Emilie Meyer
Air fryers are a convenient alternative to traditional ovens for baking cupcakes. They are faster, use less energy, and can produce cupcakes that are moist, fluffy, and delicious. Air fryer cupcakes are perfect for last-minute birthday parties or when you're craving a sweet treat. In this article, we will explore the benefits of using an air fryer for cupcakes and provide a step-by-step guide on how to bake them. We will also offer tips on customising your cupcakes with different flavours and decorations. So, get ready to impress your family and friends with freshly baked cupcakes straight from your air fryer!
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Oven preheating | Not required |
| Baking time | 8-25 minutes |
| Temperature | 160°C (320°F-350°F) |
| Number of cupcakes | 8-12 |
| Cupcake size | Large or small |
| Cupcake cases | Paper or silicone |
| Cupcake liners | Required |
| Cupcake tray | Required for some air fryers |
| Metal tins | Required for paper cases |
| Batter consistency | Smooth and creamy |
| Cupcake texture | Fluffy, moist, light, and spongy |
| Frosting | Optional |
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What You'll Learn
Air fryer cupcake recipes
Air fryers are a great alternative to ovens for baking cupcakes. They are faster, more energy-efficient, and can produce cupcakes that are moist, fluffy, and delicious. Here are some recipes and tips for making cupcakes in an air fryer.
Vanilla Cupcakes
For vanilla cupcakes, you can follow a basic cupcake recipe or use a box mix. If making the batter from scratch, cream the butter and sugar together in a bowl, then stir in beaten eggs and vanilla extract. Sift in the self-raising flour and mix until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. If using a box mix, follow the directions on the package. For Betty Crocker Cake Mix, for example, combine the mix with eggs, oil, and water. Beat or whisk until the batter is smooth and creamy.
Next, prepare your cupcake cases. You can use paper or silicone cupcake holders/liners, but keep in mind that paper cases may become misshapen and lopsided. If using paper liners, place them in a cupcake tray to help the cupcakes hold their shape. If your air fryer has space constraints, you may need to place the cupcake cases in individual metal tins.
Fill the cupcake cases halfway with batter. Place them in the air fryer basket and bake at 160°C (325°F) for 18-25 minutes for large cupcakes and 10-12 minutes for smaller ones. No preheating is required. The cupcakes are done when they are risen, golden, and a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean. Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting and decorating.
Chocolate Cupcakes
To make chocolate cupcakes, follow a similar process as above but add cocoa powder to your batter. You can also add a tablespoon of coffee or milk for extra flavour. Bake at 160°C (320°F) for about 12 minutes. To make chocolate buttercream frosting, sift the icing sugar and cocoa powder, then add them to a blender along with soft butter and milk. Blend until smooth and use a piping bag to decorate your cupcakes.
Tips
- Air fryer capacities vary, so you may need to bake your cupcakes in batches.
- When using a box mix, do not overfill the cupcake liners as the fan can splatter the batter.
- To prevent the tops of your cupcakes from rising too much, use a little less batter and rotate the cupcakes halfway during cooking.
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Air fryer cupcake cooking times and temperatures
Air fryers are a great alternative to traditional ovens for baking cupcakes. They are faster, more energy-efficient, and can produce cupcakes that are just as delicious and fluffy as their oven-baked counterparts.
When it comes to cooking times and temperatures, there are a few factors to consider. Firstly, the size of your cupcakes will affect the cooking time. Larger cupcakes will generally take longer to bake than smaller ones. For example, larger cupcakes baked at 160°C (325°F) will take around 23-25 minutes, while smaller cupcakes at the same temperature will take around 18-20 minutes.
It's worth noting that some recipes suggest baking cupcakes at a higher temperature of 350°F for a shorter duration of 10-12 minutes. This variation in temperature and time settings can be attributed to different air fryer models and personal preferences.
Additionally, the type of cupcake liners or cases you use can impact the cooking time. Silicone liners or muffin cups are recommended for basket-style air fryers, while paper liners can be used for muffin tins. If using paper liners, be cautious as they may cause the cupcakes to become misshapen or lopsided. Metal tins or cupcake trays can help the cupcakes hold their shape.
Furthermore, the size and capacity of your air fryer will determine the number of cupcakes you can bake at once and may require you to adjust the cooking time for subsequent batches. It is generally recommended to rotate the cupcakes halfway through baking to ensure even cooking.
