Easy Air Fryer Cake
Bake a delectably soft, moist cake in your air fryer with this straightforward recipe! No oven required—just speedy, scrumptious outcomes every time. Try it today and indulge yourself!
*This article may includeaffiliate links to products I find helpful while preparing this recipe. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from eligible purchases.*
I was really eager to create an air fryer cake recipe. I adore my air fryer, and I enjoy cake. Hence, I wanted to give it a shot.
However, I can’t bake round cakes, so a round air fryer sponge cake recipe probably wasn’t the most prudent choice, but my loaf tin didn’t fit.
Truth be told, I can. Still, I’m not the most skilled baker in the world, and I’ve faced all sorts of problems with sinking and cracking, and I typically only bake them when preparing a birthday cake. The rest of the time, I make loaf cakes.
They are easier, you can do a lot with a basic recipe, and they consistently work!
As for the air fryer itself, I doubt that the method of circulating hot air is suitable for baking an evenly fluffy sponge cake.
Thus, it took some time to perfect the approach, and spoiler alert, it’s still not particularly uniform.
Nonetheless, it is airy and fluffy, delectable, and if your air fryer has thoroughly dominated your kitchen and you haven’t touched your oven in ages, this is the perfect air fryer cake recipe.
Why This Air Fryer Cake Recipe Appeals to Me
This air fryer Victoria sponge recipe is delightful because:
- A Victoria sponge is incredibly straightforward and an excellent starting point if you are attempting air fryer baking for the first time.
- Once you have it right, you can begin experimenting with flavors, perhaps trying an air fryer chocolate cake. Most of my cakes adhere to a simple recipe with additions or modifications.
- It’s light and airy.
- It’s not overly heavy or dense; the ideal afternoon treat.
- This is the closest I’ve come to an even top!
Ingredients For Air Fryer Cake
This Air Fryer Cake follows a basic Victoria sponge recipe. I utilize:
Caster Sugar
Margarine – Feel free to substitute it for unsalted butter at room temperature.
Eggs
Vanilla Extract
Self-Raising Flour
Baking Powder – I don’t incorporate baking powder when preparing a sponge cake with self-raising flour in the oven. But I believe the cake requires some additional support in the air fryer.
For the filling, I use:
Butter – You can exchange margarine
for margarine in the sponge, yet I wouldn’t swap it for the buttercream filling. This ought to be prepared using unsalted margarine for a rich flavor and a firm consistency. Margarine lacks stability.
Confectioners Sugar
Dairy
Spread
You’ll find that in the recipe, I create buttercream utilizing equal portions of margarine and confectioners sugar.
Generally, individuals opt for one part margarine to two parts confectioners sugar for a sweeter taste.
I favor the silky buttery version, which requires a dash of dairy to become spreadable.
Essential Items
You will require a sizable mixing bowl and whisk. Currently, I’m using a manual whisk since my electric whisk is out of commission. Either works, but the electric one is quicker.
Next, for baking your air fryer cake, you need two pans or molds that fit your drawer/air fryer basket comfortably. I utilize 6-inch silicone molds (affiliate link), which function well in my appliance.
Additionally, you’ll need a cover for your cake. Foil works, though a metal pot lid is preferable. Read more about this in my tips below.
Keep in mind, if your device is bigger or smaller, your pans differ, or you’re not making a six-inch cake, this time and temperature may not be suitable.
Steps to Create An Air Fryer Cake – Detailed Instructions
Comprehensive, straightforward instructions and measurements are available in the recipe card at the end of this post.
Step One
Blend the margarine and granulated sugar until blended.
Step Two
Incorporate the eggs, whisking one at a time.
Step Three
Whisk in the essence of vanilla.
Step Four
Sift the flour and leavening agent into the mixture.
Step Five
Whisk until the mixture is smooth.
Step Six
Preheat your air fryer to 160 degrees Celsius and set the timer for 25 minutes.
Step Seven
Equally divide the cake batter between two pans or molds and distribute evenly.
