In recent years, many home cooks have experimented with all sorts of recipes to answer the question of “What else can you make in an air fryer?” and share their discoveries and gorgeously browned creations. Apparently, baked goods count among such recipes since air frying is a genius method for creating crispy yet gooey and fluffy desserts and pastries that are a class of their own.
Best types of recipes to make in an air fryer
Air fryers are a sensible stand-in for traditional oven baking because they are not fryers in the first place but miniature convection ovens with some minor adjustments. As such, air frying can cook – and bake – much faster to achieve the same outcome compared to other methods.
Since air fryers are just small convection ovens, that means you can bake a wide range of recipes with them. According to the many other bakers who have taken the plunge, they have achieved great success with doughnuts, pies, pizzas, cobblers, brownies, and cakes.
If you haven’t caught on yet, baking with an air fryer is well suited for baked goods that taste best with contrasting interiors and exteriors, i.e. plush and soft-bellied on the inside yet fully baked on the outside. Think brownies, chocolate chip cookies, breads, and even Basque-style cheesecakes.
Types of recipes to beware
- Butter or oil-based cakes
Consistent and evenly baked goods, such as classic butter or oil-based cakes, can be more challenging to get right with air frying since following a recipe may lead to a cooked exterior but raw interior. In contrast, extending the baking time will cook the inside at the cost of charring the outside. Hence, it is best to skip trying to reduce a recipe for a more even bake but instead pivot towards cakes specifically created for air fryer baking. These eliminate the guesswork of making adjustments since they are generally scaled to fit in 6″ cake pans.
- Recipes that expand in size or height
Any recipe that expands significantly in height or size (think yeast bread and croissants) can prove tricky unless you have taller air fryer baskets with enough room for the dough to rise. If your current air fryer is on the smaller side, it is best to stick to everyday loaves of bread like peasant bread.
General tips for air fryer baking success
1. Reduce the baking time and temperature called for in the recipe
The first rule of thumb when baking with an air fryer is to lower the baking time by 20% to 25% and temperature by 25°F than what a recipe requires. This is echoed by many bakers with experience in air fryer baking to adjust to the new appliance and ensure your baked goods come out right – after all, you wouldn’t want your bakes to turn out too dry or burnt!
2. Preheating depends on the recipe
Oven baking almost always requires you to preheat the oven. But just because air fryers are smaller than traditional ovens and heat up more quickly does not mean you never need to preheat it before baking. In truth, preheating will largely depend on what and how you intend to bake with an air fryer.
For example, cookies turn out great no matter what, but other pastries will require a heated environment for the best results, especially those that rely on heat to rise, turn brown, and become flaky. In short, preheating is generally recommended for cakes and recipes that heavily rely on chemical leaveners for their light and airy texture, like quickbreads.
3. Look to your air fryer booklet for recipes and inspiration
Preheating an air fryer remains subjective among bakers, so it’s best to take into account the recipes you’re baking along with their textural and structural implications and go from there. Also, try out the recipes that come with your air fryer (if any) and observe how the manufacturer’s recommendations come out. From there, start branching out to similar recipes, pan sizes, and techniques of your own.
Conclusion
Substituting your oven for an air fryer is the simplest way to whip up cookies, biscuits, or any small amount of full-sized treats. With this knowledge, you can kiss your nightly cravings goodbye.
While baking with an air fryer is easier, the prep time may still be a formidable obstacle when you don’t have the energy to busy yourself in the kitchen. Thankfully, you can always rely on online pastry delivery in Singapore whenever you’re hankering for some yummy baked treats. At Polar Puffs & Cakes, we have all your favourites fresh out of the oven and ready to be delivered at a moment’s notice, so feel free to browse our website and get your sugar fix in minutes!
