gSaturated fat: 6gPolyunsaturated fat: 1gMonounsaturated fat: 3gTrans fat: 0.3gCholesterol: 110mgSodium: 180mgPotassium: 190mgFiber: 2gSugar: 36gVitamin A: 350IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 120mgIron: 2mgNet carbohydrates: 76g
