When I was a teenager, I used to froth the garlic cheese dough balls you could get at Frankie and Benny’s (I have no idea if this place still exists) but, the dough balls were freaking amazeballs.
We basically love anything dough here in the babe street kitchen, so I thought why not try and re-create my favourite teenage food! And then I had another thought, why not do them in the air fryer! (I’m obsessed with the air fryer).
We’ll let me tell you hunni, they are freaking unreal.
To make these dough balls extra special, I make them using beer pizza dough. I highly recommend you make them with beer dough it’s the tits.
How to make the beer dough.
To make the beer dough you will need:
- 1 cup of beer
- 3 cups of AP Flour
- 1 sachet of yeast or 3 tsp.
- 1 tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp salt.
- Mix together the beer, yeast and sugar in a bowl and cover for 10 minutes to allow the yeast to bloom.
- Add in the flour and salt and mix together until a shaggy dough forms.
- Pour dough onto a floured bench and knead for 5-10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth.
- Place in a well-oiled bowl, cover and allow to stand in a warm spot for 1.5-2 hours or until doubled in size.
If the dough is to wet, add additional flour one tbsp at a time. If the dough is to dry, add additional beer 1 tbsp at a time. The dough should be slightly sticky but, you should be able to place the back of your hand on the dough, and pull it away without the dough pulling away with the hand.
When kneading the dough, if you’re getting lots of dough on your hands, rub some olive oil on your hands to stop the dough from sticking. However, this is bread making and, you’re going to get a little dirty that’s the best things about dough making.
Don’t be afraid to get stuck in hunni.
How to make the cheese filling.
The cheese filling is super easy to make. Depending on how soft your cream cheese is, you may need to microwave for a few seconds so, it’s easier to combine everything.
For the cheese filling you will need:
- ¼ cup mozzarella
- ¼ cup shredded cheese
- ¼ cup cream cheese
- 1 tbsp parsley
- 1 tbsp basil
- 2 tbsp chopped garlic
- Salt & Pepper
- Add all ingredients to a bowl and combine them together.
How to make the cheese-stuffed dough balls.
- When the beer dough is ready. Tip out the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead for 2 minutes to form dough into a smooth ball.
2. Divide dough into quarters and then divide each quarter into 3 sections roll into individual balls. Try and keep the balls uniform, however, don’t stress I’m bloody awful at keeping things uniform.
3. Once all 12 balls are rolled, it’s time to stuff them with the cheese mixture. To stuff, the balls flatten each ball into a small pancake and then take a teaspoon full of cheese mixture and place in the middle of the flatted dough.
4. Start to fold the edges into the middle until all the cheese is covered, and then roll the dough back into a ball. Repeat for each ball.
5. After each dough ball is rolled, place it into your air fryer basket making, sure to oil the bottom.
6. Make the garlic and herb butter by melting ¼ cup butter in the microwave for 15 seconds and stirring 2 chopped garlic cloves and 1 tbsp of mixed herbs.
7. Brush the top of the dough balls with the garlic and herb butter and cook in the air fryer for 7- 10 minutes at 180 degrees Repeat until all dough balls have been cooked.
Top tips for banging cheesy dough balls.
- Check the dough balls at 7 minutes if, they have expanded and are golden brown, they are ready. The cheese can explode which, has happened to me many times if they are left a little too long. (don’t worry about I just eat the cheese anyways)
- Ensure you roll the dough balls tight to help keep all the cheese in the middle.
- If you notice that your dough is not very pliable when shaping the dough balls let it sit on the countertop covered with a damp cloth for 10 minutes to help the gluten develop more.
- Don’t forget to add the salt to the flour when making the dough I ALWAYS FORGET THIS! It seems like not a big deal, but you can always tell.
Got questions? I got the answers…
Are you able to pre-make the dough balls?
Yes, you can pre-make these dough balls. There are a few things you can do if you would like to make these ahead for an occasion.
You can make the dough the day before and allow it to rise in the fridge for 24 hours. Take the dough out of the fridge an hour before you’re ready so the dough temp can rise to room temp before handling. Then make your dough balls as normal.
