Strawberry gratin in the Air Fryer
Fresh strawberries under an airy layer of mascarpone cream that bubbles golden brown in the air fryer in just a few minutes. An elegant, French-inspired dessert with a perfect contrast between tart berries and caramelised sweetness.
Equipment
- 1 Air fryer
- 1 Cutting board
- 1 Knife
- 1 Mixing bowl
- 1 Electric mixer
- 4 Ildfaste forme Small, air fryer-safe
Ingredients
Strawberries
- 500 g fresh strawberries
- 1 tbsp cane sugar For tossing the berries
Mascarpone cream
- 3 pcs egg yolks At room temperature
- 75 g sugar
- 150 g mascarpone
- 1 tsp vanilla sugar
- 2 tbsp orange liqueur Can be replaced with freshly squeezed orange juice
For gratinating
- 2 tbsp soft brown sugar For sprinkling
Instructions
Preparation
- Rinse 500 g fresh strawberries, remove the stalks and halve the largest ones. Divide the berries between four small ramekins and toss them gently with 1 tbsp cane sugar. Leave them to macerate while you make the cream.
- Whisk 3 pcs egg yolks and 75 g sugar pale and airy with an electric mixer for about 3 minutes, until the mixture is thick and falls in ribbons from the beaters.
- Fold 150 g mascarpone, 1 tsp vanilla sugar and 2 tbsp orange liqueur into the egg cream with a silicone spatula, until it is smooth and thick.
- Spoon the cream evenly over the berries so they are covered by a layer about 1 cm thick. Leave a couple of millimetres to the rim of the dish, as the cream rises slightly during baking.
- Sprinkle 2 tbsp soft brown sugar evenly over the cream. It is the brown sugar that gives you the golden brown, caramelised surface.
Cooking in the air fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 180 °C on the fan setting.
- Place the ramekins in the basket in a single layer with air between them, and bake them at 180 °C for 6-8 minutes, until the cream bubbles gently at the edges and the surface is golden brown. Keep an eye on them for the last 2 minutes, as the brown sugar caramelises quickly in the hot air.
Serving
- Take the ramekins out and leave them to rest for 3-4 minutes. The cream sets slightly and the berry juice settles, so the dessert isn't piping hot to eat.
- Serve the gratin warm straight from the ramekins, ideally with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or a few fresh mint leaves alongside.
Notes
Tips for a perfect result:
Use several small ramekins rather than one large dish. The hot air circulates better around small dishes, and the cream bubbles through evenly instead of only browning in the middle. Choose firm berries that aren't overripe, so they keep their shape and don't drown the cream in juice. Variation:
Replace the orange liqueur with freshly squeezed orange juice if the dessert needs to be alcohol-free. Raspberries, blackberries or a mix of summer berries work just as well as strawberries. Serving:
Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a crisp almond biscuit or a few fresh mint leaves. A glass of chilled dessert wine suits the tart sweetness. Portion size:
If your air fryer is smaller, you can make the dish in two batches.
Use several small ramekins rather than one large dish. The hot air circulates better around small dishes, and the cream bubbles through evenly instead of only browning in the middle. Choose firm berries that aren't overripe, so they keep their shape and don't drown the cream in juice. Variation:
Replace the orange liqueur with freshly squeezed orange juice if the dessert needs to be alcohol-free. Raspberries, blackberries or a mix of summer berries work just as well as strawberries. Serving:
Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a crisp almond biscuit or a few fresh mint leaves. A glass of chilled dessert wine suits the tart sweetness. Portion size:
If your air fryer is smaller, you can make the dish in two batches.
Nutrition
Calories: 380kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 4.4gFat: 21gSaturated fat: 13gPolyunsaturated fat: 1.2gMonounsaturated fat: 6gTrans fat: 0.4gCholesterol: 210mgSodium: 15mgPotassium: 230mgFiber: 2.5gSugar: 38gVitamin A: 360IUVitamin C: 74mgCalcium: 65mgIron: 0.9mgNet carbohydrates: 38.5g
