This air fryer apple cake is lightly spiced with cinnamon and studded with chunks of apple, giving in a soft, moist sponge with a golden top, sweetened with a drizzle of honey.
It is possible to bake beautiful cakes in the air fryer and the results are just as satisfying as oven-baked cakes, but there is a special knack to it.
For example, you must use a small tin to allow adequate air circulation.
A 6-inch tin is the perfect size for most air fryer baskets, but you can adapt the recipe to suit your own equipment - just be sure to check the cake is set in the centre before cooling.
The batter comes together quickly with just a bowl and a whisk.
Creaming the butter and sugar gives the cake structure, the eggs bind and lend richness, and folding in the flour helps keep the texture light.
Using a firm green eating apple means the pieces keep a little of their shape after baking, giving the crumb an occasional burst of juicy, fruity flavour.
The cinnamon adds a hint of warmth without overpowering the apple, and the honey glaze at the end helps keep the surface soft while adding a delicate sheen.
When it's time to bake, you must preheat your air fryer and cover the tin with foil to ensure it cooks evenly all the way through. It's a simple trick that makes a huge difference.
Removing the foil towards the end gives it a gently golden finish on top.
This lovely little apple cake is ideal for serving with a cup of tea, and can be enjoyed with a spoonful of vanilla ice cream, a dollop of Greek yoghurt or a drizzle cream.
It’s delicious warm, but also keeps well for a few days in an airtight container.
If you like, you can stir a handful of chopped walnuts into the batter for extra texture, or swap the cinnamon for mixed spice for a slightly more festive flavour.
Since there's no need to put the oven on, I think this is the perfect in-a-hurry cake to make if you have guests or just fancy something comforting and simple with very little hands on effort.
Read on for the full recipe with detailed instructions and a helpful photograph for every step. And if you have any questions, just leave me a comment. Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 100 g (3.5 oz) white caster sugar superfine sugar
- 75 g (2.6 oz) salted butter room temperature
- 2 medium free-range eggs
- 100 g (3.5 oz) self-raising white flour self rising flour sieved
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) cinnamon
- 1 large green eating apple peeled and cubed
- 2 tbsp runny honey
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Silicone spatula (or wooden spoon)
- 6-inch round baking tin
- Greaseproof paper
Instructions
Grease your tin and line the base with greaseproof paper.
Put the butter and sugar in a large bowl.
Whisk together until creamy.
Add the eggs.
Whisk in.
Add the flour and cinnamon.
Fold through.
Add the chopped apple.
Fold through.
Spoon the batter into the tin and level off.
Cover the top of the tin with foil.
Preheat the air fryer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Mine defaults to 200C for 4 minutes.
Place the cake tin in the air fryer basket, set it to 150C and bake for 60 minutes, removing the foil top for the final 10 minutes.
Mix the 2 tbsp honey with 1 tsp freshly boiled water and spoon all over the cake.
Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
Cut into wedges with a sharp knife to serve.
Drizzle on some extra honey, if you like.
Once you've given my recipe a go, I'd love you to come back and leave a comment letting me know how yours turned out.
I'd love to see your videos and pics, too! Just tag me on social media. I'm @emilylearycooks on Twitter and TikTok or @amummytoo on Instagram.
Print this Air Fryer Apple Cake Recipe
Air Fryer Apple Cake Recipe
Ingredients
- 100 g (3.5 oz) white caster sugar superfine sugar
- 75 g (2.6 oz) salted butter room temperature
- 2 medium free-range eggs
- 100 g (3.5 oz) self-raising white flour self rising flour sieved
- 1/2 tsp (0.5 tsp) cinnamon
- 1 large green eating apple peeled and cubed
- 2 tbsp runny honey
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Silicone spatula (or wooden spoon)
- 6-inch round baking tin
- Greaseproof paper
Instructions
- Grease your tin and line the base with greaseproof paper.
- Put the butter and sugar in a large bowl and whisk together until creamy.
- Slowly add the beaten eggs while mixing.
- Add the flour and cinnamon and fold through.
- Fold in the chopped apples.
- Spoon the batter into the tin and level off.
- Cover the top of the tin with foil.
- Preheat the air fryer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Mine defaults to 200C for 4 minutes.
- Place the cake tin in the air fryer basket, set it to 150C and bake for 60 minutes, removing the foil top for the final 10 minutes.
- Skewer the top, mix the 2 tbsp honey with 1 tsp freshly boiled water and spoon all over the cake.
- Leave to cool completely on a wire rack.
- Cut into wedges with a sharp knife to serve. Drizzle on some extra honey, if you like.
Nutrition
More air fryer dessert recipes to try
Have you got my book?
'This is a great kids cookery book. Emily is a star' - Simon Rimmer
'The book I'd like to force into any mother's kitchen' - Prue Leith
"A fab book with a plan." - Jane Devonshire, 2016 Masterchef UK winner
'Emily has managed to combine her mummy knowledge and passion for food to make a truly helpful and brilliant cookbook' - Priya Tew, RD, BSc (Hons), Msc
Get Your Kids to Eat Anything is an achievable 'how to' for parents in the battle to overcome picky eating and 'make new the norm'. Emily Leary's unique 5-phase programme looks at the issue of 'fussy eating' in a holistic way that links imagination with food, and which situates parents alongside - not in opposition to - their children.
Leave a Reply