How To Bake A Cake In Air Fryer | Soft Cakes In Minutes

Quick Guide To Air Fryer Cake Baking

If you already know how to make a simple butter cake, you can bake that same batter in an air fryer. You just use a smaller pan, drop the oven temperature a bit, and check doneness earlier.

For most standard batters, the sweet spot is around 150–160°C or 300–325°F, along with a 6 or 7 inch round pan that fits snugly in the basket. A full size box mix usually turns into one deep 6 inch cake instead of a large 9 by 13 inch pan.

Cake Type Or Pan	Air Fryer Temperature	Approximate Time
6 inch round butter cake	160°C / 320°F	30–40 minutes
7 inch round pan, standard batter	155–160°C / 310–320°F	35–45 minutes
Small loaf pan pound cake	150°C / 300°F	35–45 minutes
Brownie style snack cake	160–165°C / 320–330°F	18–25 minutes
Standard box mix in 6 inch pan	160°C / 320°F	30–35 minutes
Cupcakes or muffins	150–160°C / 300–325°F	10–15 minutes
Dense carrot or banana cake	150°C / 300°F	30–45 minutes

Every air fryer runs a bit differently, so use these as starting points. When you test how to bake a cake in air fryer ovens at home, you will quickly learn how your specific model behaves and can tweak time or temperature by small steps.

Ingredients And Equipment You Will Need

You do not need a special air fryer cake mix. Any reliable butter cake or sponge recipe that bakes in a regular oven at 160–180°C or 325–350°F usually adapts well.

Basic Cake Ingredients

A standard batter for a 6 inch air fryer cake uses about 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup butter or oil, 1/2–3/4 cup sugar, 2–3 eggs, baking powder, salt, and vanilla or other flavoring.

If you use a boxed mix, follow the package directions for eggs, oil, and water. Only the pan size, temperature, and bake time need adjustment for air frying.

Best Pans For Air Fryer Cakes

Pick a sturdy metal or silicone pan that fits inside the basket with a little space around the sides for air flow. Six inch round pans, small Bundt style pans, and short loaf pans usually work well. Dark, non stick metal can brown faster, so you may drop the temperature by about 10°C or 25°F or check a bit earlier.

Line the bottom with parchment and grease the sides to help the cake release cleanly. For extra thin batters, it helps to wrap the outside of the pan with a loose layer of foil so batter cannot drip through any seams.

Setting Up The Air Fryer

Most air fryer cakes bake best on the bake or air fry setting with the basket or tray in the middle position. Preheat for 3–5 minutes so the heating element and fan reach a steady level before the batter goes in. This step also shortens the real bake time and keeps the top from sitting under a blazing coil while the rest of the unit warms up.

Many manufacturers explain that their countertop units cook faster than a standard oven because the fan drives hot air over the food. That is close to the way a convection oven works, which is why dropping the recipe temperature by around 20°C or 25°F is a useful starting point.

Baking A Cake In Your Air Fryer Time And Temperature Guide

Learning to bake cake in an air fryer basket or drawer is mainly about managing heat. Air moves faster and closer to the surface than in a large oven, so batter can brown on top while the middle stays raw if your temperature is too high.

For a typical butter cake, try 160°C or 320°F for a 6 inch pan and check at the 25 minute mark. If the center still jiggles, bake for 5 minute bursts until a skewer or toothpick in the middle comes out with only a few moist crumbs. A small Bundt or tube pan may take similar time, but the shape often helps heat reach the center more evenly.

Egg based cakes and custard style batters should reach about 71°C or 160°F in the center for safe eating, which matches the guidance for egg dishes from the FoodSafety.gov safe temperature chart. A quick read thermometer is handy if you bake for people with weaker immune systems or young children.

How Air Fryer Heat Differs From Oven Heat

Many air fryers behave like compact fan ovens. Strong air flow can make 160°C in an air fryer feel close to a hotter setting in a still oven. That is why many trusted baking sources suggest lowering oven style temperatures for air fryer baking and watching the color of the crust closely during the last part of the bake.

If the top browns long before the center is ready, lay a loose sheet of foil over the pan. The foil shield slows browning while heat continues to reach the middle of the cake.

Step By Step: How To Bake A Cake In Air Fryer

Step 1: Prepare The Pan And Basket

Grease the pan with butter or oil and line the base with a round of parchment. Lightly dust the sides with flour and tap out the excess. If your basket has large holes or an open wire base, place the pan on a metal rack or trivet so it sits flat and stable.

Step 2: Mix The Cake Batter

Use your favorite recipe or a boxed mix. Beat butter and sugar until light, then add eggs one at a time. Mix in dry ingredients in stages, alternating with milk or another liquid. Scrape the bowl so no dry pockets hide at the bottom. The finished batter should fall off a spoon in a slow, thick ribbon.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan, filling it no more than two thirds full. Air fryer cakes rise well, and too much batter can lead to overflow and gummy centers.

