Air Fryer Sweet Treats

Delicious Air Fryer Desserts: Easy Recipes & Baking Tips for Sweet Treats

Welcome to your ultimate guide for creating incredibly **delicious air fryer desserts** right in your kitchen! We’ve meticulously compiled an amazing collection of some of the easiest and most satisfying air fryer sweet treats you’ll ever encounter. Whether you’re a seasoned air fryer enthusiast or just starting your culinary journey with this versatile appliance, this page is your go-to resource. Bookmark it now, because you’ll want it handy whenever a craving for quick, fuss-free, and utterly delightful desserts strikes for the whole family.

Collage of photos of air fryer dessert recipes.
A mouth-watering selection of air fryer dessert recipes.

Many people are surprised to learn that their air fryer isn’t just for crispy fries and chicken wings – it’s a fantastic little oven for baking too! I stumbled upon this revelation by taking a “calculated risk” one day, and the results were astonishing. Not only did my dessert turn out absolutely amazing, but it was ready in half the time compared to traditional oven baking. This discovery transformed my approach to making sweet treats.

When it comes to baking in the air fryer, there are a few simple techniques I employ to ensure perfect results every single time. I’m excited to share all my favorite tips and tricks with you, followed by a comprehensive list of my most cherished **air fryer dessert recipes**. From classic apple pies to rich cheesecakes and fun cherry pie bombs, you’ll find an array of options to satisfy any sweet tooth.

At Air Frying Foodie, our mission is to make every air fryer recipe easy, enjoyable, and delicious. We believe that everyone should be able to whip up fantastic meals and desserts without unnecessary complexity. So, before we dive into the delightful world of these sweet recipes, let’s cover some essential air frying tips and tricks that will set you up for success.

How Does Baking in an Air Fryer Work So Well?

Baking in an air fryer is surprisingly simple and efficient once you understand its mechanism. An air fryer cooks food by utilizing a powerful heating element combined with a high-speed fan. This combination creates a “convection” effect, circulating super-heated air around your food at an incredible rate. This consistent and even distribution of hot air is what allows food to cook faster and achieve that signature crispy exterior, which is often desirable even in baked goods.

Air fryers typically operate at temperatures as high as 400° Fahrenheit (200° Celsius), with some models reaching even higher heats. This intense, circulating heat means your desserts cook more quickly and evenly than in a conventional oven, reducing baking time and often yielding beautifully golden-brown results. We’ve certainly learned through trial and error, making all the mistakes so you don’t have to!

Essential Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Desserts

To ensure your air fryer baking experience is always a success, keep these key tips in mind:

TIP #1: Don’t Rely Solely on the “Bake” Feature (If You Even Have One)

Many air fryers come with various preset functions like “Bake,” “Roast,” or “Air Fry.” Interestingly, you don’t always need to use the specific “Bake” feature when making desserts. In my experience, the standard “Air Fry” button or the default cooking function works perfectly fine for almost anything, whether I’m crafting a delicate cheesecake or crisping up some french fries. The air fryer’s core function is hot air circulation, which is what’s crucial for baking, regardless of the labeled button.

TIP #2: Use Parchment Paper for Easy Cleanup and to Prevent Sticking

When preparing items like **Air Fryer Oreos** or baking cookies from dough, I always recommend lining your air fryer basket with parchment paper. This simple step makes cleanup incredibly easy, preventing sticky dough or melted ingredients from falling through the grates of the basket. It also helps with even cooking and ensures your delicate treats maintain their shape.

TIP #3: Skip the Preheat for Most Baked Goods

While some air fryer manufacturers suggest preheating, I’ve found that when baking desserts like cookies, cheesecakes, chocolate cakes, or breads, skipping the preheat is often best. If you place raw cookie dough directly into a preheated, unlined basket, the dough might start to seep through the hot grates before it has a chance to set and cook. Starting with a cold air fryer allows the dough or batter to slowly warm up and solidify, resulting in a more uniform bake. This trick is especially useful for delicate items that could burn quickly if introduced to immediate high heat.