Step Eight
Insert the first cake into the air fryer (if your appliance has a large enough drawer or two baskets, you can bake both simultaneously, but avoid placing one on top of the other with a rack) and bake for 10 minutes.
Step Nine
After 10 minutes, pull the drawer and tightly cover the pan with foil or a heatproof metal lid.
A metal lid is the superior choice.
Step Ten
Return to the air fryer for another 15 minutes.
Step Eleven
Remove the cover and utilize a skewer to confirm that the cake’s center is baked. If it isn’t, place it back into the air fryer, covering and checking every few minutes.
Step Twelve
Once your air fryer cake is done, take it out and allow it to cool while still in the pan.
Step Thirteen
Reset the air fryer and repeat the process with the second cake, extending the baking time if necessary based on the first cake.
Step Fourteen
Beat the margarine to soften it for the buttercream.
Step Fifteen
Add the confectioners sugar and blend until it’s smooth.
Step Sixteen
If the mixture appears too thick, incorporate a tablespoon of dairy and blend until it’s spreadable, adding more if required.
Step Seventeen
Once the cakes are chilled, gently take them out of the pans, and level off one of the cakes using a leveller or a sharp blade. Precision isn’t essential.
Step Eighteen
Generously cover the leveled cake with buttercream.
Step Nineteen
Invert the other cake and spread the flat underside liberally with spread.
Step Twenty
Position this cake atop the other so that the spread and buttercream are nestled in between.
Step Twenty-One
Dust with confectioners sugar to complete.
Prime Suggestions
Baking in an air fryer is delightful and there are numerous reasons why one might opt to use their air fryer for baking.
However, to be truthful, the entire blowing hot air aspect doesn’t naturally suit baking, especially when attempting to create light and airy sponge cakes.
My advice for the flawless air fryer cake includes:
Keep It Straightforward
Even if you are an expert baker, I advise maintaining simplicity with fundamental recipes such as this air fryer sponge cake.
The more components involved, the greater the chances of mishaps!
Select
the Appropriate Tin
You desire a tin that fits comfortably within your air fryer. I utilize 6-inch silicone molds that suit my device, and while I generally favor baking larger cakes in metal tins (as metal transfers heat more effectively), I’ve discovered that these silicone varieties perform best in my air fryer.
Don’t Stress About the Bake Setting
I avoid using the bake setting in this recipe as not all air fryers are equipped with one. If yours includes this feature, it merely serves as a pre-set for time and temperature. It doesn’t actually alter the cooking process.
Cover with Foil – Cautiously
The air frying method is, in my opinion, rather intense. It’s intended to be quick to conserve time and energy. However, that’s not truly what you seek for a cake.
It cooks the exterior considerably quicker than the center, so caution is necessary.
The top would almost certainly burn if I air-fried a cake uncovered for 25 minutes.
Thus, I air fry my cakes uncovered for 10 minutes and then covered for 15 minutes.
However, again, foil isn’t optimal with all that air whooshing around. You can’t merely lay it on top lightly as you would in an oven; it will blow around fiercely, potentially leaving the cake exposed.
So, ensure you scrunch it around the edges of the tin to anchor it securely.
But a Lid is Preferable
If you possess a heat-resistant metal lid that fits your cake tin, this is even more advantageous, as it will be substantial enough to remain in place.
This is a much more favorable choice since taking the time to secure foil means that your drawer is open for a while, allowing the temperature in your machine to drop.
Placing a lid on top is much swifter. Just ensure it’s heat-resistant.
Try New Things
It has taken me some time to finalize a recipe and timing that works for me.
This recipe may not be effective if your tins differ, the size of your device is varied, or if there’s more extraneous space for the air to circulate.
Begin with this recipe, but play around with times and temperatures until you discover a method that suits you.
Serving Recommendations
You may present this cake just as it is in generous thick slices.
Alternatives
Fill It with Cream
You’ll have noticed that I create a Victoria sponge with buttercream rather than the more conventional cream.
This is due to my son’s dislike for cream.
