Air Fryer Mantou with Condensed Milk Recipe

Fried mantou is one of my favorite Chinese desserts. Traditionally served with sweetened condensed milk, these pillowy steamed buns become wonderfully crisp when fried. I used to deep-fry them, but that left them greasy and messy to clean up. Switching to the air fryer gives the same golden exterior with far less oil and much less fuss.

🥡 About This Recipe

Deep-frying mantou can be delicious, but it requires a lot of oil and creates more cleanup. If you don’t fry often, leftover oil can be wasteful and inconvenient. The air fryer solves that: it crisps the outside while minimizing oil absorption, producing a light, golden crust without a greasy aftertaste.

This method works well for fresh, refrigerated, or even slightly stale mantou. Slightly dry or staler buns actually crisp up nicely and develop a pleasant contrast between crunchy exterior and soft interior. The recipe below is simple, quick, and perfect for a snack, breakfast treat, or dessert.

👨‍🍳 Cooking From Frozen

When cooking mantou straight from the freezer, lower the temperature and add a couple of minutes to the cook time so the inside heats through without over-browning the outside. For refrigerated or fresh buns, a higher temperature works and shortens the cooking time while still producing a crisp surface.

Recommended timings:

• Refrigerated or room-temperature mantou: 400°F for about 3 minutes.
• Frozen mantou: 350°F for about 5 minutes.

🧂 Ingredients

• Mantou: Homemade or store-bought steamed buns. Slightly stale buns work especially well for frying because they crisp up nicely.
• Neutral oil: A light brush on the outside — about 1–2 tablespoons total depending on quantity — to help achieve an even golden color.
• Sweetened condensed milk: For dipping. It’s a classic pairing with fried mantou and adds a sweet, creamy contrast. If you have leftover condensed milk, it can be stored in the freezer for later use; it won’t fully solidify due to the high sugar content but will keep for a couple of months.

🔪 Instructions

STEP 1: Preheat your air fryer. Set to 400°F for fresh or refrigerated mantou, or 350°F for frozen mantou. Lightly brush or spray each bun with a thin layer of neutral oil so the surface browns evenly.

STEP 2: Arrange the buns in a single layer in the air fryer basket, leaving a little space between them for airflow. Air-fry refrigerated or fresh buns for about 3 minutes; air-fry frozen buns for about 5 minutes. Flip each bun halfway through to brown both sides evenly. Cooking times may vary slightly by air fryer model, so watch for a golden-brown color rather than relying on time alone.

STEP 3: Remove the mantou from the air fryer and serve warm with a small bowl of sweetened condensed milk for dipping. They’re best eaten right away while the exterior is crisp and the inside remains soft.

📋 Recipe

Best Air Fryer Mantou with Condensed Milk

Golden, crisp mantou made in the air fryer. Quick, low-oil, and easy to clean up.

Details

Cook Time: 4 mins | Total Time: 4 mins | Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 steamed mantou (buns)
• 1–2 tablespoons neutral oil, for brushing
• Sweetened condensed milk, for dipping

Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 400°F for fresh/refrigerated buns or 350°F for frozen buns.
2. Brush each bun lightly with oil and place in a single layer in the air fryer basket.
3. Air-fry fresh buns for about 3 minutes, or frozen buns for about 5 minutes, flipping once to brown both sides. Adjust timing as needed for your appliance.
4. Serve immediately with condensed milk for dipping.

Notes & Tips

• Do not overcrowd the basket; cook in batches if necessary so each bun crisps evenly.
• For extra crispness, brush a tiny amount of oil between the bun layers if you’ve split them before frying.
• Keep an eye on the buns during the last minute of cooking — air fryers vary and color is the best indicator of doneness.

Nutrition (per serving, estimate)

Calories: 298 kcal | Carbohydrates: 53 g | Protein: 8 g | Fat: 6 g (values are approximate)

🍽 More Recipes You’ll Love