25 delicious desserts you can make in an air fryer

Sugary-sweet air fryer treats

Your air fryer isn't just for cooking chicken nuggets and French fries. Think of it as a mini convection oven and you'll discover a whole new world of recipes to try, from roast dinners and savoury snacks to – believe it or not – sweet treats and desserts. In fact, an air fryer can bake cookies, cakes and pies quicker and more cheaply than a conventional oven. Trust us, they'll be just as delicious!

Discover 25 delectable desserts and sweet treats you can make in your air fryer.

Berry crumble

Who could resist a warm fruit crumble with custard or whipped cream? To serve four, you'll need either a baking dish that will fit inside your air fryer, or four ramekins. Heat the air fryer to 180ºC (350ºF). Put 1lb (450g) mixed berries (frozen, but thawed, are fine) into the dish, then stir in 2 tbsp caster sugar. Air fry for five minutes. For the topping, whiz up 1.5oz (45g) butter with 3 tbsp plain flour in a blender until it forms fine crumbs, then add 3.5oz (100g) granola and pulse for a minute. The mixture should still be a bit chunky. Stir in 2.5oz (75g) caster sugar. Sprinkle over the fruit, then air fry for six to seven minutes until crisp and golden. Leave to stand for a couple of minutes before serving.

Chocolate fondant

Complete with a soft, gooey centre, these hot chocolate puddings are the perfect dessert for two. To make them, you'll need two ramekins, brushed with melted butter and dusted with flour. Melt 2oz (60g) butter with 1.5oz (45g) dark chocolate and 1 tbsp liqueur, such as rum or Tia Maria. Whisk one egg white until it forms soft peaks. Whisk two egg yolks with 2 tbsp caster sugar until mousse-like. With a balloon whisk, fold the melted chocolate and egg white into the egg yolks. Pour into the ramekins and air fry at 200ºC (400ºF) for 10 minutes.

Nectarine galette

This fruit galette is a free-form tart, so you won't need to line a tin to make it. Instead, you'll need a flat baking tray or the base of a cake tin. Put the baking tray on a 'sling' of folded foil; this will make it easier to put in, then remove, the galette. Slice four nectarines, then stir in 2 tsp cornflour and 2 tbsp caster sugar. Take a 9in (23cm) circle of shortcrust pastry, place on the baking tray, then put the fruit in the centre, leaving a 1.5in (4cm) border. Fold in the pastry edges, then brush the pastry with beaten egg or milk. Heat the air fryer to 180ºC (350ºF) and bake for 20 minutes. The fruit should be bubbling, and the crust golden – if not, cook for a few minutes further.

Profiteroles

If you open freeze pre-prepared choux buns on trays lined with baking paper, you can cook them in the air fryer from frozen (or bag them up until you're ready to bake). For the pastry, melt 1.75oz (50g) butter, add 5fl oz (150ml) water and a pinch of sea salt, then bring to the boil. Take off the heat, add 2.5oz (75g) plain flour, all in one go, and stir until it forms a thick lump that leaves the sides of the pan. Put into a bowl to cool, then add two beaten eggs using an electric hand whisk. Spoon walnut-sized blobs onto baking paper and freeze. When ready to bake, heat the air fryer to 180ºC (350ºF), cook for 10 minutes, then cool on a wire rack. Split and fill with whipped cream, then drizzle with melted chocolate to serve.

Churros

Crispy, crunchy churros without deep frying? Air fryer to the rescue! Start by following the steps in the previous slide to make choux pastry, then use a star nozzle to pipe the churros onto a lined baking tray before freezing. When you're ready to bake, heat the air fryer to 180ºC (350ºF). Spray the frozen churros with vegetable oil, then cook for 12-15 minutes until golden. Serve sprinkled with cinnamon sugar.

'Baked' peaches

Air frying peaches brings out their natural sweetness, making them ideal for this healthy yet delicious dessert. Halve and stone four peaches (you could use nectarines, too), then put them on an air fryer liner. Mix 2 tbsp maple syrup or honey with 1 tsp vanilla extract, then spoon it into the centre of each peach. Air fry for 10 minutes at 180ºC (350ºF) until soft. Serve with toasted chopped nuts and vanilla ice cream.

Strawberry and cream tartlets

These puff pastry tartlets are surprisingly quick to make, with very few ingredients required. You can mix and match the cream flavour and the fruit topping as you wish, but be sure to use ready-rolled puff pastry for speed. Cut out squares or rectangles to fit the basket of your air fryer. Brush with beaten egg, then put them in the fridge for 20 minutes. Heat the air fryer to 200ºC (400ºF). Sprinkle over a little caster sugar, then air fry the pastries without liners for eight minutes, until puffy and golden. Allow to cool on a wire rack, then top with whipped vanilla cream and slices of strawberry.

Baked pears in honey

Perfect for when pears are in season, this is such an easy dessert to rustle up. Halve and core four pears, then put them into a dish, standing upright – they should fit snugly. Drizzle over 2 tbsp each honey and melted butter (and, if you like, add a sprig of rosemary or thyme). Cover the pears with foil, tucking it underneath the dish so it doesn't blow off when the fan starts. Bake at 180ºC (350ºF) for 20 minutes. When ready, serve your pears warm with ice cream.

