Super Easy Air Fryer Cake

Air Fryer Cake is incredibly easy to make! Prepped in 10 minutes and baked in 30, I’m using cake mix to make it even easier. Light, fluffy, and full of rich chocolate flavor, you’re going to want to keep this air fryer cake recipe on hand for birthday parties, sleepovers, holidays, and more!

Air Fryer Cake

It’s no secret that I love cooking and baking — I wouldn’t have this blog if I didn’t!

But just like everyone else, sometimes I don’t feel like spending hours on end in the kitchen.

For lazy moments like those, I rely heavily on my slow cooker, Instant Pot, and air fryer.

While I often use my air fryer to make homemade potato chips and fries, it also really comes in handy when I have an event to go to (or I’m having people over) and I need to whip up a dessert FAST.

I’ve already used it to make oatmeal cookies, apple hand pies, and s’mores, which made me wonder… can you bake a cake in an air fryer?

The answer is yes, you can make air fryer cake!

You can use this recipe with any type of boxed cake mix you’d like — I’m doing chocolate cake because it’s Chad and Munchkin’s favorite.

You’ll need minimal ingredients to make it, plus you’ll find my recipe for homemade chocolate frosting too. 

Ingredient Notes and Substitutions

• Cake Mix – As mentioned, I’m using chocolate cake mix… by Betty Crocker to be exact. Feel free to use your favorite brand and flavor.
  
  The sky is the limit with this air fryer cake recipe!
  
• Water, Vegetable Oil & Eggs – All boxed cake mixes are different, but most require water, vegetable oil, and eggs to form the batter.
  
  Be sure to carefully read the directions on yours to determine exactly what you’ll need.
  
• Butter – You’ll need 1 stick of softened butter to make the homemade frosting. Opt for unsalted for this recipe.
  
• Powdered Sugar – I like using powdered sugar instead of granulated as it guarantees a super smooth texture for the frosting.
  
• Cocoa Powder & Vanilla – To add flavor to the frosting, I use cocoa powder and pure vanilla extract.
  
• Heavy Cream – Also for that frosting! You can use half-and-half if you’d like, or even whole milk in a pinch.

Tips and Tricks to Make Cake in Air Fryer

• All air fryers are different.

Not all air fryers are created equally! I found that with my model, 320°F was the perfect temperature to bake an air fryer cake.

Keep an eye on your cake in air fryer as it bakes — at around the 15-minute mark, check to see if it’s browning too quickly. If it is, cover it with a bit of foil. 

You may have to experiment a little bit to determine the proper temp and cooking time!

• Prep the baking dish with care.

I like to prep my baking dish with a combination of air fryer-safe cooking spray and parchment paper.

I find that when I use both, I don’t have to worry about any sticking. 

I think we’ve all had moments when we neglected to use spray and parchment… things can quickly get messy (and fall apart), so take the extra few minutes to prep!

• Be patient and let your cake cool!

I recommend leaving your air fryer cake recipe in the pan for at least 15 minutes before transferring it to a wire rack.

This allows it to set completely and cool a bit before adding the homemade frosting!

Speaking of frosting, if you have a very warm kitchen, feel free to place the cake in the fridge or the freezer to chill before adding it. It’s so much easier to frost this way!

• Add the frosting ingredients slowly.

I only add half of the powdered sugar to the other ingredients at a time to prevent mess. I find that if I do it all at once, most of it goes flying out of the bowl as I mix!

Prep Ahead

• Preheat the air fryer to 320°F
• Prep the baking pan with cooking spray and parchment paper
• Leave the butter out to soften

Kitchen Tools You Will Need

• Air Fryer – Remember, different brands and sizes may require different cooking times, so be familiar with your model and make adjustments as needed.
• Mixing Bowls – I like to have a variety of sizes on hand, and this set has them all.
• Electric Hand Mixer – I’ve had this one in my kitchen forever, and it still works beautifully.
• 7-inch round baking pan lined with parchment paper.
• Offset Spatula – This spatula has so many uses and is perfect for smoothing the frosting on top of your air fryer cake.

Serving Suggestions

I like double chocolate cake, which is why I’m using homemade chocolate frosting. 

You could also use this pumpkin spice latte version for a fun fall treat, decadent Butterfinger-inspired brownie frosting, or my creamy and light Italian meringue buttercream instead! 

Storing, Freezing, and Reheating

Leftovers will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. Storing it in the fridge extends its shelf life! 

You can also freeze the cake (without frosting!) for up to 2-3 months. Let it cool completely before placing it in a freezer-safe airtight container.

Let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating it.

Use your microwave or air fryer at 300°F to reheat — if using the microwave, reheat in 30-second bursts until warmed through. It will take about 3-5 minutes in the air fryer.

Air Fryer Cake Recipe FAQ

Enjoy!
With love, from our simple kitchen to yours. 

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Originally published February 2024

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