Air Fryer Cakes: Baking With Prestige

Air fryers are a convenient alternative to traditional ovens for baking cakes. They are compact, energy-efficient, and circulate hot air to create a sealed, moist environment for baking.

To bake a cake in an air fryer, you'll need a cake batter (either homemade or store-bought), a suitable cake pan, and some basic tools like parchment paper and cake strips. The process is fairly simple: prepare the cake pan, preheat the air fryer, pour the batter into the pan, and set the cooking time and temperature.

However, there are some important considerations. First, ensure your cake pan fits inside the air fryer basket. Second, preheat the air fryer to the appropriate temperature, usually around 320°F (160-170°C). Third, be prepared to adapt and experiment as air fryers vary in performance. Fourth, monitor the cake closely to prevent over-browning and adjust the temperature or cooking time as needed.

While air fryers may not produce patisserie-worthy cakes, they are a fun and convenient way to bake, especially for small portions or when you want to avoid heating up your kitchen.

Choosing the right pan

• Size and Fit: Ensure that the cake pan fits comfortably inside the air fryer basket. Measure the inside of your air fryer basket and choose a round pan that is smaller. It is important to leave some space for proper air circulation.
• Material: You can use various materials for the cake pan, including metal, glass, ceramic, or silicone. Silicone cake pans are a popular choice due to their flexibility, non-stick properties, and ease of removal. Aluminum cake pans are also a good option, as they are durable and conduct heat efficiently.
• Type: Depending on your needs, you can use a standard cake pan, a springform pan, mini cake pans, or stackable/tiered cake pans for creating layered cakes. Springform pans are ideal for delicate cakes or cheesecakes as they have a removable bottom. Stackable cake pans allow you to bake multiple cake layers simultaneously.
• Accessories: Some air fryers come with accessories specifically designed for baking, such as cake barrels or aluminum cake pans. These accessories are often included with the air fryer and can be a convenient option.
• Precaution: Even if your pan is non-stick, it is recommended to grease it lightly with cooking spray, butter, or shortening to prevent the cake from sticking. Lining the bottom with parchment paper provides an extra layer of protection.

Adjusting the temperature

Firstly, it is important to note that air fryers circulate hot air more efficiently than traditional ovens, resulting in faster cooking times and the need for lower temperatures. When adapting a traditional oven recipe for an air fryer, it is generally recommended to reduce the temperature by about 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit. For example, if a recipe calls for baking a cake at 170 degrees Celsius in a fan oven, you would aim for 160 degrees Celsius in your air fryer.

However, not all air fryers are created equal, and temperature settings can vary between models. Therefore, you may need to experiment and make minor adjustments to find the ideal temperature for your specific air fryer. For instance, if your air fryer model only has temperature settings in increments of 25 degrees, you might opt to reduce the heat to 150 degrees Celsius for a recipe that originally called for 170 degrees.

Additionally, the size and depth of your cake pan can influence the required temperature and baking time. Smaller and shallower cakes will generally bake faster and at a lower temperature than larger, taller cakes.

To ensure your cake bakes evenly and doesn't burn, it is advisable to preheat your air fryer. This initial burst of heat will help your cake rise, especially if your recipe includes baking soda or powder. Most air fryers preheat quickly, usually within a couple of minutes, so this step won't add much time to your overall baking process.

During the baking process, it is crucial to monitor your cake's progress and be prepared to adapt. Check on your cake regularly and use a toothpick or skewer to test for doneness. Insert the toothpick into the centre of the cake, and if it comes out clean, your cake is ready. If not, you may need to adjust the temperature or baking time accordingly.

In summary, successful cake baking in an air fryer involves understanding the unique characteristics of your air fryer, making appropriate temperature adjustments, and being prepared to adapt and improvise based on your cake's progress. With some experimentation and a little trial and error, you'll be well on your way to creating delicious, evenly baked cakes in your air fryer.

Preparing the batter

• Self-raising flour (or plain flour plus baking powder)
• Sugar (ideally caster sugar)
• Softened unsalted butter or margarine
• Eggs (medium in the UK, large in the US)
• Milk
• Vanilla extract

Simply combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl, then add the wet ingredients and mix until the batter is smooth. If you're using a store-bought cake mix, follow the instructions on the box, which will typically include adding eggs, oil, and water. You can also add optional mix-ins like chocolate chips, cocoa powder, or nuts to customize the flavour.

Once your batter is ready, it's time to prep your cake pan. Grease the inside of the pan with shortening or butter, then dust it with flour. You can also line the bottom of the pan with a round piece of parchment paper to prevent sticking. Fill the pan a little over halfway full with batter. If you have any leftover batter, you can make cupcakes or fill the pan in batches.

Now, you're ready to start baking! Set your air fryer to 320-350°F (160-176°C) and preheat for a couple of minutes. Place the cake pan in the air fryer basket and set the timer for 17-20 minutes. The cake is ready when a toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean. If it's not quite done, put it back in the air fryer for a few more minutes.

Cooking time

The cooking time for a cake in a Prestige air fryer will depend on the type of cake you are cooking, the size of your air fryer, and the size of your cake pan.

Air fryers circulate hot air more efficiently than a conventional oven, so they can cook food faster and at lower temperatures. Therefore, if you are following a traditional oven recipe, you will need to lower the temperature for the air fryer. Typically, a cake baked in an air fryer will take between 12 and 20 minutes, but it could take as long as 30 minutes, or even 45 minutes.

It is recommended that you preheat your air fryer to 320°F (160°C) and then bake your cake for 17 to 18 minutes. After this time, check to see if your cake is done by inserting a toothpick or cake tester into the centre of the cake. If it comes out clean, your cake is ready. If not, place the cake back in the air fryer and cook for another five minutes before checking again.

If the cake is not done but is getting too brown on top, place some aluminium foil over it and continue cooking.

Once the cake is done, remove it from the air fryer and place the pan on a hot pad. Allow the cake to cool for about 10 minutes before removing it from the pan and placing it on a wire cooling rack to cool completely.

Decorating the cake

Now for the fun part: decorating your cake!

Once your cake has cooled, you can add some yummy homemade buttercream frosting or use your favourite frosting from the store. You can spread a little of the frosting over the top of the cake and decorate with fresh berries. Dust with icing sugar and serve.

If you want to get creative, you can add some chocolate sprinkles, chocolate chips, or other types of sprinkles on top. It's your cake, so feel free to experiment and get creative! You can even add some crushed chocolate chip cookies on top of a chocolate cake while it's still warm.

If you want to make a layer cake, you can slice the cake in half and fill it with your choice of buttercream or frosting. You can also pipe a ring of frosting around the edge of the bottom layer and fill the middle with jam. Top with more frosting and smooth it out before sandwiching with the top layer.

Frequently asked questions