Yes, an air fryer can be used for baking cakes, cookies, and breads with a few temperature and timing tweaks.
If you love fresh baked treats but do not always want to heat a full oven, an air fryer can feel like a secret weapon. Many home cooks wonder, Can Air Fryer Be Used For Baking? The short answer is yes, but you need to understand how this compact appliance moves heat, how to pick the right pan, and how to adjust your recipes so cakes rise and crumbs stay tender instead of dry. You still use the same batters you already enjoy; the main changes lie in how you load the basket and set the controls.
Quick Answer And Baking Basics
An air fryer is a small convection oven with a strong fan and a tight cooking chamber. Hot air rushes around food from all sides, which means baked goods brown fast and cook sooner than in a large oven. To keep bakes from drying on top or burning at the edges, most cooks lower the recipe temperature by about 14–20°C (25–35°F) and shorten the time.
An air fryer suits one or two people best. A handful of cookies, a mini loaf, a few cinnamon rolls, or a single cake layer all work well. Full sheet cakes or big yeasted loaves are harder to manage because space is limited and the heating element sits close to the surface.
| Aspect | Air Fryer Baking | Oven Baking |
|---|---|---|
| Heat Source | Compact chamber with fan near the top | Larger cavity with gentler air flow |
| Preheat Time | About 3–5 minutes | 10–15 minutes for most ovens |
| Best Batch Size | Small trays or single pans | Full trays and multiple pans |
| Energy Use | Lower, thanks to size and speed | Higher for long bakes |
| Browning Pattern | Quick top browning, crisp edges | More even top and bottom |
| Ideal Recipes | Cookies, muffins, mini loaves, brownies | Large cakes, multi layer bakes, big breads |
| Learning Curve | Needs temperature and time changes | Most recipes written for this setup |
Can Air Fryer Be Used For Baking? Core Differences From An Oven
When people ask Can Air Fryer Be Used For Baking? they are usually worried about texture and safety. The good news is that the same basic rules apply: you want an even rise, a set center, and safe internal temperatures for any treat that contains eggs, dairy, or meat.
The main change is how heat hits your batter or dough. In a tall oven the heat wraps around the pan slowly. In an air fryer basket the element sits close to the top of the pan, and the fan pushes hot air in a tight loop. This leads to a strong blast on the surface and less time for heat to soak through the center.
Heat Movement And Hot Spots
The fan in an air fryer keeps hot air moving, which is great for crisp fries but can create hot spots in bakes. Turning the pan halfway through the bake helps even out color. For fragile cakes, tenting the top loosely with foil once it has set helps protect the crust while the middle finishes cooking.
Pan Size And Material
You can use any oven safe pan that fits inside the basket while leaving space for air to move on all sides. Many bakers choose 15–20 cm (6–8 inch) round pans, small loaf tins, or silicone muffin cups. Shallow pans give the best result, since the center cooks faster and the top sits a little farther from the element.
Dairy brand Arla notes that metal, silicone, and ceramic pans all work in an air fryer as long as there is space around them for air flow, and recommends preheating for about 3–5 minutes for consistent baking results in most models. Arla article on baking in an air fryer also suggests measuring the basket and choosing pans that leave a small gap around the edges.
How Recipes Need To Change
Since air fryers bake hotter on the surface, most cooks reduce the stated oven temperature by about 25°F and start testing several minutes sooner than the recipe suggests. Shorten the time by roughly 20 percent for cakes and quick breads, then adjust based on your own machine. If a cake calls for 30 minutes at 350°F in a standard oven, try 325°F in the air fryer and begin checking at the 20 minute mark.
Use visual cues instead of only trusting the clock. A cake is ready when the top springs back, the sides pull slightly from the pan, and a skewer comes out with just a few moist crumbs. For brownies, you want a few sticky crumbs near the center so the texture stays soft as they cool.
Using An Air Fryer For Baking Cakes And Bread
Once you adjust to the smaller chamber, baking cakes and bread dough in an air fryer feels simple. Single layer sponge cakes, snack cakes in loaf tins, banana bread, and pull apart rolls turn out well. Rich batters with enough fat and sugar handle the rapid heat better than dry, lean doughs.
How To Adjust Temperature And Time
Preheat your air fryer for cake and bread recipes so the batter hits hot air right away. Many recipe developers and brands suggest a 3–5 minute preheat to help bakes rise evenly and brown in a predictable way. Set the temperature roughly 25°F lower than the oven recipe and plan to check early.
For cakes in 15–20 cm pans, a common range is 300–325°F for 18–28 minutes, depending on thickness. Rolls and small buns can sit at 320–340°F for 8–12 minutes. Keep a small digital thermometer nearby, as fully baked enriched breads usually land around 190–200°F in the center.