Lastly, always use a toothpick, skewer, or knife to check if your cupcakes are done. Insert it into the centre of a cupcake, and if it comes out clean, your cupcakes are ready. Remember to allow the cupcakes to cool completely before frosting or decorating them.
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Air fryer cupcake cases and containers
When making cupcakes in an air fryer, you can use paper cupcake liners or silicone liners. If you are using paper liners, it is recommended to double up the liners to make them sturdier and prevent the cupcakes from spreading out wide instead of tall. If you are using a basket air fryer, you will need to use silicone muffin cups.
One source recommends using B&Co Non-Stick Flexible Cupcake Cases, which are silicone cupcake cases that can adapt to your muffin cupcake tray or baking sheet. They are environmentally friendly as they are reusable and eliminate the need for paper liners.
When using paper or silicone liners, lightly spray the inside with non-stick spray before placing them in the air fryer basket. Fill each liner about 3/4 of the way full with cake batter. Do not overfill, or the fan can splatter the batter.
If you are using a muffin tin, you can bake multiple cupcakes at once. The number of cupcakes that can fit in an air fryer varies depending on the model and size of the cupcakes, but most sources mention a range of 8-12 cupcakes.
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Air fryer chocolate cupcakes
Ingredients:
- Flour
- Cocoa powder
- Sugar
- Baking powder
- Salt
- Milk
- Vegetable oil
- Vanilla extract
- Eggs
- Chocolate buttercream (for frosting)
Instructions:
- Add the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, and salt to a large mixing bowl.
- In a separate mixing bowl, combine the milk, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, and eggs.
- Beat the wet ingredients with an electric hand mixer until they are well combined and smooth.
- Use a large cookie scoop to divide the batter between 8-12 large paper cup cases, or a medium scoop for smaller cupcake liners.
- Place the cupcakes in the air fryer basket, making sure not to overfill. You may need to bake in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
- Set the air fryer to 325°F-350°F (160°C-180°C) and bake for 18-25 minutes for large cupcakes, or 10-12 minutes for smaller ones. No preheating is needed.
- Check if the cupcakes are done by inserting a toothpick into the center of a cupcake. If it comes out clean, they are ready. If not, you can add a couple of minutes to the cooking time.
- Allow the cupcakes to cool completely before decorating.
- Use a piping bag fitted with a large star nozzle to decorate each cupcake with chocolate buttercream. You can also add sprinkles, nuts, or other toppings of your choice.
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Air fryer vanilla cupcakes
Ingredients
- 40g butter (melted)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 self-raising flour
- 1/4 cup milk
Method
Melt the butter and add all the ingredients to a large bowl. Mix until well combined and the batter is completely smooth. You can use an electric hand mixer to combine the ingredients. Use a large cookie scoop to divide the batter between 8 large paper cup cases or a medium scoop if you are using smaller cupcake liners – you will have 10-12 cupcakes. Place the cupcakes in the air fryer basket, filling about 3/4 of the cupcake liners. Do not overfill or the fan can splatter the batter.
Baking
Bake at 160°C (325°F) for 23-25 minutes for large cupcakes and 18-20 for smaller ones. You do not need to preheat the air fryer. Check if the cupcakes have risen and are golden. Insert a toothpick in the middle of the cupcake, and if it comes out clean, they are done. If not, add a couple of minutes to the cooking time.
Frosting
Let the cupcakes cool for about 10 minutes before adding frosting. Pipe a generous swirl of frosting over the cupcakes and add sprinkles. You can also add chopped nuts or your favourite toppings. Store the cupcakes in a cake container for 2-3 days or wrap well and freeze.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes 10-12 minutes to cook cupcakes in an air fryer at 350 degrees F. If you are baking at 160 degrees C, it will take 12-25 minutes.
This depends on the size of your air fryer. Most air fryers will not be large enough to fit a cupcake tray in the basket. You can cook 6 cupcakes on each side if you have a Ninja Dual Air Fryer. The Tefal air fryer fits around 10 cupcakes and has dual drawers, so you can cook more than one thing at a time.
No, you do not need to preheat the air fryer.
If you are using a box mix, prepare the batter according to the directions. If you are making the batter from scratch, measure all the ingredients into a mixing bowl and beat them together with an electric hand mixer until the batter is completely smooth.
