The air fryer isn't just for chips — it's a compact convection oven, which makes it great for baking small batches. Cakes, bread, cookies and brownies all work, with a few tweaks. Here's how.
Key takeaways
Q: Can you bake in an air fryer?
A: Yes — lower the temperature by about 20°C versus an oven recipe and check early, as the fan cooks faster.
Q: What tin do you use?
A: Any oven-safe tin or silicone mould that fits the basket with airflow around it.
How to adapt recipes
- Drop the temperature by around 20°C from the oven version.
- Check early — the fan cooks faster, so start checking sooner.
- Use a tin that fits with space for air to circulate.
- Cover with foil if the top browns before the middle sets.
What bakes well
- Cakes & loaf cakes — like banana bread.
- Brownies & cookies — see brownies.
- Bread rolls & small loaves.
- Muffins in silicone cases.
Frequently asked questions
Can you bake a cake in an air fryer?
Yes — lower the temperature by about 20°C from the oven recipe, use a tin that fits with airflow around it, and check early as the fan bakes faster.
What temperature do you bake at in an air fryer?
Generally about 20°C lower than an oven recipe, and start checking sooner, because the circulating fan cooks more quickly.
What can you bake in an air fryer?
Cakes, loaf cakes, brownies, cookies, bread rolls and muffins all work well, especially in small batches.