Everything You Need To Know About Baking Air Fryer Desserts

Welcome to our ultimate guide on baking air fryer desserts! Discover why air fryers are a game-changer for your sweet tooth cravings. From essential tips for perfect results to mouth-watering recipes air fryer cake and air fryer cookie recipes, dive into the delicious world of baking air fryer desserts. Whether you're a baking enthusiast or a newbie, get ready to upgrade your dessert game with the convenience and crispy perfection of air fryer technology. Join us as we explore how to create delectable treats that are not only easy but irresistibly tasty - all from the comfort of your kitchen countertop.

Quick Links

• Air Fryer Desserts FAQs
• Why Bake Desserts In An Air Fryer?
• What Desserts Should You Avoid Baking In An Air Fryer?
• Important Tips When Baking In An Air Fryer
• How To Bake Delicious Air Fryer Cookies
• How To Bake A Scrumptious Air Fryer Cake

Air Fryer Desserts FAQs

Can You Bake A Cake In An Air Fryer?

Yes, you can absolutely bake a cake in an air fryer, and it's a convenient alternative to a traditional oven, especially when baking smaller portions. This is because an air fryer circulates hot air to cook the cake evenly, resulting in a moist and fluffy texture. Just ensure you use a cake pan that fits inside the air fryer basket and adjust the cooking time and temperature accordingly. That's why baking in an air fryer is a great option for quick and easy baking with minimal fuss!

Can You Put Baking Paper In An Air Fryer?

Yes, you can use baking paper in an air fryer, but it's essential to do it correctly to avoid any safety hazards. Ensure the baking paper is cut to fit the basket, leaving space around the edges for proper air circulation. Preheat the air fryer before placing the baking paper inside, and always add food to weigh it down, preventing it from flying around and potentially touching the heating element. This helps in achieving even cooking while preventing sticking and making clean-up easier.

Do You Need To Preheat An Air Fryer When Baking?

Preheating an air fryer is generally recommended when baking. It ensures the cooking surface reaches the desired temperature before food is added, promoting even cooking and better texture. Most air fryers require about 3 to 5 minutes to preheat. However, check your specific model's instructions because some newer models preheat automatically. Skipping the preheating stage may lead to uneven cooking.

What Temperature To Bake A Cake In An Air Fryer?

To bake a cake in an air fryer, set the temperature to around 160°C (depending on the recipe you are baking). This temperature is ideal for gently baking cakes, ensuring they cook through evenly without burning on the outside. Adjust the time based on your recipe and the size of your cake pan, typically ranging from 20 to 25 minutes. It's essential to monitor the cake towards the end of the cooking time and perform a toothpick test for doneness, as air fryer models can vary slightly in performance.

Can You Put Foil In An Air Fryer?

Yes, you can use foil in an air fryer - but it's important to do so cautiously to avoid safety risks. If using foil, make sure it is crumpled or shaped to allow proper air circulation within the fryer basket. This prevents obstructing the airflow, which could affect cooking efficiency or even damage the air fryer. Avoid covering the entire bottom of the basket with foil, as this can block airflow and lead to uneven cooking. Ensure the foil is weighted so it doesn't move around when baking and make sure that the foil is not touching the heating element inside your air fryer.

Why Bake Desserts In An Air Fryer?

Baking in an air fryer offers many benefits that make it a great choice when wanting to whip something up quicker than traditionally baking in an oven. Firstly, air fryers are significantly quicker than traditional ovens, allowing you to enjoy your sweet creations in a fraction of the time. They are also more energy-efficient, consuming less electricity, which is a great cost-effective bonus! Additionally, air fryers save valuable kitchen space and won't heat up your whole house when baking in summer (like an oven will), making them perfect for baking on hot days. Another key advantage is their suitability for small batches. Whether you're baking for one or two people, an air fryer allows you to make just the right amount without the need for a large oven or creating excessive leftovers. This makes it ideal for personalised treats and reducing food waste. Overall, air fryers offer a convenient, stress-free and quicker method for baking delicious desserts with ease.

What Desserts Should You Avoid Baking In An Air Fryer?

When it comes to baking desserts in an air fryer, there are certain desserts you should avoid. Recipes involving cheese as a topping can melt and create a mess due to the high-speed air circulation when baking in an air fryer. Very small baked goods, like choux pastry, madeleines, and mini-sized cupcakes also can pose challenges. Choux pastry, in particular, needs a lot of space to expand and rise properly. Baking them in an air fryer means you can only bake a limited amount at a time, which leaves the remaining batter out too long, affecting its rising power and texture. Additionally, delicate pastries like madeleines may not develop the desired texture due to the intense heat and airflow. For these reasons, it's best to stick to more robust desserts when using an air fryer and save the delicate, more sensitive recipes for your traditional oven.

Important Tips When Baking In An Air Fryer

Reduced Baking Time

When baking air fryer desserts, it's essential to reduce the baking time by around 20%. This adjustment is necessary because air fryers use rapid air circulation and concentrated heat, cooking food more quickly than traditional ovens. By reducing the baking time, you ensure your desserts are cooked evenly and prevent them from becoming overbaked or burnt. This method not only preserves the texture and moisture of your desserts but also enhances their flavour. Always monitor your baked goods closely to achieve perfect results with your air fryer.

Don't Overcrowd The Basket Or Pan

Avoid overcrowding the basket or pan when baking in an air fryer to ensure even cooking. Overcrowding restricts air circulation, which is crucial for the air fryer's rapid cooking process. Without proper airflow, your desserts may cook unevenly, resulting in undercooked centres and overcooked edges. Additionally, overcrowding can prevent the heat from reaching all parts of the food, leading to inconsistent texture and doneness. To achieve the best results, arrange your desserts in a single layer with enough space between each item, allowing the hot air to circulate freely and cook everything evenly.

