Can I Use an Air Fryer to Make Homemade Pastries?

What Kind of Pastries Does the Air Fryer Excel At Baking?

What Pastries Shouldn't I Bake in an Air Fryer?

Secrets to Successful Baking with an Air Fryer

Can I Use an Air Fryer to Make Homemade Pastries – Troubleshooting Common Issues

Equipment and Ingredients Needed for Air Fryer Baking

Conclusion: Find the Best Air Fryer at HYSapientia

Frequently Asked Questions about Using an Air Fryer for Homemade Pastries

 

Air fryers have become incredibly popular in recent years due to their ability to make many recipes faster and easier—after all, who doesn't love simple cooking? Besides air frying, air fryers can also bake, dehydrate, and even roast. Considering that air fryers are essentially small convection ovens, it’s not surprising that you can easily make cakes, muffins, and bread in a compact device. Air fryers are versatile, highly efficient, and perhaps most importantly, they are perfect for baking. Over the past year, we have written extensively about how to successfully bake various items in an air fryer, ranging from cakes to cookies to cheesecakes and more. To simplify air fryer baking, HYSapientia interviewed Food Network recipe developer and air fryer enthusiast Amanda Neal for the best tips and tricks for baking in an air fryer. Whether you don't have an oven or just want to keep things simple, these tips will help your baked goods turn out great.

 

For an overview of suggestions, tips, recipes, and more, you can read our previous posts.

 

Can I Use an Air Fryer to Make Homemade Pastries?

Wondering “Can we bake homemade pastries in an air fryer?” The secret lies in the air fryer’s rapid air technology, which circulates hot air to cook food evenly. When baking cakes, simply use an air fryer cake pan to ensure even heat distribution. Compared to traditional ovens, setting the air fryer to a lower temperature allows it to effectively bake homemade pastries.

 

The compact air fryer creates an ideal environment for baking, producing moist and evenly cooked cakes in less time. So, the answer is a resounding yes, you can bake homemade pastries in an air fryer. Some pastries might even turn out better!

 

Pastry chef Zoe Kanan made a life-changing discovery: baking chocolate cookies in an air fryer yields better results. As she wrote, “Air fryer cookies bake into stunningly crisp cookie shells that look roasted, but once you bite in, they have a melty, gooey, magical center. This is achieved because the intense drying heat and close air circulation cook and crisp the entire exterior of the cookies. A standard oven can't replicate this effect because the chamber is larger and the heating elements are farther away, meaning only the edges of the cookies become crisp while the top and middle stay soft.”

 

What Kind of Pastries Does the Air Fryer Excel At Baking?

• Any pastry that should be crispy (including granola bars!)
• Baked goods requiring a water bath, such as cheesecakes.
• Items where you want a contrast between a crispy exterior and a soft, luxurious interior, like dinner rolls or cinnamon bread. (Consider how the “fried” function cooks the outside rather than the inside.)
• Small batch baking. Want a few cookies but don’t want to heat the entire oven? Turn to the air fryer..

 

Other foods such as beignets, bread, muffins, and cupcakes are also excellent choices for air fryer baking. Just make sure all silicone cups or liners are heatproof. Some other favorites from the Food Network include banana bread, fried Oreos, baked Brie, and cinnamon rolls.

 

Note:

There are many options for baking in an air fryer, but some baked goods fare better than others or require special instructions. For example, cakes bake well in an air fryer, but you need to ensure the pan's depth does not exceed three inches. Cookies also bake well in an air fryer, but it's important to leave about an inch between each cookie and allow them to set for 1-2 minutes after cooking.

 

What Pastries Shouldn't I Bake in an Air Fryer?

While air fryers are highly versatile, not all pastries are suitable for baking in them. According to Neal, leave meringues and other delicate baked goods in a standard oven. The intense air circulation makes it very difficult to cook small and delicate items. She also suggests leaving doughnuts and batter-based foods to the deep fryer as they may dry out in an air fryer. Here are some pastries not recommended for air fryer baking and their reasons:

 

• Light and flaky pastries: Such as puff pastry and choux pastry

Reason: The high-speed air flow of an air fryer can deform or blow away these light pastries. Puff pastry needs even temperatures to rise in layers, which an air fryer's hot air may not provide uniformly.

 

• Large cakes: Such as pound cakes and marble cakes

Reason: The limited capacity of an air fryer may lead to uneven baking of large cakes. The center might remain undercooked while the outer layer becomes overcooked.

 

• Liquid batter pastries: Such as pancakes and waffles

Reason: An air fryer is not designed to handle liquid batters. These pastries need a flat heating surface, and the air fryer's mesh basket might cause the batter to leak or take on an undesirable shape.

 

• Pastries with a lot of cream or syrup: Such as cream pies and syrup-covered dessert

Reason: At high temperatures, cream and syrup can overly melt and drip to the bottom of the air fryer, making it difficult to clean and possibly causing smoke.

 

• Pastries requiring precise humidity control: Such as puddings and cheesecakes

Reason: These pastries need to be baked at low humidity and constant temperatures, which an air fryer may not provide, leading to cracked surfaces or poor texture.

 

• Very delicate pastries: Such as macarons

Reason: The high-speed air flow of an air fryer may ruin these delicate pastries, causing them to lose their proper shape and texture.

 

• Pastries requiring low-temperature long baking: Such as slow-baked meringues and dried fruit

Reason: Air fryers are typically designed for high-temperature quick cooking, not suitable for the low-temperature long baking that these pastries require for drying.