Picking The Right Pans And Liners
Pick pans that give you enough clearance above the batter so it can rise without touching the element. For a basket style air fryer, that often means filling the pan no more than halfway. Line the base with parchment and grease the sides, or grease and flour as you would for an oven bake.
Do not place loose parchment sheets in the empty basket; the fan can push them into the element. Instead, weigh parchment down with batter in a pan or use pre cut liners made for air fryers. Food sites such as Serious Eats air fryer cookie guide stress the value of liners that fit snugly so dough or batter does not drip into the holes in the basket.
Moisture, Fat, And Texture
Because the air fryer fan moves air so briskly, baked goods can dry out on the surface. To counter that, choose recipes that include a bit more fat or moisture: yogurt, sour cream, mashed banana, or oil based batters tend to fare well. Frosting or syrup brushed on after baking also helps keep cakes pleasant to eat.
If tops harden before the middle sets, drop the temperature by another 10–15°F and shield the pan lightly with foil for part of the bake. Small adjustments like this make a big difference to crumb and crust.
Recipes That Work Well In An Air Fryer
Some bakes translate to an air fryer with hardly any change, while others need a new pan, a different shape, or a smaller batch. Picking the right style of recipe will save you frustration and wasted ingredients.
Small Cakes And Muffins
Snack cakes in square or loaf pans, cupcakes, and muffins suit the air fryer perfectly. Pan size keeps the crumb moderately shallow, so heat reaches the center before the top over browns. Small Bundt style pans with a center tube work well too, because hot air can move through the middle as well as around the outside.
To convert an oven recipe, lower the heat, fill pans halfway, and test with a toothpick near the earliest suggested time. Many bakers find that rich chocolate or banana batters handle the dry air better than light, lean sponge recipes.
Cookies And Brownies
Drop cookies such as chocolate chip, oatmeal, and spice cookies bake nicely on a small sheet or in a shallow pan. Keep space between mounds of dough so hot air can pass freely. For cookies, some testers use temperatures around 325°F and bake for six to ten minutes, turning the tray once for even color.
Brownies and bar cookies might be the easiest option. A compact pan fits in nearly every machine, and the dense batter holds moisture well. You may see a shiny crust and set edges long before the center firms up, so rely on the skewer test instead of the surface alone.
Common Baking Mistakes With Air Fryers
Because air fryers run hot and fast, small missteps show up right away in the final result. Knowing the usual problems helps you adjust on the fly and get better results every time.
| Problem | Likely Cause | Simple Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Top burns before center sets | Temperature too high or pan too close to element | Lower heat, use shallower pan, tent with foil |
| Dry, tough crumb | Overbaking or lean batter | Shorten time, add moisture rich ingredients |
| Pale bottoms | Pan blocks air at base | Use lighter pan, preheat longer, avoid stacking |
| Cake sticks to pan | Insufficient greasing or no liner | Grease and line base with parchment |
| Uneven color across top | Hot spots from fan or element | Rotate pan halfway through bake |
| Overflowing batter | Pan overfilled in small chamber | Fill pans halfway and use deeper style |
| Soggy middle in dense bakes | Pan too large or time too short | Use smaller pan or lower heat and extend time |
Air Fryer Baking Safety, Cleaning, And Care
Safety matters for baking in an air fryer. Baked goods with eggs, dairy, or meat should reach safe internal temperatures, so use a food thermometer when you feel unsure.
Keep the basket, rack, and pans clean between batches. Residual grease from savory dishes can smoke or flavor sweet bakes. Let parts cool, then wash with warm soapy water and dry well before the next dessert. Check the element area regularly for crumbs so they do not scorch or flame.
Protecting Your Air Fryer Over Time
Line pans instead of the bare basket when baking; this keeps batter from sticking to the mesh and makes cleanup easier. Avoid aerosol sprays directly on nonstick baskets, since they can leave sticky build up. Instead, brush or wipe on a thin layer of oil or butter in the pan itself when needed.
Follow the instructions that came with your model, especially any notes about maximum temperature or approved pan styles. When in doubt, test new recipes in smaller batches until you know how your appliance behaves.
Final Thoughts On Air Fryer Baking
So, can air fryer be used for baking in a way that rivals a regular oven? For large celebration cakes, a full oven still gives you more room and control. For weeknight desserts, snack cakes, and small batches, though, your air fryer can turn out tender bakes in less time with less fuss.
If you respect its strengths, choose recipes that match the compact chamber, and make small adjustments to heat and timing, this appliance becomes a handy tool for everyday baking. As you build a few base recipes that you trust, it feels natural to swap flavors, mix-ins, and toppings while keeping the core timings nearly the same for you. Start with cookies, brownies, or a simple snack cake, keep notes on what works in your own kitchen, and you will soon have reliable times and temperatures ready every time a craving strikes for family and guests.