Air Fryer Cupcakes. How to make delicious, moist, homemade cupcakes from scratch using the air fryer. Starting with homemade air fryer chocolate muffins that are loaded with an addictive buttercream topping. Along with several variations to mix and match favourite cupcake flavours.
We originally shared our air fryer cupcake recipes back in early 2016 and in 2017. This is the updated version with more air fryer cupcake ideas to try out in your air fryer.
Air Fryer Chocolate Cupcakes
The first time I ever tried chocolate cupcakes I absolutely hated them. I gave it away to my son as I just couldn’t finish it.
I mean, seriously this is me, the biggest chocolate addict to ever live and here I was finding a chocolate cupcake too sickly and unable to finish it!
We were at Disney World at the time and it was my first time in the United States.
I had always wanted to try a chocolate cupcake, but just hadn’t had the chance as there is not much call for such a thing here in Portugal. We are more like France and Spain and into pastries with lots of butter instead.
The reason I didn’t like it, is because here in Europe they just don’t add that much sugar to them and it was way richer in the sugar department than what I am used to. Nothing like the addictive cupcakes I have eaten many times in France.
Then I had a chance to test out another American’s chocolate cupcakes and found that they tasted amazing. I think I had just tried a bad one and the real deal was so much better.
Sorry Disney, I loved so much of your food, but hated your chocolate cupcakes!
It is a bit like air fryers. You follow a bad air fryer recipe and it puts you off your air fryer and you think it’s your fault.
Can You Air Fry Cupcakes?
Yes you can! After showing you our updated air fryer muffins yesterday, I wanted to show you how you can combine some of our popular air fryer recipes to bring you amazing air fryer cupcakes.
You cook the muffins in the air fryer first, then while the muffins are cooking you make your buttercream topping.
Then wait for the muffins to cool down before adding the buttercream.
Can You Use Paper Muffin Cups In An Air Fryer?
Yes you can. Paper muffin cups work well in an air fryer. Though I recommend if you have an air fryer with a mesh basket, that you have something good for it to rest on.
Or alternatively use silicone muffin cups in your air fryer basket.
Or you can use a muffin tray for your air fryer cupcakes and then stack a paper muffin cup in each of the holes.
Air Fryer Cupcake Ideas
The air fryer cupcake recipe that I will be showing you how to make today is air fryer chocolate cupcakes. But you do not have to stop there. Just think of ANY of your favourite cupcake recipes and they can be converted to the air fryer.
Or here are a few favourites in the Milner house that we have made in the air fryer many times:
Air Fryer Key Lime Cupcakes
What I do is use a vanilla base and the same mixture I use when I make vanilla mug cakes. But instead I add in the rind and juice of 6 limes. Then add in extra lime juice to the buttercream. The buttercream is not as thick because of the lime juice but still tastes good.
Air Fryer Strawberry Cupcakes
Add strawberry food colouring to your buttercream and you have the strawberry look. Blend a frozen strawberry into your buttercream and you will a subtle strawberry flavour too. You can choose a vanilla base for your cupcake or use our air fryer chocolate cake as inspiration.
Air Fryer Cheesecake Cupcakes
The best of them all is all about Valentines day and having something romantic to share while you binge on Netflix together. I used my chocolate cake base but added in a little red food colouring to give it that red velvet look. Then topped it with our air fryer cheesecake mix and then cooked it for the last 3 minutes with the cheesecake topping added. Then decorate your cupcakes and enjoy.
Air Fryer Banana Cupcakes
Or go with our vanilla mug cake recipe, then blend in a banana. Then for the buttercream add in a banana and some yellow food colouring for the ultimate air fryer banana cupcakes.
Any of these air fryer cupcake recipe ideas carry the same cook times as our air fryer chocolate cupcakes below. You are just adding to or tweaking the muffin base you are using and the buttercream topping. But the principles are the same and you can easily mix and match.
How To Make Cupcakes In Air Fryer?
The quick version of air fryer cupcakes goes as follows:
- Mix muffin batter in a bowl.
- Load cake batter into cupcake cases.
- Air fry and allow to cool.
- Make your chocolate buttercream.
- Add buttercream topping and eat.
There is a little more to it than that, but those are the simple basics!
Air Fryer Cupcakes
Ingredients
Cupcake Ingredients:
- 400 g Self Raising Flour
- 450 g Caster Sugar
- 50 g Cocoa Powder
- 200 g Butter room temperature
- 4 Medium Eggs
- 1 Tbsp Vanilla Essence
- 480 ml Skimmed Milk
- 1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Chocolate Buttercream Ingredients:
- 230 g Butter
- 420 g Icing Sugar
- 45 g Cocoa Powder
- 3 Tbsp Single Cream
- 2 Tsp Vanilla Essence
- 1 Tbsp Maple Syrup
Instructions
- In a bowl add butter and sugar and using your hand mixer, mix the butter into the sugar. Crack eggs into the bowl, add vanilla essence, add extra virgin olive oil, and mix again with your hand mixer. Once it is creamy add in cocoa powder, flour and milk and mix with a wooden spoon. Don’t use a hand mixer as it will over mix it. If it is too thick adjust with a little more skimmed milk or water.
- Pour into muffin cups and cook your chocolate cupcakes in the air fryer for 12 minutes at 160c/320f. Put to one side and allow to cool.
- While it cools make your chocolate buttercream. Using your hand mixer mix the icing sugar into the butter. Add in other ingredients and carry on mixing until you have a creamy buttercream. Fridge while your cupcakes cool.
- Grab your piping bag from the bottom and make a fist. Then open it over your hand so you have a funnel shape. Then with your other hand spoon your mixture into the piping bag. But before this make sure you have added the right nozzle for piping otherwise you need to start again, and it is very messy. Then when nearly full grab the top of the piping bag and twist it tight, gently squeeze to let any air out then squeeze with gentle pressure and swirl it on top
Notes
Nutrition
Can’t make it now? Then pin it for later!
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It truly is the best chocolate cupcakes and was told that all three times I’ve made it (in the last 2 weeks – obsessive I know. Promise they were celebrations that needed cupcakes)
Genuinely the best chocolate cupcakes ive ever had!
Thank you for the wonderful cupcake recipe. Made it today and I doubt there will be any left tonight. Can’t wait to try more of your recipes!