 

Secrets to Successful Baking with an Air Fryer

• Choose the right temperature and time

Lower the temperature by 25°F and reduce the baking time by 20% to 25% compared to conventional baking recipes.

 

• Properly preheat the air fryer

For any baked goods that heavily rely on chemical or yeast leavening agents (baking soda, baking powder, yeast, etc.), preheat the air fryer so they receive the initial heat to help rise.

 

• Avoid overfilling

Even distribution: Spread the pastries evenly in the basket, avoiding overlap or excessive stacking to ensure each piece is exposed to hot air.

Small batch baking: If you need to bake a large quantity, do it in batches, ensuring each batch has enough space and heat.

 

• Rotate and flip

Even heating: During baking, open the air fryer at appropriate intervals, and rotate or flip the pastries to ensure even heating.

Minimize openings: Reduce the frequency of opening the air fryer to maintain internal temperature stability.

 

• Apply oil or use baking paper

Non-stick treatment: Apply a thin layer of oil to the molds or basket, or use baking paper to prevent sticking and facilitate easy removal.

Healthy options: Choose healthy vegetable oils like olive oil or coconut oil, which are non-stick and health-friendly.

 

• Add water appropriately

Maintain moisture: For pastries that need to remain moist, place a small heat-resistant bowl with some water at the bottom of the air fryer to increase internal humidity.

Prevent drying: This method is particularly suitable for cakes and muffins to prevent excessive drying during baking.

 

• Select appropriate air fryer accessories

Typically, materials that are heat-resistant and used in conventional ovens can also be used in an air fryer. This means that high-quality, heat-resistant silicone, ceramic, and aluminum pans are possible choices for cooking in an air fryer. However, remember that size matters. You need to check the size of your air fryer to ensure your pans and tools fit (the most common suitable size includes an 8-inch round cake tin).

 

Can I Use an Air Fryer to Make Homemade Pastries – Troubleshooting Common Issues

When baking homemade pastries in an air fryer, you might encounter some minor issues. Here are some typical problems and solutions encountered during air fryer baking:

 

• Uneven browning: Rotate the air fryer cake pan during cooking to promote even browning.
• Moist bottom: If the bottom of the cake is uncooked or moist, try slightly increasing the temperature or placing the cake on a higher rack in the air fryer.
• Overbaking: If your cake continues to overbake, reduce the cooking time or lower the temperature for future attempts.
• Sunken cake: Ensure you are using the correct leavening agents and following the recipe instructions. Avoid opening the air fryer too early, as this may cause the cake to collapse.

 

Equipment and Ingredients Needed for Air Fryer Baking

Having the right equipment and ingredients is crucial when embarking on the delightful task of baking in an air fryer.

 

Equipment

 

• Air fryer: The primary appliance for this baking method.
• Air fryer cake pan:Essential for even baking inside the air fryer.
• Mixing bowls: For preparing the cake batter.
• Measuring cups and spoons:For accurate ingredient measurements.
• Mixer or whisk:To mix the batter thoroughly.
• Spatula: For scraping and spreading the batter.

 

Ingredients

 

• Flour:The basic ingredient for most cake recipes.
• Sugar: For sweetness and texture.
• Eggs: To bind ingredients and add structure.
• Butter or oil:For moisture and richness.
• Baking powder/soda: For leavening and rising.
• Vanilla extract: For enhanced flavor.
• Milk or water: To adjust the batter's consistency.

 

Conclusion: Find the Best Air Fryer at HYSapientia

In conclusion, for those who love homemade cakes but are short on time, the simplicity and convenience of air fryer baking make it a top choice for baking homemade pastries. Using the right air fryer cake pan is key to achieving perfect results. For those looking to explore this innovative baking method, we highly recommend the HYSapientia 24L Digital Large Air Fryer Oven 10-In-1 Toaster Oven. Known for its consistent performance and quality, it is currently the best-selling air fryer at HYSapientia. It's an excellent choice for anyone wanting to enter the world of air fryer baking. If you want to bake two kinds of homemade pastries simultaneously, you can choose the HYSapientia 22L Digital Dual Zone Air Fryer Oven With Rotisserie. The dual air fryer offers you a different experience. So, give it a try and transform your baking experience!

 

Frequently Asked Questions about Using an Air Fryer for Homemade Pastries

Q: Can an air fryer bake cakes?

 

Yes, you can bake cakes in an air fryer using the correct techniques and an appropriate air fryer cake pan.

 

Q: What are the benefits of baking in an air fryer?

 

Baking in an air fryer offers convenience, faster cooking times, and even baking results, making it a great alternative to traditional ovens.

 

Q: Do air fryers require special cake pans?

 

Yes, using air fryer cake pans is crucial for even heat distribution and optimal baking results in an air fryer.

 

Q: What is the typical baking time for cakes in an oven?

 

In a traditional oven, the typical baking time for cakes ranges from 25 to 45 minutes, depending on the cake size and recipe. The exact time varies based on factors like oven temperature and cake type (e.g., small sponge cakes bake faster than dense fruitcakes).

 

Q: How does baking time in an air fryer differ from an oven?

 

The baking time for cakes in an air fryer is generally shorter than in a traditional oven. Due to its efficient heat circulation, an air fryer can bake a cake in about 15 to 25 minutes. However, time adjustments are necessary based on the air fryer model and cake type.