TIP #4: Choose the Right Bakeware Size

The size of your air fryer basket dictates the size of the bakeware you can use. Small loaf pans, ramekins, silicone molds, and springform pans specifically designed for air fryers or instant pots are perfect. Always ensure there’s enough space around your bakeware for air to circulate freely. This is crucial for achieving that even, air-fried finish. Measuring your air fryer basket before purchasing new bakeware is a smart move!

TIP #5: Monitor Closely, as Air Fryers Cook Faster

Due to the intense circulating heat, air fryers cook much faster than traditional ovens. Always keep a close eye on your desserts, especially during the first few times you try a new recipe. Baking times might need to be adjusted compared to conventional oven recipes. A quick peek is usually enough to gauge doneness.

Discover Your Next Favorite Air Fryer Dessert Recipe

Now that you’re armed with these fantastic tips, it’s time to dive into the delicious part – the recipes! You’ll be amazed at the variety of sweet treats you can create, from indulgent brownies and fluffy donuts to wholesome fruit crisps and satisfying cookies. We have everything from quick 3-ingredient wonders to more elaborate, yet still easy, cakes and pies.

Scroll through our extensive list of beloved **air fryer dessert recipes** below. Once you find a recipe that sparks your interest, simply click on it to view the full details. Each recipe page features a convenient “jump to recipe” button, allowing you to easily print or save your chosen treat. Get ready to have fun exploring these delightful creations; every single one is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

Our Best Air Fryer Dessert Recipes

Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies

Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies

Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies are my go-to when I’m craving soft, doughy cookies but don’t want to bake an entire batch. Made with brown sugar, vanilla, and plenty of chocolate chips, these are a quick treat.

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Air Fryer Cake

Air Fryer Cake

Whether you’re making a homemade cake or using a boxed mix, baking a cake in the Air Fryer is surprisingly easy and results in a wonderfully moist treat. We share all our tips and tricks to help you make the best Air Fryer Cake everyone will adore.

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Air Fryer Donut Holes – MADE WITH Biscuit Dough!!

Air Fryer Donut Holes – MADE WITH Biscuit Dough!!

These incredibly easy Air Fryer Donut Holes are ready in mere minutes, thanks to refrigerated biscuit dough. There’s no need to spend time prepping a complicated dough; these can be made from start to finish in just a few quick and simple steps, perfect for a spontaneous treat.

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Overhead photo of cranberry white chocolate chip cookies that were made in the air fryer and served on a white plate.

5 from 1 vote

Air Fryer Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies

These Air Fryer Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies are a festive and flavorful delight. Made with rich brown sugar, fragrant vanilla, tart cranberries, and sweet white chocolate chips, they are a delicious and easy air fryer dessert perfect for the holidays or any time you need a special treat.

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Chocolate Bundt Cake on a white plate and topped with chocolate frosting.

5 from 4 votes

Air Fryer Chocolate Bundt Cake

This Air Fryer Chocolate Bundt Cake is a rich, homemade delight prepared with all-purpose flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and sugar. It’s a wonderfully decadent dessert that’s surprisingly easy to bake in your air fryer, delivering moist, chocolatey goodness every time.

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Round golden Bundt cake with chocolate chips scattered and in front of the air fryer.

5 from 1 vote

Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

Indulge in a delightfully moist and rich air fryer pound cake, generously studded with decadent chocolate chips. This recipe offers a perfect balance of classic pound cake texture with bursts of chocolatey sweetness, all made effortlessly in your air fryer.

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Slice of air fryer pumpkin cheesecake on a white plate ready to eat.

5 from 2 votes

Air Fryer Pumpkin Cheesecake

Air Fryer Pumpkin Cheesecake is the perfect recipe for embracing the cozy fall temperatures and beautiful falling leaves! Crafted with creamy cream cheese, luscious pumpkin pie filling, warm cinnamon, and aromatic pumpkin spice, it’s the ideal holiday dessert that everyone will absolutely love. An incredibly easy Air Fryer dessert to prepare!