Step 3: Preheat And Load The Air Fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 160°C or 320°F for about 3–5 minutes. Slide the pan into the basket and set it back in the machine. Leave a bit of room around the sides so air can circulate. If your fryer comes with a lower rack or extra tray, use the position recommended in the manual for baking.

Step 4: Bake The Cake

Start with 25 minutes at 160°C or 320°F for a 6 inch round cake. At 20 minutes, peek through the glass or briefly pull out the basket to check color. If the top already looks dark golden, lay a loose sheet of foil over the pan and continue baking.

For cupcakes, set 10 minutes at 150–160°C or 300–325°F, then check and extend the time by 2–3 minutes as needed. Smaller shapes bake faster, so stay close during the first test run.

Step 5: Test For Doneness

Use a toothpick or wooden skewer in the center of the cake. If it comes out with wet batter, give it another 5 minutes. If it comes out with only a few moist crumbs or is fully clean, the cake is baked through.

You can also press the center lightly with a fingertip. A ready cake springs back instead of leaving a dent. When you bake rich cakes, an instant read thermometer in the center should read around 95–99°C or 203–210°F, which indicates the crumb has set fully without drying out.

Step 6: Cool And Remove From The Pan

Let the pan stand in the basket or on a rack for about 10 minutes so the structure sets. Then run a thin knife around the edge, place a plate on top, and invert. Peel away the parchment from the bottom and let the cake cool fully before frosting.

If the cake sticks, give the pan a few gentle taps on the counter or warm the base briefly by resting it over hot water to loosen any sugar that has firmed up.

Step 7: Frost, Slice, And Serve

Once the cake is cool, finish it with a dusting of powdered sugar, a quick cocoa glaze, or a simple buttercream. Since air fryer cakes are smaller, slices feel generous even from a compact round, which suits weeknight desserts and small gatherings.

Common Mistakes When Air Fryer Cakes Go Wrong

Cake Is Raw In The Middle

If the cake is raw inside but dark on top, the temperature was too high or the pan sat too close to the heating element. Next time, bake at 150°C or 300°F and extend the time. You can also tent with foil for the last third of the bake so the top stays tender while the center catches up.

Dry Or Tough Texture

Dry cake often comes from over baking, especially in compact air fryers that cook faster than a full oven. Take notes the first time you test a recipe, checking 5–10 minutes before the suggested oven bake time so you land on the best timing for your machine.

Uneven Browning

Some baskets have hot spots where air hits harder. Rotate the pan halfway through the bake for more even color. If one edge always browns more, you can place a narrow strip of foil over that side during the last part of the bake.

Flavor Ideas And Small Batch Variations

Once you are comfortable with how your air fryer handles cake batter, you can branch out from plain vanilla. Citrus zest, cocoa, spices, or fruit fold ins all work well as long as you keep the overall batter thickness similar.

Here are simple tweaks you can apply to the same base recipe while keeping the temperature and timing rules steady.

Variation	What To Add	Notes
Lemon air fryer cake	Zest of 1 lemon, 2 tbsp juice	Fresh flavor, light crumb
Chocolate chip air fryer cake	1/2 cup chocolate chips	Fold in at the end
Spice air fryer cake	1 tsp cinnamon, pinch nutmeg	Tasty with brown sugar glaze
Banana snack cake	1 ripe mashed banana	Cut other liquid slightly
Carrot air fryer cake	1 cup fine grated carrot	Use a small loaf pan
Gluten free air fryer cake	Use gluten free flour blend	Let batter rest 10 minutes

For each variation, stay close to your air fryer during the last ten minutes and rely on toothpick tests and gentle pokes so you do not over bake. Small add ins like chips or fruit chunks can change moisture slightly, but once you have a base time that works, tweaks stay easy.

Cleaning Up And Caring For Your Air Fryer After Cake

Air fryer baskets and drawers pick up grease and stray crumbs from cake batter, frosting, and non stick spray. Let the unit cool, then wash the basket, tray, and pan with warm soapy water. Avoid harsh scrubbers that can scratch non stick coatings.

If you lined the pan and basket with parchment, cleanup takes less time and your machine stays fresh for savory food. Many manuals also remind you to dry every part fully before reassembling so metal parts stay in good shape.

Final Checks Before Serving Your Air Fryer Cake

When you slice into the cake, look for an even crumb all the way through, with no gummy streaks or dense bands near the base. The surface should be golden instead of dark brown, and the edges should feel bouncy instead of hard.

Once you are happy with the result, write down the pan size, exact temperature, and total bake time that worked well. The next time you ask how to bake a cake in air fryer models of the same size, you will already have a trusted template and can relax and enjoy the process.