Quick answer: To bake in an air fryer, use a small pan that fits with room around it, lower your oven recipe temperature by about 25°F (15°C) and cut the time by roughly 20%, then check early. Most bakes sit at 320°F to 350°F. If the top browns before the centre is done, tent it loosely with foil.
Love baking but hate waiting for the oven to preheat? You can bake your favourite treats right in the air fryer, even if you have never tried it. From warm banana bread to gooey cookies, air fryers are not just for fries and wings, they are a capable little countertop baker.
Why bake in an air fryer?
An air fryer uses rapid air circulation, much like a convection oven, to cook evenly. That makes it great for small-batch baking. The upsides:
- Faster than a traditional oven, with little or no preheating
- Energy-efficient and compact
- Perfect for small kitchens or single servings
- Great for summer baking without heating the whole kitchen
If you want the full appliance comparison, see our air fryer oven vs conventional oven guide.
Can you really bake in an air fryer?
Yes. Air fryers can bake everything from cakes to muffins to donuts. The circulating hot air gives a golden crust and a fluffy interior. Things that bake well include banana bread, chocolate chip cookies, muffins and cupcakes, mini cakes and brownies, gluten-free or vegan bakes, and baked fruit.
What to skip: oversized cakes or large batches, very runny batters without a proper container, and delicate items that need a gentle, even rise like souffles. For the full breakdown, see what you can and cannot bake in an air fryer.
Tools, pans, and bakeware you will need
Baking in an air fryer is easy, and the right tools make it easier. Helpful kit includes silicone muffin cups, mini cake pans or ramekins, parchment liners, an air fryer rack, and a digital thermometer.
Pan size and depth. Most baskets fit a 6 to 7 inch (15 to 20 cm) round or square tin with room to spare. Leave space around the edges for airflow, and choose a shallow pan, ideally under about 3 inches deep, so it does not reach the element. The shallower the pan, the faster and more evenly it bakes, and do not fill it more than halfway since bakes rise.
Pan material. Any oven-safe vessel that fits works. Light metal and silicone bake the most evenly. Avoid dark-coated tins, which absorb heat and over-brown. Glass or stoneware is fine if it is oven-safe and fits with airflow, though it bakes a touch slower. For liners, use perforated parchment or poke a few holes so air still circulates. More on this in our foil and parchment guide and using silicone moulds.
For a deeper rundown, see our guide to air fryer accessories for bakers.
How to bake in an air fryer, step by step
- Preheat (it helps). If your model does not preheat itself, run it empty at your baking temperature (around 320°F to 350°F) for 3 to 5 minutes. A hot start gives cakes and muffins a better rise.
- Choose the right container. A mini cake tin, ramekin, or silicone cup, sized to leave airflow around it.
- Prepare your batter or dough. Use any cake, muffin, or cookie recipe, and do not overfill, since air fryers cook from the top down and bakes need room to rise.
- Line or grease the pan. Parchment or a light grease stops sticking, even with non-stick pans, since the moving air can dry the surface.
- Place it in the basket. Centre it and do not crowd, so air flows freely.
- Adjust time and temperature. Drop the oven temp by about 25°F and cut the time by roughly 20%. Our conversion chart and calculator do the maths.
- Check for doneness. A toothpick should come out clean, or the centre should read about 190°F to 210°F for most bakes.
- Cool before serving. Rest a few minutes before unmoulding so the structure sets.
Tip: for cookies, donuts, and similar flat bakes, you can flip them halfway so both sides colour evenly.
The one trick: stop the top over-browning
This is the single most useful air fryer baking tip, and the one most guides leave out. Because the fan and element sit right above the food, the top of a cake or loaf browns much faster than the inside cooks. So you can end up with a dark top and a raw centre.
