This tall, soft cake in an air fryer is a simple and homemade recipe, perfect when I crave a wholesome dessert that can be prepared in a short time. It is made without milk and butter, with seed oil and vanilla extract, for a soft, fragrant, and light result. It is a genuine, tall, and soft cake that can also be prepared in a bundt pan, the kind that you slice and keep under a glass dome, ready to enjoy in the morning or afternoon with a cup of tea.
Over the years, I’ve learned that you don’t need to complicate things to get a good dessert. This cake, which is also great as a bundt cake in an air fryer, was born just like that: a few ingredients, a simple process, and a result that never disappoints. It is the classic pantry cake, made with ingredients we almost always have at home, perfect when you have little time but don’t want to give up on something homemade.
Since I started using the air fryer for desserts as well, I make it much more often. It’s a convenient solution, especially when it’s hot or when I don’t want to turn on the oven, yet it still gives me a well-cooked cake, soft inside and perfectly golden.
I bake it in my Philips Airfryer Series 2000, which I use a lot even for cakes. It allows me to check the baking through the window without opening the basket, avoiding temperature changes and ensuring even growth. It’s perfect even when I prepare the cake in a bundt pan, as it ensures reliable cooking and a consistently satisfying result.
If you love this type of breakfast and snack cakes, you can also find the grandma’s apple cake and the tenerina cake with a soft heart on the blog, two recipes I often make that alternate perfectly with this air fryer version.
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- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Very inexpensive
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 6
- Cooking methods: Electric Oven, Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Energy 325.39 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 43.08 (g) of which sugars 19.05 (g)
- Proteins 5.86 (g)
- Fat 15.30 (g) of which saturated 2.49 (g)of which unsaturated 11.92 (g)
- Fibers 0.78 (g)
- Sodium 35.94 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 97 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Ingredients for the soft cake in an air fryer
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup almond milk
- 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 package baking powder
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (grated)
- as needed sugar sprinkles (optional)
Useful tools
- Air Fryer
- Bowl
- Hand Whisk
- Mold 7 inches for air fryer
Procedure for the soft bundt cake in an air fryer
Start by breaking the eggs in a large bowl, add the sugar, and mix with a hand whisk until you get a light and well-blended mixture.
Slowly pour in the vegetable oil, continuing to mix, then add the milk at room temperature. The batter immediately becomes more fluid and homogeneous.
At this point, add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and mix again to distribute it evenly.
Incorporate the sifted flour with the baking powder, mixing gently until you have a smooth batter without lumps.
Pour the batter into a well-greased and floured 7-inch mold, leveling the surface.
Preheat the air fryer to 320°F for about 3–5 minutes, then insert the mold and bake the cake for 40–45 minutes. Before taking it out, always check the baking with a toothpick: it should come out dry.
Once cooked, let the cake cool slightly in the mold, then remove it and let it cool completely on a rack.
Storage and useful tips
This soft cake in an air fryer keeps very well at room temperature for 2–3 days, under a cake dome or well-covered with plastic wrap, maintaining its softness.
If it’s very hot, you can store it in the refrigerator for up to 4 days: before serving, I recommend leaving it at room temperature for about twenty minutes.
It can also be frozen in slices, wrapping them individually in plastic wrap and then in a food bag. When ready to use, just let it thaw slowly.
If you want a lighter surface, cover the cake with aluminum foil in the last few minutes of baking.
The same recipe can be baked in a bundt pan, slightly reducing the baking times.
For a more delicious version, you can add chocolate chips or a handful of chopped nuts.
Frequently Asked Questions for the soft cake in an air fryer
Can I use a larger mold?
Yes, but the cake will be lower and the baking times might be slightly reduced.
Can I replace the oil with butter?
Yes, you can use about 100 g of melted and cooled butter.
Is it suitable for those not familiar with an air fryer?
Yes, it is a simple and reliable recipe, perfect even for beginners.
Should the air fryer be preheated?
Yes, it is advisable to preheat it for 3–5 minutes at 320°F before inserting the mold, to promote uniform cake growth.
Can I also bake it in a traditional oven?
Yes, you can bake it in a static oven at 340–350°F for about 45–50 minutes, always doing the toothpick test.