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Golden orange pie in a white pie plate after being cooked in the air fryer.

5 from 4 votes

Air Fryer Pumpkin Pie

Air fryer pumpkin pie is a quintessential dessert for holiday dinners and festive gatherings. This incredibly creamy, homemade pumpkin pie recipe is sure to become a beloved family favorite, offering all the traditional flavors with the convenience of air frying.

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Golden pecan pie on a white marble table with scattered pecans around the pie plate.

5 from 6 votes

Air Fryer Pecan Pie

You are absolutely going to adore having this Air Fryer Pecan Pie for dessert! Crafted with fresh pecans, sweet corn syrup, rich brown sugar, and more, this pie delivers classic flavors with a perfectly baked crust, all made conveniently in your air fryer.

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close up of cinnamon sugar air fryer pretzel bites

4.60 from 5 votes

Air Fryer Pretzel Bites

These Cinnamon and Sugar Air Fryer Pretzel Bites are outrageously addicting and will quickly become a family favorite! We even share our irresistible sugary sweet cinnamon roll glaze, perfect for dipping these delightful bites. They’re a quick and easy snack or dessert that’s hard to resist.

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Golden soft pretzels on a white plate

4.66 from 23 votes

Air Fryer Soft Pretzels

These soft pretzels are so incredibly tender they will simply melt in your mouth! Best of all, they are surprisingly easy to make right in your air fryer, making them a perfect warm snack or dessert for any occasion.

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Red Valvet Cake Mix Cookies with white chocolate chips on a white plate.

5 from 3 votes

Air Fryer Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies

Air Fryer Red Velvet Cake Mix Cookies are the ideal holiday dessert, ready in just 5 minutes! These cookies are wonderfully delicious and incredibly easy to make with just a handful of ingredients, delivering a soft, chewy texture and classic red velvet flavor.

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Chocolate Cookies with white baking chips, stacked on a plate. Chewy and moist air fryer cookies.

4.70 from 10 votes

Air Fryer Cake Mix Cookies

These air fryer cookies are incredibly easy to make using a cake mix and white chips, yielding soft and chewy cookies in just a few minutes. Perfect for a quick dessert fix!

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Close up photo of chocolate chip cookies with melting chocolate dripping out of cookie.

5 from 5 votes

Air Fryer DoubleTree Signature Cookie (Copycat)

These Air Fryer Copycat DoubleTree Signature Cookies are absolutely yummy! Bursting with chocolate chips, crunchy nuts, and wholesome oats, these cookies are cooked to perfection in the air fryer in just minutes. Enjoy the warm, familiar taste of a classic hotel cookie from your own kitchen!

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A stack of peanut butter cookies made in the Air Fryer with a glass of milk and the Air Fryer in the background.

4.41 from 54 votes

Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies

These 3-Ingredient Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies are a delightfully simple and quick treat, perfect for satisfying a last-minute snack craving. With minimal effort, you can enjoy warm, soft peanut butter cookies in no time.

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Baked sugar cookies scattered on a white plate, with Reece's Pieces candy scattered around the plate.

4.89 from 9 votes

Air Fryer Sugar Cookies

Enjoy easy, soft, and perfectly baked sugar cookies made in your air fryer in just minutes. These simple cookies are a delightful treat that comes together quickly for any occasion.

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Air fried candied pecans in a bowl, ready to serve.

4.25 from 4 votes

Air Fryer Sugared Pecans

Air Fryer Sugared Pecans are a delightful snack that’s absolutely perfect for the holidays or anytime you need a sweet crunch! Made with cinnamon, sugar, water, a pinch of salt, and egg whites, this is a quicker way to roast pecans without sacrificing any of their incredible flavor.

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Cooked pecans, served on a white plate, in front of an air fryer, with scattered pecans and brown sugar around the plate.

4.89 from 9 votes

Air Fryer Spiced Pecans

These pecans are seasoned to perfection, striking an irresistible balance of sweet and salty flavors, making them a perfect and healthy snack. Enjoy them on their own or as a delightful topping for other desserts.