S'mores cookies

No campfire? No problem! The trick to making an air fryer s'more is to halve or cut an end off the marshmallow, so you can stick the cut side into the cookie (otherwise, the strength of the fan will blow the marshmallow away). Heat the air fryer to 200ºC (400ºF), push the sticky side of the marshmallow into the cookie, then air fry for two to three minutes, until the marshmallow has melted. Top with another cookie, then add chocolate or caramel sauce.

Liking this? Click on the Follow button above for more great stories from loveFOOD

Cinnamon French toast

In the mood for some crispy, eggy breakfast bread with no frying required? For four toasts, use milk roll, or similar – four slices should fit into the air fryer at the same time (if not, you'll need to cook in batches). Beat two large eggs with 12fl oz (350ml) milk in a shallow bowl. Mix 1 tbsp caster sugar with 1 tsp cinnamon. Heat the air fryer to 200ºC (400ºF), then dip the bread into the egg, add the cinnamon sugar, and air fry for three minutes. Flip and cook for a further two minutes. To serve, dust with icing sugar, add a drizzle of maple syrup and top with whatever fruit you like.

Coconut macaroons

Ready in just 10 minutes, these speedy bites are perfect with a cup of tea – and you'll only need four ingredients to make them. Heat the air fryer to 160ºC (300ºF). Whisk one egg white until just firm, then add 3 tbsp caster sugar and 1 tsp almond extract. Stir in 3.5oz (100g) desiccated coconut. Spoon walnut-sized blobs onto a perforated paper liner, then air fry for five minutes. Allow to cool on the liner. If you like, you can drizzle over some melted chocolate to make them even more irresistible.

Blackened bananas

Normally you'd cook these sweet bananas on the barbecue – but if the weather isn't playing ball, or if you just want a speedy dessert for the kids, the air fryer is the answer. Simply heat it up to 200ºC (400ºF), add the bananas (still in their skins), and bake for 12 minutes. For a real treat, you could split them, add chunks of chocolate, pop them back into the switched-off air fryer to melt, then serve them with coconut ice cream.

Scones

Freshly baked scones are hard to beat – just don't overwork the dough, or they'll turn out chewy. This recipe makes 12 small scones, which can be baked all at once in an air fryer at 180ºC (350ºF). Rub 2oz (60g) cold butter into 8oz (225g) self-raising flour. Stir in 3 tbsp caster sugar, then 5fl oz (150ml) buttermilk. Bring the dough together and pat out to form a 5in (13cm) square on a floured surface. Cut into 12, then space out on a paper liner. Brush the tops with milk, then bake for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Leave to cool on a wire rack before tucking in.

Pavlova

Crowd-pleasing pavlovas are quick and easy to bake in an air fryer. Beat the whites of three medium eggs with an electric whisk until stiff, then slowly add, spoon by spoon, 7oz (200g) caster sugar, beating continuously until thick, stiff and glossy. Spoon on to a doubled-up sheet of baking paper, then make an indent in the centre. Heat the air fryer to 120ºC (200ºF), lower the meringue in carefully, and cook for 30 minutes. Remove the drawer or basket and allow it to cool for 30 minutes before transferring to a wire rack. Fill with whipped cream and fruit, et voilà!

'Grilled' pineapple

Cooking slices of fresh pineapple on the barbecue makes them caramelise beautifully – and you can get the same result in an air fryer. Simply heat the air fryer to 190ºC (375ºF), brush the pineapple slices with coconut oil, then put them on a piece of baking paper. Sprinkle over some coconut or dark brown sugar and a pinch of cinnamon, then air fry for five minutes a side (timings may vary slightly depending on the size and ripeness of the fruit). Serve them up with ice cream for a quick and easy dessert.

Banana bread

Cooking banana bread in an air fryer is even simpler than baking it in the oven. You'll need a 2lb (900g) loaf tin, which should fit inside most air fryers (just be sure to check first). Line the base and sides of the tin, then heat the air fryer to 160ºC (300ºF). Mix together 5fl oz (150ml) vegetable oil, 5oz (150g) each caster sugar and self-raising flour, 1 tsp baking powder, two beaten eggs and two mashed bananas. Spoon into the tin and bake for 50 minutes. If, after 25 minutes, your banana bread is starting to over-brown, cover it with foil. Check your banana bread is cooked through by inserting a skewer into the centre (it should come out clean).

Amaretti biscuits

These cute little Italian almond biscuits are the perfect sweet treats to serve with a coffee – and happily, they take just 20 minutes to make. Heat the air fryer to 180ºC (350ºF). Whisk one egg white until stiff, then gradually add 1.75oz (50g) caster sugar until it's meringue-like. Fold in 1.75oz (50g) icing sugar, 8oz (225g) ground almonds, 2 tbsp Amaretto liqueur and some lemon zest. With your hands, roll the mixture into 12 balls. Bake on a paper liner for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through. Dust with icing sugar to serve.