If you would like to have your dough balls fully prepared and ready to cook, make-ahead and place them in the freezer for up to a week. Cook your dough balls from frozen in the air fryer for 15 – 20 minutes. Checking at 15 minutes.
Can you freeze dough balls?
As mentioned above yes you can freeze uncooked dough balls for up to a week. Cook the dough balls from frozen when ready to eat.
Can I use regular dough instead of beer dough?
Yes, if you would prefer to use regular pizza dough these would work just as well. However, I do recommend making them with beer dough because they taste fabulous and so much better than normal dough.
What can I do with leftover dough?
If you have leftover dough use it to make your favourite pizza!
I don’t have an air fryer what can I do?
If you don’t have an air fryer that’s fine hunni, you can shallow fry the dough balls in a deep pan they won’t take long to cook so I would shallow fry for a couple minutes on each side.
I’m gluten-free, can these be made with gluten-free flour?
I have not made these with gluten-free flour however, check out this recipe if you’re after a gluten-free alternative.
How to serve your cheesy dough balls.
These dough balls would be an amazing appetizer to serve at a party or to bring to a potluck. They go amazingly well with beer and mates.
These usually disappear in seconds when we make them so we don’t have the chance to enjoy them with beer, but beer definitely washes them down well.
Dip them in olive oil or your favourite pizza sauce for the real shebang.
We absolutely love these dough balls and I hope you do too.
Keep on cooking, good looking.
Much Love
Char x
Air Fryer garlic cheese dough balls
These air fryer garlic cheese stuffed dough balls are the perfect appetizer or cheesy dough snack. Serve them up to your mates on your next hang.
- air fryer
Beer Pizza Dough
- 1 cup beer (any beer will do )
- 3 cups AP flour
- 1 tsp sugar
- 3 tsp salt
- 3 tsp yeast (or one sachet )
Cheese filling
- ¼ cup mozzarella
- ¼ cup shredded cheese
- ¼ cup cream cheese
- 1 tbsp basil
- 1 tbsp parsley
- 2 tbsp diced garlic
- salt and pepper
Garlic herb butter
- ¼ cup melted butter
- 1 tbsp basil
- 1 tbsp parsley
- 2 tbsp diced garlic
How to make the dough,
Mix together the beer, yeast and sugar in a bowl and cover for 10 minutes to allow the yeast to bloom.
Add in the flour and salt and mix together until a shaggy dough forms.
Pour dough onto a floured bench and knead for 5-10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth.
Place in a well-oiled bowl, cover and allow to stand in a warm spot for 1.5-2 hours or until doubled in size.
How to make the cheese filling
Add all ingredients to a bowl and combine them together. If your cream cheese is quite hard place in the microwave for a couple of seconds to soften
How to make the dough balls
When the beer dough is ready. Tip out the dough onto a well-floured surface and knead for 2 minutes to form dough into a smooth ball.
Divide dough into quarters and then divide each quarter into 3 sections roll into individual balls.
Once all 12 balls are rolled, it’s time to stuff them with the cheese mixture. To stuff, the balls flatten each ball into a small pancake and then take a teaspoon full of cheese mixture and place in the middle of the flatted dough.
Start to fold the edges into the middle until all the cheese is covered, and then roll the dough back into a ball. Repeat for each ball.
After each dough ball is rolled, place it into your air fryer basket making sure to oil the bottom.
Make the garlic and herb butter.
Brush the top of the dough balls with the garlic and herb butter and cook in the air fryer for 7- 10 minutes at 180 degrees.
Repeat until all dough balls have been cooked.
Serve with olive oil or your favourite tomatao pizza sauce.
- Check the dough balls at 7 minutes if, they have expanded and are golden brown, they are ready. The cheese can explode which, has happened to me many times if they are left a little too long. (don’t worry about I just eat the cheese anyways)
- Ensure you roll the dough balls tight to help keep all the cheese in the middle.
- If you notice that your dough is not very pliable when shaping the dough balls let it sit on the countertop covered with a damp cloth for 10 minutes to help the gluten develop more.
- Don’t forget to add the salt to the flour when making the dough I ALWAYS FORGET THIS! It seems like not a big deal, but you can always tell.
- Check post for detailed notes, tips and tricks.
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