The air fryer apple cake with butter is one of those desserts that never go out of style: soft, fragrant, and with that homely taste that reminds you of grandma’s snacks. In this version, prepared with butter and cooked in air fryer, we combine tradition with the more practical side of modern cooking. The butter, the star of the batter, gives a soft and velvety texture, while the air fryer cooking allows you to achieve a golden and crispy result in less time than a traditional oven and with less energy consumption.
Perfect for breakfast, snack, or as a dessert after a meal, this apple cake is also a great idea when you have little time but want to bring a homemade dessert to the table that will win everyone over. Its enveloping scent will fill the kitchen after just a few minutes of cooking, enticing anyone to slice a piece.
One of the great advantages of the air fryer is its versatility: you can bake cakes, bread, pizza, and even meat or fish, with reduced times and excellent results. In this recipe, we will use a 20 cm pan to perfectly fit the batter to the basket’s capacity, ensuring even baking and a tall and fluffy cake.
“SPECIAL: Guide to the best air fryers“
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4/6 people
- Cooking methods: Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons, Fall, Winter
Ingredients for the Air Fryer Apple Cake with Butter:
- 2 medium apples
- 150 g all-purpose flour
- 100 g granulated sugar
- 2 medium eggs (at room temperature)
- 70 g melted butter
- 1/3 cup milk (at room temperature)
- 8 g baking powder
- 1 pinch fine salt
- 1 lemon (zest grated and juice)
- to taste ground cinnamon (optional)
- to taste granulated sugar (for the apples)
- to taste granulated sugar
Tools for the Air Fryer Apple Cake with Butter:
- 1 Bowl glass
- 1 Manual Whisk
- 1 Air Fryer cecotec
- 2 Bowls
- 1 Knife
- 1 Cake Pan springform 8 inch
Steps for Preparing and Cooking the Air Fryer Apple Cake with Butter:
Cut one apple in half, remove the core, peel it, then slice it thinly and place in a bowl. Add half the lemon juice, a tablespoon of granulated sugar, mix well, and let it rest while you prepare the cake.
Take the other apple, cut it into 4 parts, remove the core and peel, then cut it into small pieces. Place it in a bowl, add the remaining lemon juice, about 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar, and mix well.
In a large bowl, put the eggs with the granulated sugar and whisk well, using an electric whisk if you want to speed up the process. Then add the milk (dairy or plant-based), melted butter, and mix well. Add half of the grated lemon zest and cinnamon if desired. Mix the ingredients well and finally add the flour with the sifted baking powder.
Mix well until you get a smooth and homogenous batter. Then add the chopped apple pieces (do not add the liquid that formed) and mix well.
Place a disc of parchment paper at the base of an 8-inch springform pan, butter and flour the sides, pour in the batter, level it well, and add the apple slices arranged in a radial pattern.
Sprinkle generously with granulated sugar.
Preheat the air fryer to 320°F for 3 minutes, then bake the cake at 320°F for approximately 30 minutes. We used a dual-heating air fryer, and 30 minutes was sufficient. If using a single-heating element air fryer, increase the baking time by about 5 minutes or until golden and dry with the toothpick test. If it darkens too much, cover well with aluminum foil.
Let the cake cool slightly before removing from the pan.
Baking in a traditional oven:
Static oven: 350°F for approximately 45/50 minutes
Convection oven: 330°F for about 40/45 minutes.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
What apples are best suited for this recipe?
Golden, Fuji, or Renette apples are perfect: they maintain sweetness and texture during baking.
Is it necessary to preheat the air fryer or the oven?
Yes, in both cases: preheating to 320°F for the air fryer and to the indicated temperature for the oven ensures even cooking.
How can I prevent the cake’s surface from darkening too much?
If it darkens too quickly, cover the pan with aluminum foil halfway through baking and continue until the indicated time is reached.
Can I substitute butter with oil?
Yes, you can replace 70 g of butter with about 1/4 cup of vegetable oil, but the flavor will be slightly different and less rich.
How long does the apple cake with butter keep?
It stays soft for 2-3 days under a cake dome at room temperature, or in the refrigerator if it is very warm.
