How To Make Brownies In An Air Fryer?
You can make delicious brownies in an air fryer by preparing your batter as usual, pouring it into a suitable, greased, and lined air fryer-safe pan, then baking at a lower temperature, around 300-325°F (150-160°C), for 20-30 minutes until a toothpick comes out with moist crumbs.
The air fryer’s convection heat provides a wonderfully crispy edge and a gooey center, making it a fantastic alternative to traditional oven baking for smaller batches.
TL;DR: Making brownies in your air fryer is simple and offers great results. Here’s the quick scoop:
- Use an air fryer-safe pan, like a small metal or silicone one.
- Line your pan with parchment paper for easy removal and cleanup.
- Reduce your usual baking temperature; start at 300-325°F (150-160°C).
- Bake for 20-30 minutes, checking for doneness often.
- Cool completely before slicing for perfect, fudgy brownies.
How To Make Brownies In An Air Fryer?
Making brownies in an air fryer is simpler than you might think, delivering fudgy centers and perfectly crisp edges.
You’ll achieve fantastic results by adjusting your baking temperature and monitoring them closely.
Why Choose the Air Fryer for Brownies?
Many home cooks find the air fryer a game-changer for baked goods, especially brownies. It heats up fast, saving you time and energy compared to a conventional oven.
The consistent convection heat promotes even baking and creates those desirable chewy edges with a gooey middle, a hallmark of excellent brownies.
Speed and Convenience for Small Batches
Do you ever crave just a few brownies without wanting to heat your whole kitchen? The air fryer is perfect for this.
It’s ideal for smaller portions, letting you enjoy fresh-baked treats without the wait or the fuss of a full oven bake.
Gather Your Tools: What You’ll Need
Before you begin, ensure you have the right equipment. This preparation makes the process smooth and enjoyable for you.
- An air fryer-safe pan (metal or silicone, fits your air fryer basket)
- Parchment paper or aluminum foil
- Your favorite brownie batter (box mix or homemade)
- Cooking spray or butter
- A cooling rack
- Toothpicks for testing doneness
Choosing the Right Brownie Pan
Selecting an appropriate pan is vital for air fryer baking. It needs to fit your air fryer basket comfortably, allowing air to circulate.
Metal pans often give a slightly crispier edge, while silicone can prevent sticking, as we found through various tests.
| Pan Material | Pros for Air Frying | Cons for Air Frying |
|---|---|---|
| Metal (e.g., aluminum) | Excellent heat conduction, crispy edges, durable. | Can stick if not greased well, sometimes harder to remove. |
| Silicone | Non-stick properties, flexible for easy removal, easy cleanup. | May produce slightly less crispy edges, can be flimsy. |
| Glass/Ceramic | Good for even baking. | Heats slowly, usually too thick for efficient air fryer use, can crack. |
Size Matters: Fitting Your Air Fryer
Remember to choose a pan that leaves at least an inch of space around all sides in your air fryer basket. This gap ensures proper airflow and even cooking.
A pan too large will block airflow, leading to unevenly baked brownies, which nobody wants!
Preparing Your Brownie Batter
Whether you’re using a trusty box mix or a beloved scratch recipe, prepare your brownie batter exactly as instructed.
There’s no need to change the batter ingredients for air fryer baking; the magic happens in the cooking process itself.
Prepping Your Pan for Success
Greasing and lining your pan is a simple step that makes a huge difference. You want your beautiful brownies to come out cleanly!
Spray your pan lightly with cooking spray or grease with butter, then line it with parchment paper, leaving a slight overhang on the sides to create “handles” for easy lifting.
Setting the Air Fryer Temperature
This is where air frying differs most from oven baking. Air fryers cook faster and more intensely due to their concentrated hot air circulation.
Many experts recommend reducing the oven temperature by about 25-50°F (15-28°C) when converting recipes for an air fryer (USDA).
For brownies, start with your air fryer at 300-325°F (150-160°C).
The Baking Process: Time and Monitoring
Place your prepared pan with batter into the preheated air fryer basket. Close the drawer gently.
Begin baking for 18-20 minutes. Air fryers vary, so this initial time is a starting point.
Checking for Doneness
After the initial baking time, gently pull out the air fryer basket.
Insert a toothpick into the center of the brownies. If it comes out with moist crumbs, but not wet batter, your brownies are likely ready.
We found that over-baking is common in air fryers, so check frequently. If they need more time, add 2-3 minute increments until done.
Cooling Your Brownies: Patience is Key
Resist the urge to cut into those warm, fudgy brownies immediately! Cooling is a vital step for texture.
Allow the brownies to cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes. This allows them to set and become perfectly fudgy.
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Brownies Every Time
Want to achieve brownie perfection consistently? We’ve gathered some useful advice for you.
Don’t Overfill Your Pan
A general rule we found is to fill your pan about two-thirds full. Overfilling can lead to undercooked centers and spillage.
Rotate for Evenness
If your air fryer tends to cook unevenly, consider rotating the pan halfway through the baking time. This simple trick helps ensure all sides get the same amount of heat.
Consider a Foil Tent
Are your brownie tops browning too quickly? Research suggests a loose foil tent can help.
Lightly cover the brownies with aluminum foil for the last few minutes to prevent over-browning while the center finishes baking.
Air Fryer Brownie Baking Checklist
Keep this quick checklist handy for your next batch of air-fried brownies:
- Pan selected and fits your air fryer?
- Pan greased and lined with parchment paper?
- Batter prepared according to recipe?
- Air fryer preheated to 300-325°F (150-160°C)?
- Brownies baked for initial 18-20 minutes?
- Toothpick test performed, moist crumbs present?
- Brownies cooled completely before slicing?
Conclusion
Making brownies in your air fryer is a surprisingly easy and efficient way to satisfy your sweet tooth. With just a few adjustments to temperature and careful monitoring, you’ll achieve perfectly baked brownies with that sought-after balance of crispy edges and a moist, fudgy center.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with your specific air fryer model; once you find its sweet spot, you’ll be whipping up delicious batches in no time. Enjoy your homemade air-fried treats!
Can I bake any brownie mix in an air fryer?
Yes, you can use virtually any boxed brownie mix or homemade recipe in your air fryer. Just prepare the batter as directed, then follow the air fryer specific temperature and timing guidelines mentioned in this guide.
How do I prevent my brownies from sticking to the air fryer pan?
To prevent sticking, always grease your air fryer-safe pan thoroughly with cooking spray or butter. For even easier removal, line the greased pan with parchment paper, leaving small “handles” on the sides to lift the brownies out once cooled.
My air fryer brownies are dry; what went wrong?
If your brownies turned out dry, they were likely over-baked. Air fryers cook faster than conventional ovens. Next time, reduce your baking time or lower the temperature slightly, and start checking for doneness a few minutes earlier than suggested, typically around the 15-minute mark.
Do I need to preheat my air fryer for brownies?
Preheating your air fryer is highly recommended for baking brownies. It ensures the pan hits the correct temperature immediately, promoting an even bake and helping to achieve those desirable crisp edges and fudgy centers.
How long should brownies cool before cutting?
For the best texture and clean slices, allow your air-fried brownies to cool completely in the pan on a wire rack, which can take at least 30 minutes to an hour. This cooling period allows them to set properly, ensuring they don’t fall apart when cut.