Chocolate chip cookies

Our recipe will make 12 cookies. Using an electric hand whisk, cream together 5oz (150g) softened butter with 7oz (200g) light brown sugar. Add one egg, beat again, then stir in 1.5oz (45g) melted milk chocolate. Sift in 3 tbsp cocoa powder, 7oz (200g) plain flour, 0.5 tsp bicarbonate of soda and 1.5 tsp baking powder. Stir in 5 tbsp chocolate chips, then divide the mixture into 12 balls. Either chill the balls overnight in the fridge, or put them in the freezer. Heat the air fryer to 165ºC (325ºF). Bake your cookies on paper liners, spaced apart, for eight minutes. Leave to cool a little on the liners, then transfer them to a wire rack.

Oat and raisin bars

Great snacking material, these bars will keep for up to three days in an airtight container. You'll need a square cake tin that fits inside your air fryer – for this recipe, we used a 6 x 6in (15 x 15cm) tin. Melt 3.5oz (100g) butter, 2.5 tbsp caster sugar, 2 tbsp black treacle and 1.75oz (50g) golden syrup in a pan. Take off the heat, add 1 tsp ground ginger, 8oz (225g) porridge oats and 1.75oz (50g) raisins or sultanas. Heat the air fryer to 180ºC (350ºF), put the mix into the tin and cover tightly with foil. Bake for 15 minutes, then uncover and bake for a further four to five minutes until browned. Leave in the tin to cool before cutting into squares.

Blueberry muffins

These easy muffins can be whipped up in under half an hour – all you'll need are some silicone muffin cases or an air-fryer muffin tin. You should be able to fit six muffins in your air fryer, but if not, you can bake your treats in batches. First, heat the air fryer to 160ºC/300ºF. Mix together 4 tbsp sunflower oil, 7 tbsp buttermilk and an egg, then stir in 3.5oz (100g) caster sugar, 1 tsp each baking powder and bicarbonate of soda, 5oz (150g) self-raising flour and 2.5oz (75g) blueberries. Spoon into the cases until three-quarters full, then bake for 15 minutes.

Snickerdoodles

These soft and chewy American cookies are spiked with cinnamon sugar. Our recipe makes 20, but you can bake as many as you want, then freeze any remaining dough. Cream together 3.5oz (100g) butter with 4 tbsp caster sugar and 5 tbsp soft brown sugar until light and fluffy, then stir in one beaten egg. Add 6oz (170g) plain flour, a good pinch of cinnamon, 4 tbsp ground almonds and 1 tsp each cream of tartar and baking powder. Roll into 20 balls, then coat each one in cinnamon sugar. Heat the air fryer to 165ºC (325ºF).  Flatten the cookies slightly with a fork, then bake in batches on paper liners for eight minutes. They will be slightly soft, but will firm up on cooling.

Granola

This recipe will feed six. Heat the air fryer to 180ºC (350ºF), then gently heat 1 tbsp coconut oil, 2 tbsp maple syrup and 0.5 tsp vanilla extract in a small pan until melted. Mix together 2.5oz (75g) oats, 4 tbsp seeds (sunflower or sesame, perhaps) and 4 tbsp roughly chopped nuts (use whichever nuts you like). Stir in the coconut syrup, then pop the mixture into a shallow tin lined with baking paper, all in one layer. Air fry for four minutes, stir, then return to the air fryer for three minutes. Cool in the tin. Your granola will keep for up to five days in an airtight container.

Banana chips

Banana chips make a fabulous fruity snack, and they're so easy to make in an air fryer. You'll need to use bananas that are just underripe; slice them thinly, then spray them with olive oil. Cook in a single layer at 180ºC (350ºF) for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through, then leave to cool on a wire rack. You could sprinkle them with sea salt if you love salty-sweet treats, or you could toss in cinnamon or nutmeg before cooking for an extra boost of flavour. They'll keep for a few days in an airtight container.

Shortbread

With just three ingredients, shortbread is the easiest and quickest biscuit you'll ever make. Whiz up 3.5oz (100g) butter, 5oz (150g) plain flour, 1.75oz (50g) sugar and some lemon zest in a food processor. Turn the dough out onto a floured surface, roll out to 0.25in (5mm) thick, then cut into squares or circles. Bake in batches on perforated liners at 170ºC (325ºF) for 8-10 minutes, until pale gold in colour. Cool a little on the liners, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Mince pies

Armed with some shop-bought all butter shortcrust pastry and a jar of mincemeat, you can put together a warming mince pie in no time (and at any time of year) – you'll just need some individual metal or silicone muffin tins. Line them with circles of pastry, add the mincemeat, then top with a pastry star. Brush with egg, then leave to chill while you heat the air fryer to 160ºC (300ºF). Bake for 15 minutes. If using silicone liners, you may want to take the cooked pies out and return them to the air fryer at 180ºC (350ºF) to crisp up the base.

Get the recipe for air-fryer mince pies here

Liked this? Click on the Follow button above for more great stories from loveFOOD

Now learn some game-changing air fryer tips, tricks and recipes