If you favor fresh cream, however, feel free to use this instead.
Change the Jam
On the day I snapped photos for this recipe, I prepared my air fryer Victoria sponge with Damson Jam, which is delightful. I also use strawberry and raspberry, though. Choose your favorite.
Level the Surface
If the top of your cake is cracked or quite uneven, don’t fret; the center should remain fluffy and light.
I typically just sprinkle it with icing sugar to cover imperfections, but if you wish, you can level this cake off and embellish the top.
Piping with buttercream would create a splendid appearance.
Remaining Portions
There’s really no such thing as leftover cake; let’s be truthful here!
Preservation
Keep your air fryer sponge cake in a sealed container or lidded cake stand at room temperature for 2-3 days.
Unless your kitchen is exceedingly warm, it doesn’t need refrigeration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can indeed bake a cake in an air fryer.
An air fryer oven is suitable for baking cakes, although they might not achieve the same evenness as those baked in a traditional oven.
Yes, provided it fits, any ovenproof pan, dish, or tin can be used in the air fryer.
The bake setting on an air fryer functions as a preset for time and temperature, eliminating the need for manual programming.
I air fry this cake for 25 minutes. It may require up to 30 depending on your tin and the available space inside your appliance.
Additional Recipes
If this air fryer cake recipe appeals to you, you may want to try some of my other air fryer creations.
Recipe Card
Air Fryer
Cake
Author Name
Savor the traditional British delicacy with our air fryer Victoria sponge cake recipe. Uncover the method to craft a light and airy sponge cake utilizing your air fryer. Relish a contemporary twist on tradition with this exquisite dessert.
- 175 g Caster Sugar
- 175 g Margarine (Or unsalted butter at room temperature)
- 3 Large Eggs
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 175 g Self-Raising Flour
- 1 Teaspoon Baking Powder
For the Filling:
- 75 g Unsalted Butter (at room temperature)
- 75 g Icing Sugar
- 1 Tablespoon Milk (I prefer semi-skimmed)
- 2 Tablespoons Jam
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Blend together the margarine and superfine sugar until uniform.
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Add the eggs one by one while whisking.
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Incorporate the vanilla.
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Sift the flour and baking powder into the mixture.
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Mix until combined.
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Warm up your air fryer to 160 degrees C and schedule it for 25 minutes.
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Distribute the batter evenly between two tins and smooth it out.
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Insert the first tin into the air fryer and cook for 10 minutes.
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After 10 minutes, pull out the drawer and shield the tin with foil or a heat-safe metal lid. If you opt for foil, ensure it’s secured to prevent it from blowing away.
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Put it back in the air fryer for the remaining 15 minutes.
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Take off the cover and use a skewer to check if the center of the cake is done. If it’s not, place it back in the air fryer, covering and checking every few minutes.
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When it’s fully baked, extract it from the air fryer and allow it to cool in the tin.
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Reset the air fryer settings and repeat with the second cake.
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Beat the butter until soft for the buttercream.
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Add the confectioner’s sugar and blend until smooth.
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Should the mixture be overly thick, incorporate a tablespoon of milk and stir until it becomes spreadable.
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After the cakes have cooled, take them out of the tins and use a leveler or sharp knife to even off one of the cakes.
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Spread buttercream on the leveled cake.
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Invert the other cake and generously spread the flat base with jam.
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Position this cake atop the other so that the jam and buttercream are sandwiched in between.
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To finish, dust with icing sugar.
- If utilizing metal tins, ensure to grease or line them with baking parchment. Greasing silicone is optional, but usually unnecessary.
- You can bake both cakes at the same time if your air fryer has dual drawers or a single large drawer.
- A metal lid from a saucepan makes the best cover – it doesn’t flutter like foil, and can be placed on quickly, helping to maintain a steady temperature.
- Check the above post for additional tips and recommendations.
Any nutritional details provided are meant as a rough guide and may not be completely accurate. The information is generated using an online calculator and is specific to my ingredients. Please calculate your own values if you require exact figures.
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