How To Make The Perfect Festive Sausage Rolls in Your Air Fryer
By Amy from Duronic
The festive season brings joyful chaos into every home kitchen; roast dinners, trays of sides, nibbles for guests, and the pressure to keep everything coming out perfect and on time.
Among these holiday heroes, one snack stands out as a universal favourite: the humble sausage roll. Crisp pastry. Juicy filling. Easy to eat. Loved by kids and adults alike.
And now, thanks to modern cooking technology, you can make restaurant-level sausage rolls quickly and effortlessly without heating your whole oven or; turning Christmas Eve into a battle with trays and baking sheets.
Millions of home cooks are turning to air fryers this year to prepare festive snacks and mains because, they deliver consistently crispy results with less oil and less time than a traditional oven.
That convenience becomes even greater when you’re using a machine designed for large batches or simultaneous cooking of different dishes.
Here's two proven sausage roll recipes, one classic meat and one vegetarian. Designed specifically for the Duronic Large Digital Air Fryer. Our digital air fryer can cook big family batches in the large drawer or, two different recipes at the same time using the dual drawers keeping everyone happy without juggling trays!
Heres our step by step guide for both festive meat and vegetarian sausage roll recipes the whole family will enjoy.
Whether you are hosting Christmas Day, prepping for Boxing Day guests, or just want a fuss-free festive bite, this guide has you covered.
Getting to Know Your Kitchen Partner: The Duronic AF34 Air Fryer
Before we dive into pastry and fillings, it helps to understand the tool that makes this recipe shine. The Duronic AF34 air fryer is not a standard single-basket air fryer. It is a triple-drawer, dual-zone design that gives you both capacity and flexibility. For these festive sausage rolls, the large 10-litre drawer is a real advantage because it handles generous batches without overcrowding, which means evenly crisp pastry and fewer cooking rounds when you are feeding a family.There is also the option to use the two independent 5-litre drawers. These are ideal when you want to cook the meat and vegetarian sausage rolls at the same time, using different timings or temperatures without flavour crossover. The digital interface is simple to navigate, offering clear controls and helpful presets, so you can set each drawer exactly as you need it.
And when the cooking is done, the non-stick, dishwasher-safe baskets make the clean-up quick, which is a relief during the busiest cooking days of the season.
How to Preheat and Prepare Your Air Fryer
Start with a clean, dry air fryer drawer and ensure the baskets are in place.
Preheat the air fryer to 180°C. This ensures the pastry begins to cook immediately and evenly.
Lightly grease the baskets or use perforated parchment paper to stop sticking.
Arrange the sausage rolls with space between each piece. Overcrowding blocks airflow, which means soggy pastry.
Use the large drawer for big batches; it’s ideal for feeding a family or guests.
Use the two smaller drawers if you want to cook two different types simultaneously; meat in one, vegetarian in the other with separate timing and temperature control.
Classic Festive Pork, Apple and Cranberry Sausage Rolls (Meat Option)
Ingredients
-500g pork sausage meat
-1 apple, grated (Braeburn or Gala work well because they stay sweet when cooked)
-1 small onion, finely diced
-2 tbsp dried cranberries, finely chopped
-1 tsp dried sage
-Half tsp ground cinnamon
-Half tsp cracked black pepper
-Salt to taste
-375g ready-rolled puff pastry
-1 egg, beaten for glaze
Optional: sprinkle of sesame seeds for the tops
Method
-Prepare the filling: Add the sausage meat to a mixing bowl.
-Stir in the grated apple, diced onion, chopped dried cranberries, sage, cinnamon, pepper and salt.
-Mix until everything is evenly combined. The apple helps keep the filling moist, while the cranberries bring a gentle festive sweetness that pairs perfectly with pork.
-Roll the pastry: Unroll the puff pastry onto a board. Cut it lengthways into two long strips.
-Spoon the sausage mixture along the middle of each strip, shaping it into a long even log.
-Seal the rolls: Fold the pastry over the filling and press along the edge with your fingers. Use a fork to crimp and secure the seam.
-Cut into your preferred size: bite-sized for parties or larger rolls for festive platters.
