Are you ready to impress your friends and family with a delicious Nigerian treat? If you’ve been searching for an authentic, yet simple, Nigerian chin chin recipe, look no further. This isn't just any version; this is an incredible air fryer chin chin recipe with a unique twist designed to please every palate. It offers a glimpse into Nigeria’s rich culinary heritage while providing a taste of something new and truly special.

If we've been friends for a while, you know the classic chin chin recipe. It's a crunchy, addictive snack that holds a special place in my heart. But the thing about classic recipes is that they inspire creativity. This version is the next evolution—a recipe I developed to share a taste of Nigeria with my non-Nigerian friends. It's an experience that offers a glimpse into our rich flavor profile, proving that authentic doesn't always have to be traditional.

This is my second version of chin chin, and I’m so excited to share it. With this recipe, you get a beautiful balance: it's tasty, sweet, milky, and wonderfully crunchy, but you won't be losing a tooth after chewing on them!

Get Crispy Coconut Chin Chin: Fresh From the Air Fryer, Every Time. We’ll show you how to get that perfect balance of sweet, crunchy, and savory with a genius air fryer trick, so you can have fresh chin chin anytime you like.


Ingredients List

All ingredients for Crispy Coconut Chin Chin laid out on a counter

Ingredient Options for Sweetness

This recipe uses a combination of sugar and liquid sweetener to provide the golden color and a controlled level of sweetness. To begin, you can easily adjust the recipe based on your preference:

  • For a lighter taste: Use the ingredients listed above (100 g sugar + 3 tbsp sweetener). The sugar helps with browning and texture, while the sweetener adds flavor without extra calories.
  • For a classic taste: Use 250 g granulated sugar and omit the Eridania Zero Liquido. This is the traditional version and will result in a sweeter, richer chin chin.

Prep Day: Making the Dough

  1. To get started, whisk together the flour, rice flour, dried coconut flakes, powdered milk, sugar, baking powder, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl.
  2. In a separate bowl, lightly beat the eggs, and then add the coconut milk and water. Add your chosen liquid sweetener now if you are using it.
  3. Next, pour the wet ingredients into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Mix until a cohesive dough forms.
  4. Furthermore, transfer the dough to a clean, floured surface and knead for 3-5 minutes until it's smooth and stiff. 
  5. Allow to rest at room temperature for 10 minutes before moving to the staggered air frying trick for perfect Chin Chin. Otherwise, move to number 6.
  6. Kneading the chin chin dough on a floured surface

    Finally, divide the dough into 10 equal portions, each roughly 215 grams. Shape each into a disc, wrap tightly in plastic wrap, and place them in a resealable freezer bag. Store in your freezer for months.

Individually wrapped chin chin dough discs in a freezer bag

From Freezer to Air Fryer

  1. When you're ready for a delicious snack, simply take a frozen dough disc from the freezer and let it thaw on the counter for about 15-20 minutes.
  2. On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough to a thickness of about ¼ inch.
  3. Using a knife or a pastry cutter, cut the dough into your preferred shapes—small squares, diamonds, or strips work perfectly.
Cutting the rolled out Chin Chin dough into small squares

The Staggered Air Frying Trick for Perfect Chin Chin

  1. Prepare your air fryer.
  2. Add your first 75-gram batch of chin chin pieces to the basket in a single layer.
  3. Set a timer for 7 minutes. When the timer goes off, add the second 75-gram batch. Wait for 5 minutes, then add the third and final 75-gram batch and allow it to fry for another 5 minutes. This staggered approach ensures that each piece becomes perfectly crispy and prevents them from clumping together into a cluster of multiple chin chin pieces.
  4. Once the time is up, add 2-3 teaspoons of olive oil to the basket, then shake the chin chin and fry for 10 minutes and make sure to check from time to time.
  5. Your chin chin is ready when it's a beautiful golden brown and has that satisfyingly crispy texture. Let them cool on a wire rack before serving.
Air-frying Chin Chin pieces in the air fryer basket. Golden brown and crispy Chin Chin ready from the air fryer.

To learn more about the fascinating history and cultural significance of this beloved snack, you can read this article on Chin Chin's journey and meaning in West African culture. Furthermore, if you’re interested in the health benefits of dried coconut, you can explore this resource on Global Resources Direct.

Estimated Calories (per 30g portion)

  • Using 100g sugar + 3 tbsp sweetener: Your chin chin will have approximately 105-115 kcal per 30g portion.
  • Using 250g sugar: Your chin chin will have approximately 115-125 kcal per 30g portion.
  • Using 200g sugar + 3 tbsp sweetener: Your chin chin will have approximately 110-120 kcal per 30g portion.
Air fried coconut flavoured chin chin