Make a vanilla cake in an air fryer today! This perfect air fryer cake recipe is soft, moist, light, and fluffy - a delicious cake for birthdays or afternoon tea. We are about to bake a simple vanilla cake that requires just a few ingredients from scratch. Remember to add this to one of your favourite cake recipes.

If you have been wondering if you can bake a cake in an air fryer, the answer is simple; it comes out perfectly cooked, just like the ones baked in the conventional oven.
Baking a cake in an air fryer has become easy, but the size and shape of the cake you can make in it will depend on the size of your air fryer.
This vanilla sponge cake recipe is family-friendly, less expensive, and has no preservatives added. I do not use a cake mix because of how easy it is to make this cake from scratch. If you prefer the store-bought cake mix, then, by all means, go for it.
You can always make your cake mix at home from scratch and store it for later use. Mix the dry ingredients using the correct measurements and store the mixture in an airtight container.

Vanilla Cake in an Air Fryer
This simple air fryer cake recipe is easy, quick, and reliable. If you are baking one (1) pan, the air fryer is the best option because it is faster than the oven.
I am using the instant pot vortex air fryer 5.7L, a 7-inch round pan that can sit comfortably in the air fryer. If you are using a smaller size or brand of air fryer, you might want to test the pan to ensure it fits in before you start making or transferring your batter.

You can bake a wide range of cakes in your air fryer. You can make banana, chocolate cake, or lemon cake by adapting the recipe to suit your preferred cake.
Tools you need to Bake Vanilla Cake in an Air Fryer.
- Air Fryer
- Cake pans or air fryer cake tins
- Mixing bowl
- Baking paper or cake pan liner: this is to line the cake pan for easy removal of the cake from the pan.
- Spatula – scrape every bit of the batter into the cake pan.
- Electric mixer - hand mixer or stand mixer.
- Cake tester: this could be a toothpick, skewers, or an actual cake tester to check for doneness.

Ingredients
Self-raising flour (sifted)
Caster sugar is better than granulated sugar. It makes the creaming process easy.
Cake butter or any other quality butter. Ensure this is at room temperature.
Eggs: keep eggs at room temperature to make the cake moist and to avoid dry or chewy.
Vanilla extract flavoring
Milk: optional. Only use it if you have it.
Baking powder: you can skip if using self-raising flour.
Air fryer temperature varies depending on size, make, and model. My delicious cravings recipe time is subject to a preheated air fryer. If you are trying this recipe for the first time, deduct 2 minutes from the cooking time and increase it if needed to allow the food to cook evenly.
How to Bake Cake in an Air Fryer
- Prepare the ingredients - Using a weighing scale to measure.
- Prepare the cake pan by greasing the cake pan (3 x 7 rounds) with butter and line with parchment paper. Then set aside.
- Using a hand or stand mixer, start creaming the sugar and butter until light and fluffy for about 3 to 5 minutes
- When the butter and sugar are well combined, add the eggs and milk and then mix with the hand mixer.
- Preheat the air fryer at a temperature of 160C/320F.
- Add the flour and baking powder (optional).
- Using a wooden spoon or spatula, fold the flour into the mixture until well combined. Lastly, add the milk and mix till smooth.
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared cake pan and place it in the air fryer. Bake in the preheated air fryer between 25 to 35 minutes at a temperature of 150C or until the skewers/cake tester comes out clean.
- Remove the cake from the oven and leave it to cool (2 to 5 minutes).
- Transfer the cake from the tin and place it on a cooling rack.

Recipe

Vanilla Cake in Air fryer
Equipment
- Air fryer
- Cake pan or air fryer cake tins
- Mixing bowl
- Baking paper or cake pan liner to line the cake pan for easy removal of the cake from the pan.
- Spatula this is to scrape every bit of the batter into the cake pan.
- Electric mixer hand mixer or stand mixer.
- Cake tester this could be a toothpick, skewers, or an actual cake tester to check for doneness.
Ingredients
- 200 g self-raising flour
- 200 g butter extra for coating the cake tins
- 160 g caster sugar
- 3 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons milk full fat or semi-skimmed
- ½ teaspoon baking powder optional
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients - Using a weighing scale to measure.
- Prepare the cake pan by greasing the cake pan (3 x 7 rounds) with butter and line with parchment paper. Then set aside.
- Using a hand or stand mixer, start creaming the sugar and butter until light and fluffy for about 3 to 5 minutes
- When the butter and sugar are well combined, add the eggs and milk and then mix with the hand mixer.
- Preheat the air fryer at a temperature of 160C/320F.
- Add the flour and baking powder (optional).
- Using a wooden spoon or spatula, fold the flour into the mixture until well combined. Lastly, add the milk and mix till smooth.
- Pour the cake batter into the prepared cake pan and place it in the air fryer. Bake in the preheated air fryer between 25 to 35 minutes at a temperature of 150C or until the skewers/cake tester comes out clean.
- Remove the cake from the oven and leave it to cool (2 to 5 minutes).
- Transfer the cake from the tin and place it on a cooling rack.
Notes
Nutrition

How to Store Cake
You can keep the cake in the fridge or countertop for 3 to 5 days. Allow to cool and wrap in a cling film or airtight container; this prevents the cake from drying out.
Tips
- It is important to bake the cake at the right temperature, so you should preheat the air fryer for even baking.
- You can use any other flavoring extract you have.
- Bring the butter and eggs to room temperature before use.
- Do not let the batter sit too long before putting it in the air fryer.
- Bake at a low temperature so that the cake cooks evenly.
- Don't overfill the cake pan.
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