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Air Fryer Cake

Air Fryer Cake – make a perfectly moist and tender cake in your air fryer! It is ready in minutes, bakes up perfectly and is so easy!

Have you tried baking in your air fryer yet? It was something I never thought I would do, but it actually works really well! The first thing I made was Air Fryer Cookies. And now a cake!

It is great if you only want to do a small amount, like a few cookies or a small cake. And if you live in a small apartment in the middle of summer or somewhere that doesn’t have an oven, this is perfect!

frosted chocolate cake with sprinkles

 

Making an Air Fryer Cake is much easier than you think it will be. I have a recipe for a homemade chocolate cake below, but you really could use any box cake mix that you like to make it even easier!

I used my Chocolate Peppermint Cake as the base for this recipe. I really just cut it in half, so it bakes all the way through in the air fryer. It is my favorite chocolate cake, so chocolate-y and delicious and much better than any box mix.

slice of chocolate cake on a white plate

Can You Use Regular Cake Pans In The Air Fryer

Yes, anything that is oven safe will work in the air fryer. You are only heating it to 320º F for this recipe, so you don’t need a special pan or anything to make this. If you end up baking in it a lot, they sell Air Fryer Accessories that has different inserts that you could use.

To make this recipe I used a Cosori 5.8 Qt Air Fryer. It is big enough that you can fit plenty of food in, and the basket comes out so you can easily shake, stir, or flip whatever you are making.

Both a 7 and 8 inch cake fan fit in my air fryer basket. Test your cake pans before you start baking to figure out what size fits best.

putting frosting on a cake

What You’ll Need

  • All-Purpose Flour
  • Granulated Sugar
  • Cocoa Powder
  • Baking Soda
  • Baking Powder
  • Salt
  • Eggs
  • Buttermilk
  • Vegetable Oil
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Boiling Water (or Coffee)

You really can use any flavor box cake mix in place of this homemade recipe. They will make about the same size cake. I used my favorite Chocolate Frosting for this, but even store bought will work!

chocolate cake with a bite taken out of it

How To Make Air Fryer Cake

  1. Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt until well blended.
  2. In a separate bowl whisk together egg, buttermilk, vegetable oil and water.
  3. Add egg mixture to flour and stir until just combined. Add in boiling water and mix to combine.
  4. Pour into a 7 or 8 inch well greased cake pan.
  5. Cook in air fryer at 320º F for 25 minutes. Use a toothpick to test if the cake is done, it should come out mostly clean when you insert it into the center of the cake.
  6. Once the cake is baked carefully remove the pan from the air fryer and cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing the cake from the pan to cool completely.
  7. Once the cake is cooled frost and decorate as desired.

You will notice that the top of the cake can get dark or a strange swirl on it from the fan in the air fryer. Don’t worry! Use a serrated knife, and cut the top of the cake to make it flat. This will remove the imperfections and give you an easier surface to frost.

cake in baking pan

How Do I Get My Cake Not To Stick In The Pan

The best thing to do to get a cake out of the pan is to line the bottom with parchment paper to start with. Start by placing your cake pan over a square of parchment paper, and then trace the bottom onto the paper. Cut out the circle and then place in the bottom of the cake pan.

You will also want to generously butter the sides of the pan and coat with flour as well. This will ensure the cake comes out and nothing sticks in the pan.

Can I Freeze Cake

Absolutely! Cake actually freezes really well. It is best to freeze before you add the frosting. Once the cake is completely cook, tightly wrap with plastic wrap. It will last in the freezer for 3-4 months. Let the cake thaw in the fridge and then frost when you are ready to serve.

close up chocolate cake for pinterest

More Fun Dessert Recipes

Yield: 10

Air Fryer Cake

close up slice of cake

Air Fryer Cake - make a perfectly moist and tender cake in your air fryer! It is ready in minutes, bakes up perfectly and is so easy!

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes

Ingredients

Cake

  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 3/4 cup + 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup cocoa powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 whole large egg
  • 1/2 cup buttermilk
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup boiling water (or hot coffee)

Frosting

  • 1/4 cup butter softened
  • 2-3 cups powdered sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1-2 Tablespoon milk

Instructions

  1. Prepare a 7 or 8 inch cake pan by greasing well and coating with flour.
  2. Whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, baking powder and salt until well blended.
  3. In a separate bowl whisk together egg, buttermilk, vegetable oil and water.
  4. Add egg mixture to flour and stir until just combined. Add in boiling water and mix to combine.
  5. Pour into prepared cake pan
  6. Cook in air fryer at 320º F for 25 minutes. Use a toothpick to test if the cake is done, it should come out mostly clean when you insert it into the center of the cake.
  7. Once the cake is baked carefully remove the pan from the air fryer and cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing the cake from the pan to cool completely.
  8. Once the cake is cooled frost and decorate as desired.

To Make Frosting

  1. Using a hand mixer or the whisk attachment for an electric stand mixer whip butter until it is smooth and creamy.
  2. Add powdered sugar, cocoa powder, and salt until it is combined.
  3. Add vanilla and slowly pour in milk, beating until it is smooth and your desired consistency.
  4. Adjust milk or sugar as necessary if your frosting is to thick or thin.

Nutrition Information

Yield

10

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 287Total Fat 11gSaturated Fat 4gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 6gCholesterol 31mgSodium 350mgCarbohydrates 46gFiber 1gSugar 42gProtein 2g

Nutrition Disclaimer: All information presented on this site is intended for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and any nutritional information shared on dinnersdishesanddesserts.com should only be used as a general guideline.

Did you make this recipe?

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Sue Wordsworth

Sunday 6th of November 2022

Hi, can you give measurement for flour in grammes please.

Thanks.

Erin S

Sunday 6th of November 2022

I googled it, and 3/4 cup of flour is 96 grams, 1 Tablespoon is 7.8 grams - so you would need 111.6 grams of all-purpose flour

Mary Ann Morvay

Saturday 11th of June 2022

I do not have an air fryer. Can this cake be baked in the oven? What temperature and how long? Thank you

Erin S

Sunday 12th of June 2022

You would bake it just like you would a normal cake. 350º for probably 20-25 minutes. Check with a toothpick ensure it is done.

Sandra

Thursday 2nd of June 2022

This is so easy! Everyone at my house was really impressed!

Catalina

Thursday 2nd of June 2022

wow! This is something new! I am so curious to try to make a cake in the Air Fryer!

Amanda

Wednesday 1st of June 2022

I have never even thought about cake in the air fryer! What an awesome idea!

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