The fix is simple. As soon as the top looks the colour you want, pull the basket, lay a piece of foil loosely over the pan (puffed up a little, not pressed down), and poke a few holes so steam escapes. Keep it covered for most of the bake, then remove the foil for the last 4 to 6 minutes if you want a touch more colour. This lets the inside catch up without scorching the top, and it traps a little heat so the bake finishes evenly. For taller bakes, this step is the difference between sunken-raw and just right.
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Time and temperature chart for air fryer baking
Use these as starting points, then adjust for your model. Always check a few minutes early.
| Baked item | Air fryer temp | Time (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Muffins (standard size) | 330°F (165°C) | 12 to 15 minutes |
| Mini cakes | 320°F (160°C) | 15 to 20 minutes |
| Cookies | 325°F (163°C) | 8 to 10 minutes |
| Brownies (in ramekins) | 330°F (165°C) | 12 to 14 minutes |
| Baked apples | 350°F (175°C) | 10 to 12 minutes |
For a full reference across more bakes, see our air fryer baking times and temps chart.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Overcrowding. It blocks airflow and bakes unevenly.
- Wrong bakeware. Too big, too tall, or not oven-safe.
- Skipping preheat. It can leave centres soggy or under-risen.
- Not adjusting time and temp. Air fryer baking runs faster, so check early. If bakes come out dry, see how to avoid dry air fryer bakes, and if they scorch, how to prevent burning.
Best recipes to try first
If you are just starting out, these are forgiving and foolproof:
- Air fryer banana bread, moist and sweet
- Air fryer chocolate chip cookies, chewy with crisp edges
- Air fryer carrot muffins, a quick breakfast
- Air fryer brownies, fudgy and rich
- Air fryer vegan donuts, with or without yeast
Shopping for a machine that bakes well? See the best air fryer for baking.
Air fryer baking for special diets
- Vegan. Use flax eggs or applesauce as egg replacers, and plant-based milk and butter.
- Gluten-free. Almond flour, oat flour, and 1:1 gluten-free blends all work well.
- Low-carb and keto. Try coconut flour, almond flour, and sugar alternatives.
Cleaning up after baking
Let the air fryer cool and unplug it, remove crumbs and any liner, wipe the interior with a damp cloth, and soak the basket or tray in warm soapy water. Skip abrasive scrubbers to protect the non-stick coating. For the full method, see our bakeware cleaning guide.
Frequently asked questions
QWhat temperature do you bake at in an air fryer?
Most bakes sit between 320°F and 350°F (160°C to 175°C). As a rule, take your oven recipe temperature and drop it by about 25°F.
QDo you need to preheat an air fryer for baking?
It helps, especially for cakes and muffins that rely on a leavener, since the initial burst of heat supports the rise. If your model does not self-preheat, run it empty for 3 to 5 minutes.
QWhy is my air fryer cake browning on top but raw inside?
The element is right above the food, so the top colours before the centre cooks. Tent the pan loosely with foil (poke a few holes for steam) once the top looks done, and remove it for the last few minutes if you want more colour.
QWhat size pan fits in an air fryer for baking?
A 6 to 7 inch (15 to 20 cm) round or square tin fits most baskets, with room around it for airflow. Pick a shallow pan and do not fill it more than halfway.
QDo you reduce the temperature when baking in an air fryer?
Yes. Lower the oven recipe temperature by about 25°F (15°C) and cut the time by roughly 20%, then check for doneness early.
QCan you use a glass dish to bake in an air fryer?
Yes, if it is oven-safe and fits with room for air to circulate. Light metal and silicone bake more evenly, while glass bakes a little slower, so check doneness carefully.
QHow long does it take to bake in an air fryer?
Most small bakes take 8 to 20 minutes, faster than an oven. Cookies run about 8 to 10 minutes, muffins 12 to 15, and mini cakes 15 to 20, but always check early.
Bake once and you will not look at your oven the same way again. Start with our air fryer bread or baked apples, and use the troubleshooting guide if anything comes out uneven.
You can also follow us on Instagram and Pinterest for more air fryer baking tips and recipes.