Reduced Suggested Temperature

When adapting a dessert recipe with an air fryer that is meant for a traditional oven, reduce the suggested temperature by 14°C. Air fryers cook more efficiently due to their compact size and rapid air circulation, which can cause desserts to bake faster and at higher temperatures than intended. Lowering the temperature by around 14°C will ensure even cooking and prevent over-browning or burning the exterior while the interior remains undercooked. This adjustment helps maintain the desired texture and flavour of your dessert, ensuring it turns out perfectly every time. By carefully monitoring and adjusting both temperature and time, you can achieve optimal results with your air fryer.

Always Periodically Check While Baking In An Air Fryer

Periodically checking your food while baking air fryer desserts is crucial for optimal results. Due to the rapid and intense heat circulation, baking times can vary and food can overcook quickly. Always click pause and check for doneness to avoid undercooking or burning, and remember to always rotate the food occasionally to ensure even cooking. This practice helps maintain the desired texture and flavour, giving you perfectly baked air fryer desserts every time. By monitoring your desserts closely, you can make necessary adjustments and achieve consistent, delicious outcomes with your air fryer.

How To Bake Delicious Air Fryer Cookies

This delicious recipe for air fryer cookies is great because it's easy and quick to make, requiring just 10 minutes of baking time at 160°C. The vanilla cookie dough with chocolate chips is also very versatile, allowing you to make variations like using different types of chocolate or freezing dough for future use. The air fryer method ensures a deliciously gooey and perfectly cooked cookie every time.

Ingredients

• 100g of brown sugar
• 125g of unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 egg
• 75g of white granulated sugar
• 300g of plain flour
• 300g of chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon of cornflour
• Half a teaspoon of sea salt
• Half a teaspoon of baking soda

Method

1. After adding both the sugars and butter into a bowl, start beating them until they become creamy.
2. Now add in the vanilla extract and egg, beating until well combined.
3. Then add in the baking soda, sea salt, cornflour and plain flour and beat until the cookie dough has formed.
4. Add in the chocolate chips and continue mixing until they are evenly distributed throughout the dough.
5. Line the air fryer with baking paper and begin portioning out the dough into small lumps to your liking (or weigh them at 50g each) onto a tray.
6. Bake them at 160°C for 10 minutes.
7. Once they have finished baking, let them cool for around 5 minutes before trying to remove the baking paper (they will be very soft), then let them cool further for 15 minutes.

How To Bake A Scrumptious Air Fryer Cake

This absolutely scrumptious air fryer cake recipe will change the way you think about baking in an air fryer. This method also reduces preheating time and results in a moist, perfectly baked cake in less time than conventional methods, making it ideal when craving homemade treats when you don't have much time! Our Smith + Nobel Air Fryer Accessories Chef Pack is perfect for this recipe as you'll have everything you need in one convenient pack.

Ingredients

For The Cake

• 250g of caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 3 eggs
• 260g of self-raising flour
• 120ml of semi-skimmed milk
• 115g of softened unsalted butter

For The Frosting

• 240g of icing sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 57g of softened unsalted butter
• 2 tablespoons of double cream
• 3 tablespoons of full-fat cream cheese

For The Decoration & Filling

• Icing sugar to dust over (as much as needed)
• Strawberry jam (as much as needed)
• Fresh berries of your choice (as much as needed)

Method

1. Start by preheating your air fryer to 160°C. While it's preheating, lightly spray an 8-inch deep cake pan with cooking oil and line the bottom with baking paper.
2. Add the flour and sugar into a mixing bowl and begin mixing (a stand mixer with a paddle attachment will make this much easier).
3. Now add in the vanilla extract, semi-skimmed milk, eggs and butter and beat together. You will want to beat the mixture until it develops a smooth texture.
4. Pour the mixture into your prepared pan and level out the mixture, then place it into your air fryer.
5. Bake at 160°C for around 30 minutes. Afterwards, lower the temperature to 150°C and continue cooking for another 10 minutes.
6. Slide a toothpick or skewer into the cake to check for doneness. If it comes out wet, cook it for another 5 minutes, but if it's dry, take the cake out.
7. Let the cake cool for about 5 minutes in the pan, and then transfer onto a wire rack to continue cooling.
8. In the meantime, place all of the ingredients for the frosting into a large bowl and then beat until the frosting is light and has fluffy peaks.
9. Carefully slice your cake in half and begin piping a ring of the frosting around the edge of the bottom layer of the cake. Then fill the middle section with the jam, then topping up with more frosting and then level.
10. Finally, spread out a little bit of the frosting evenly over the top of your cake. Decorate however you like with the fresh fruit and then dust over with the icing sugar!

Bake These Delicious & Easy Air Fryer Desserts Today

At Harris Scarfe, we offer an amazing range of the best air fryers and kitchen appliances to suit all your kitchenware and bakeware needs, whether you are baking air fryer cakes, air fryer cookies or your favourite delicious air fryer desserts. Visit us online or in-store to discover how you can bake these incredible air fryer desserts at Harris Scarfe.

Shop Air Fryers

Head over to the Hub for more style ideas and inspiration so you can get creative with your kitchen! Some great articles you'll love include:

• 9 Must-Have Kitchen Appliances To Make Life Easier
• Air Fryer Cleaning & Maintenance Guide
• Top Kitchen Tools To Save You Time In The Kitchen
• 7 Cookware Essentials: What You Need For The Perfect Cooking Collection