Save My kitchen smelled like a cinnamon factory the first time I attempted these, and honestly, I nearly burned my eyebrows off leaning too close to the air fryer. What started as a desperate attempt to use up some flour tortillas before they went stale turned into something my friends now text me about wanting. There's something almost magical about watching humble tortillas transform into golden, crunchy shards that taste like dessert but feel like you're eating chips.
I brought a batch to a casual dinner party once, expecting them to disappear into the background while everyone focused on the main course. Instead, I caught my friend Sarah standing by the cooling rack eating them straight off the wire, completely zoned out, and she looked at me and said, "This is irresponsible." She meant it as a compliment. That's when I realized these weren't just a snack—they were a tiny edible moment that made people pause and actually enjoy something simple.
Ingredients
- Flour tortillas (6 medium, 8-inch): The foundation matters here; avoid ones that are too thin or they'll shatter unevenly, and skip anything with a waxy feel because butter won't adhere properly.
- Unsalted butter (2 tablespoons, melted): Melting it first ensures even coating without hot spots, and unsalted gives you complete control over the final salt content.
- Granulated sugar (1/4 cup): This is your sweetness anchor; don't skip it or substitute with brown sugar unless you enjoy a completely different texture.
- Ground cinnamon (1 1/2 teaspoons): Fresh cinnamon makes a surprising difference here—stale stuff tastes dusty and flat, so give your container a good sniff test.
- Salt (pinch): This tiny amount balances the sweetness and makes the cinnamon flavor actually pop instead of sitting there being generic.
Instructions
- Preheat and prep your workspace:
- Get your air fryer running at 350°F for 3 minutes while you gather everything else. This warmup time matters more than you'd think—jumping cold chips into a preheated basket creates that immediate golden color.
- Make the cinnamon sugar blend:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the sugar, cinnamon, and salt until the cinnamon flecks are evenly distributed throughout. Uneven mixing leads to some chips that taste like pure cinnamon while others taste like plain sugar, so take 30 seconds here.
- Butter the tortillas generously:
- Use a pastry brush to coat both sides of each tortilla with melted butter—this is your adhesive for the cinnamon sugar coating. Don't be shy; the butter is what creates that crispy exterior and helps everything brown evenly.
- Cut into wedges:
- Stack the buttered tortillas and slice them into 6 wedges each like you're cutting a pizza; this gives you about 36 chips total. Using a pizza cutter makes this effortless and keeps the edges clean.
- Coat with cinnamon sugar:
- Sprinkle the mixture generously over both sides of every wedge, pressing it down slightly so it sticks rather than falling off. This is when your kitchen starts smelling absolutely incredible.
- Arrange in the air fryer:
- Lay the wedges in a single layer in the basket without overlapping—they need air circulation to crisp up properly. You'll probably need two batches depending on your air fryer size, and that's completely fine.
- Fry until golden and crisp:
- Air fry for 5 to 7 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the edges are deeply golden and the chips feel crispy when you tap them. The exact time depends on your air fryer's personality, so start checking around the 5-minute mark.
- Cool and serve:
- Transfer to a wire rack so the bottoms don't steam themselves back to softness. They taste best warm or at room temperature, and they'll stay crispy for several hours if you can resist eating them immediately.
Save The best part of making these is the moment when someone bites into one and their eyes go wide because they weren't expecting something so good to come from such a short list of ingredients. It's the kind of recipe that reminds you that sometimes the most satisfying food doesn't require complexity—just attention to what you're doing.
The Texture Secret
The magic happens in those first 90 seconds of air frying when the moisture in the tortilla evaporates and the sugar caramelizes slightly. I learned this the hard way by obsessively opening the air fryer door every 30 seconds like a nervous parent, which actually interrupted the cooking process and created uneven results. Now I set a timer, walk away, and resist the urge to peek. The waiting is actually where the alchemy occurs.
Customization That Actually Works
The basic formula is so forgiving that you can play around with it without ruining anything. I've experimented with brown sugar instead of white (it creates a slightly chewier chip), added a touch of vanilla extract to the butter coating, and even tried sea salt as a contrast element. Each variation brought something different but equally delicious. The point is this recipe is a blank canvas if you want it to be, but it's also perfect exactly as written if you don't.
Storage and Keeping Them Fresh
These chips stay impressively crispy for about 24 hours if you store them in an airtight container, though they'll gradually soften as they absorb moisture from the air. The moment you make them is always the best moment to eat them, but let's be realistic—sometimes they last longer because you keep sneaking back for just one more. A quick 2-minute oven reheat at 300°F wakes them back up if they start feeling soft.
- Serve with chocolate sauce for dunking, whipped cream for richness, or fresh fruit salsa to brighten everything up.
- For vegan guests, coconut oil or plant-based butter works perfectly in place of regular butter and tastes honestly indistinguishable.
- If you're using whole wheat tortillas for more fiber, they cook slightly faster and can burn easily, so watch them closely and maybe reduce the time to 4–6 minutes.
Save What I love most about this recipe is how it proves that the best moments in the kitchen often come from the simplest ideas executed with care. These little cinnamon sugar chips have become my emergency dessert, my crowd-pleaser, and honestly, my comfort food.
Saffron Brook Recipe Q&As
- → How do I achieve crispy tortilla chips?
Brushing the tortillas with melted butter and air frying them at 350°F until golden ensures a crispy texture.
- → Can I use whole wheat tortillas instead?
Yes, whole wheat tortillas can be used for a nuttier flavor and added fiber.
- → What are good dipping options for these chips?
Chocolate sauce, whipped cream, and fruit salsa complement the sweet cinnamon sugar well.
- → Is it possible to make these vegan?
Use melted coconut oil or plant-based butter instead of regular butter for a vegan version.
- → How long should I air fry the chips?
Air fry for 5 to 7 minutes at 350°F, flipping halfway to ensure even crispness.