-Glaze: Brush each roll lightly with beaten egg. This gives you that glossy, golden finish.
-Add sesame seeds if you want a little extra crunch.
-Cook in the air fryer: Lay the sausage rolls in the large drawer of the Duronic AF34 digital air fryer. Leave space between each one for proper air circulation.
-Cook at 180°C for 15–18 minutes until the pastry is crisp and the filling is cooked through.
-Check once halfway through and rotate if needed.
-Rest and serve: Let them sit for a couple of minutes before eating.
-The filling settles and the flavours become richer as they rest.
Batch tip: Using the large drawer means you can fit up to 12–16 sausage rolls depending on size.
Vegetarian Festive Sausage Rolls
Ingredients
-300g vegetarian sausage style mince or cooked lentils
-1 small carrot, grated
-1 small courgette, grated and squeezed dry
-1 tsp mixed herbs
-2 tbsp breadcrumbs
-375g ready-rolled puff pastry
-1 egg (or plant-based alternative) for glaze
Method
-Prepare filling: In a mixing bowl, combine vegetarian sausage mince, carrot, courgette, herbs and breadcrumbs. Mix until well combined.
-Assemble: Unroll the pastry and distribute the filling evenly down the centre. Fold, seal edges and cut into portions.
-Glaze: Brush with beaten egg or plant-based alternative.
-Cook: Use one of the dual drawers so you can cook this simultaneously alongside the classic meat version (or another dish). Set at 175–180°C and cook for 14–17 minutes, turning halfway for extra crispiness.
-Rest and serve: Allow a few minutes to settle before serving.
Simultaneous cooking tip: If you are not cooking large batches, whilst the meat sausage rolls are in the other dual drawer, you could place the vegetarian ones in the second drawer and adjust the time slightly if needed.
Timing, Temperature and Texture
Air fryers cook faster than ovens, but timing varies slightly based on size and thickness.
Here’s what to remember: Crispier pastry comes from a slightly higher starting temperature (180°C).
Turning halfway helps heat circulate evenly around each roll.
Smaller rolls cook faster; larger ones take longer. For guaranteed doneness, check the centre with a thermometer — pork should reach 75°C.
Using the digital controls on your air fryer gives precision every time, with easy adjustments if you need to tweak mid-cook.
Serving and Pairing Ideas
Here are ideas to complement your sausage rolls.
Serve with a cranberry and mustard dip for a festive twist.
Add a sage and onion gravy as a dunking sauce at the table.
Pair with mini pigs in blankets and stuffing balls from your air fryer for a Christmas buffet.
Offer a cheese and chutney board alongside for variety.
Pro tip: Warm dips in the air fryer for a minute or two before guests arrive.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I cook sausage rolls in an air fryer without drying them out?
Preheat your air fryer to around 180°C, don’t overcrowd the baskets, and brush the pastry with egg glaze. Check halfway through cooking to rotate and ensure even browning.
Can I cook meat and vegetarian sausage rolls at the same time?
Yes, with a dual drawer or digital dual zone air fryer like the Duronic AF34 you can set different time and temperature controls in each drawer. Perfect for cooking meat in one and vegetarian rolls in another.
What temperature is best for air fryer sausage rolls?
Around 180°C produces golden, crispy pastry without overcooking the filling. Adjust slightly based on thickness or size.
How many sausage rolls can a large air fryer cook at once?
A larger single basket air fryer with a 10-litre drawer can hold up to 12–16 standard sausage rolls depending on arrangement — ideal for family batches.
Do I need oil for air fryer sausage rolls?
No. The rapid air circulation crisps pastry without added oil, though brushing with egg provides that classic golden shine.
Conclusion
Holiday cooking should be joyful, not stressful.
The combination of well-tested recipes and the versatile capacity of this digital air fryer means you spend less time in the kitchen and more time with your guests.
Use the large drawer for big batches or the dual drawers to cook multiple options at once.
This Christmas, let your air fryer earn its place in the kitchen.
Crisp pastry, juicy fillings, fewer cooking rounds, and more time enjoying the season; that is a recipe worth returning to year after year.
