Air Fryer Chocolate Cupcakes

Air Fryer Chocolate Cupcakes are a decadent, moist, and chocolatey dessert idea that you do not have to bake in an oven.

These quick and easy cupcakes feature a rich chocolate flavor with a moist and tender crumb that can be topped with a delicious chocolate buttercream frosting.

Can you make cupcakes in an air fryer?

The quick answer is yes, you can make cupcakes in an air fryer.

You would probably never know that these cupcakes were actually made in an air fryer because they taste just as moist and good as the bakery cupcakes.

Did you try my recipe for Air Fryer Maple Doughnuts With Bacon?

Those doughnuts have the perfect balance of sweet and salty in every bite. Both this recipe for cupcakes and that recipe for doughnuts are great tasting dessert or snack ideas that can be made in small batches using an air fryer/

To make this recipe you will need air fryer safe cupcake liners. You can find a selection of cupcake liners for air fryers here.

Why we love cupcakes made from scratch.

These chocolatey cupcakes taste amazing. You can also enjoy them with or without frosting.

Here is what else we like about this recipe.

• The ingredients used to make these cupcakes are common ingredients that may already have on hand.
• Making these cupcakes in an air fryer means that you can make them in small batches.
• Air frying is a convenient method for baking but, without having to heat up an oven to do so.
• These cupcakes can really be made anywhere that you can plug in an air fryer (campers, vacations, dorms...?).
• About anyone can handle an air fryer.
• Who doesn't like a chocolate cupcake?

Ingredients needed to make homemade cupcakes in an air fryer.

To makes a smaller batch, simply cut the amounts of each ingredient in half.

• Flour. All purpose flour was used to make my cupcakes.
• Sugar. Granular sugar works best in this recipe.
• Unsweetened Cocoa Powder. Using a good quality powdered cocoa is recommended for the best flavor.
• Baking Powder and Baking Soda The leavening agents used to make this recipe.
• Buttermilk. The acid in buttermilk helps to break down the gluten in the flour and assist the leavening agents in making the cake fluffier.
• Oil. Vegetable oil is used to bring moisture to these cupcakes.
• Eggs. The eggs should be at room temperature for optimal blending.
• Vanilla extract. Added for flavor balance.
• Boiling Water. A 'secret' ingredient used to make this cake great. Boiling water helps to enhance the flavor (enhancing the chocolate) and the texture of this cake (assisting the leveners).
• Optional- chocolate buttercream frosting

Tips for making the best cupcakes using an air fryer.

Air fryer baking times can vary depending on the size of the air fryer.
For that reason, it is a good idea to keep an eye on the cupcakes from about eight minutes on.

More helpful tips for you.

1. Prep your cupcake liners well for nonstick.I like to both grease and dust mine for a recipe like this one.
2. Add a teaspoon of Espresso Powder to the mix. This is a 'secret' ingredient used to bring out the chocolate flavor in chocolate cupcakes.
3. Using a good cocoa powder really can make a difference in the success of this recipe. For a smoother texture you can use Dutch-process cocoa while regular cocoa will bring a richer flavor.
4. My cupcakes were made with paper cupcake liners that were placed into air fryer safe ramekins. You can use ramekins for silicon liners if you feel that they will need the support.
5. Handle the boiling water carefully as it is boiling. It may make your cupcake batter seem thin but, that is okay as it will bake out.
6. While you could make this into a small cake using an air fryer safe cake pan, the air frying time will most likely differ from that of cupcakes.
7. Lastly, make sure that your cupcakes have fully cooled before frosting them. Melting frosting on cupcakes rarely looks or tastes as good as it should.

How to make Air Fryer Chocolate Cupcakes

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Air Fry Time: 10-12 minutes.
Servings: 12 average sized cupcakes.

1. Preheat your air fryer to 325 and prep your liners for nonstick. If you are using paper liners, you can place them into ramekins for wall support.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, use a whisk to mix together the flour, sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, and optional espresso powder.
3. Next, in a large mixing bowl, combine together the buttermilk, vegetable oil, eggs, and vanilla extract. Mix these ingredients until well combined.
4. Add the dry ingredients from the first bowl to the wet ingredients in the large mixing bowl, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed. Mix these ingredients until just combined as overmixing can affect the texture of the cupcakes.
5. Lastly, carefully and gradually add the boiling water to the batter using a whisk to blend it in.
6. Use a cookie scoop or similar item to fill your prepared cupcake liners three fourths of the way full. Then loosely cover each cupcake with foil.
7. Air fry the cupcakes for eight minutes, carefully remove the foil, and continue to air fry for another two to four minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
8. Let the cupcakes cool on a cooling rack before serving or frosting.

Expert Tip👉 When placing your cupcake liners into your air fryer basket, leave plenty of room between each of the liners. This will help the air circulate and bake your cupcakes evenly as a result.

How to store leftover cupcakes.

These cupcakes can be stored in an airtight container or cupcake container. When properly stored, they should keep for about a five days at room temperature. For frosted cupcakes, refer to the frosting container for storage instructions.

You may also be interested in these ideas.

• Air Fryer Buffalo Style Chicken Bombs
• Air Fryer Salt and Pepper Potato Chips
• Air Fryer Beef Fajitas
• Air Fryer Pizza Bites
• Air Fried Tortilla Chips (Homemade)
• Air Fried Chocolate Chip Cookies

Print the recipe for air fried chocolate cupcakes.

Air Fryer Chocolate Cupcakes, a quick and easy dessert or snack recipe for air fried moist and flavorful chocolate cupcakes.

Please see recipe post for further details on this recipe.