Air Fryer Pancakes Recipe

Transform your weekend brunches with these fluffy, golden air fryer pancakes. A delightful twist on a breakfast classic, these pancakes are delicious and offer a healthier alternative to traditional pan-fried versions. Perfect for leisurely mornings, these perfectly round and large pancakes will become a new favorite in your household!

Why this is the best air fryer pancake recipe

They use less butter than a griddle: Air frying pancakes means less oil than pan frying - lightly brush a cake tin with just enough melted butter to get the pancakes out. You can enjoy these pancakes with all the taste and none of the extra calories. If you're trying to eat a healthy diet, you can make them more nutritious by pairing them with healthy toppings like fruit, nuts, seeds, and vegan yogurt. (Check out all my healthy Air Fryer recipes!)

You'll make perfectly round pancakes every single time: Have you ever wondered how to get those perfectly round diner-style pancakes at home? You can do it at home! Using a cake pan to cook the pancakes means you'll always get perfectly round pancakes in whatever size you like (and will fit in your air fryer). To get creative, you could make different shapes by selecting novelty cake pans.

They're always fluffy and golden: You will let the batter rest, which is the first step in making fluffy pancakes. This batter rises so well in the air fryer that you'll get a fluffy, bouncy texture that soaks up maple syrup perfectly, in every serving.

There's no waste: You know when you make pancakes, the first one or two are always bad and get thrown away. Air fryer pancakes are perfect every time because there is no need to wait for the pan to heat up. Pour the batter, pop it in the air fryer, wait 8 minutes, then eat your perfect pancake!

This recipe is allergy-friendly: These pancakes are egg-free, soy-free, nut-free, and can easily be dairy-free and gluten-free with a simple substitution. There's no need for eggs in this recipe; the binder for these pancakes is creamy buttermilk. It's easy to make gluten-free by using a cup-for-cup gluten-free baking mix. You can also easily make these into dairy-free vegan pancakes by swapping out the dairy milk for soy or almond milk. 

What you'll need to make the best air fryer pancakes recipe

Equipment

Sifter: You'll need to sift the dry ingredients to make this recipe. You can use either a sifter or a metal colander..

Air Fryer: The hero of this recipe is an air fryer that can fit an 9-inch cake tin. If you're skeptical about making pancakes in the air fryer, trust me, it works! THe air fryer is basically a fancy miniature oven, and ovens make perfect baked goods.

If your air fryer basket is too small for a cake pan, don't worry. I have an alternative solution in the variations listed below. 

9-inch Round Cake Tin: This is the best size to create a perfectly round large pancake.

Ingredients

See the printable recipe card at the bottom of the page for all measurements and nutritional information.

Flour: The base of the pancake batter flour gives the batter structure and makes the pancakes soft. You can use all-purpose flour or a cup-for-cup gluten-free baking mix.

Caster Sugar: Caster sugar is just like plain white sugar, except the grains are smaller. It dissolves more quickly and can make baked goods smoother than granulated sugar.

Baking Powder: This makes the pancakes rise and become fluffy.

Salt: This recipe uses just a pinch to balance the flavors and help the pancakes to rise properly.

Milk: This is the base of our wet ingredients. In this recipe, we will transform regular milk into a thick and creamy buttermilk to add flavor and to make the batter set up. You can use dairy or non-dairy milk. I've tried this recipe with both soy milk and almond milk, and both worked well.

White Vinegar: When combined with milk, vinegar creates a simple buttermilk, which gives the pancakes a delicious flavor and a soft texture. You can substitute lemon juice or even apple cider vinegar.

Vanilla Bean Paste: I prefer vanilla bean paste over vanilla extract but they are used interchangeably. Vanilla bean paste is thick and rich and has vanilla beans crushed up in the liquid. You can see them. Vanilla extract is made by soaking vanilla beans in alcohol and then removing the beans.

Melted butter: Brush a small amount in the cake pan so that the pancakes don't stick. You can also use vegetable oil or butter-flavored cooking spray if you prefer.

To Serve: Serve your pancakes with any toppings you would like. My personal favorites are ice cream, strawberries, and maple syrup. I've listed more topping ideas below, so read on for inspiration.

Variations

Mini Pancakes: If you don't have a 9-inch cake pan, or if your air fryer is too small to fit a 9-inch cake pan, you can also make this recipe using 6-inch cake pans or even smaller tart pans. Cooking times will be shorter; start with about 4 minutes and insert a skewer through the center to check if they are cooked through. Air fry in additional 1-minute intervals if needed, until cooked through.

Add-Ins: Customize your pancakes by adding blueberries, chocolate chips, or nuts into the batter for an extra flavor kick.

Savory Twist: Remove the sugar and add herbs and cheese for a savory version.

Time-saving shortcut: If you are running short of time, you can use a commercial pancake mix and follow the instructions below to cook it in your air fryer.

How to air fry pancakes

Making air fryer pancakes is so simple! Here's how to make air fryer pancakes in just five easy steps:

Combine milk, vanilla bean paste, and white vinegar. Set aside for 5 minutes to thicken.

Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt together into a medium bowl.

Combine buttermilk mixture and dry ingredients. Set on the counter to rise for 30 minutes.

Brush the cake pan lightly with melted butter. Preheat air fryer to 350°F (180°C) for 3 minutes. Pour a quarter of the batter into the greased cake pan and air fry for 8 minutes or until golden and centers are set.

Use a toothpick to test the centers; it should come out clean.

Repeat until all batter is used. Serve hot with toppings of your choice.

Substitutions

Dairy-Free Milk: Soy, almond, or oat milk can be used instead of dairy milk.

Vinegar: If you don't have white vinegar, you can use lemon juice or apple cider vinegar to create the buttermilk. The acidity will have the same effect.

Storage

To Store: Keep any leftover pancakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

To Reheat: Warm them up according to these instructions.

To Freeze: Flash freeze the pancakes by placing them on a baking sheet in the freezer for 2 hours. When solid, transfer them to an airtight freezer container. (If you don't have time for flash freezing, you can stack them in the container between layers of parchment paper.) They will keep for up to 2 months. Reheat per the instructions here. No need to thaw before reheating.

To make ahead: You can make the batter up to 1 day before cooking and store it tightly covered in the refrigerator. Leaving the batter to rest will actually improve the finished pancakes.

Serving Suggestions

Here are some delicious topping ideas for your pancakes:

• Butter
• Maple syrup
• Honey
• Ice cream
• Whipped cream
• Yogurt
• Any fresh fruit including:
  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Raspberries
  • Banana
• Lemon syrup
• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Chia seeds
• Peanut butter and jelly
• Raspberry sauce

What to do if the cake pan doesn't fit in your air fryer

You can also use 6-inch cake pans or even smaller tart pans to make smaller pancakes. Your pancakes will be smaller (much smaller with the tart pans) but still delicious. Be sure to reduce the cooking time to 4 minutes, and insert a toothpick through the center to check if they are done. If the skewer comes out dirty, continue to air fry the pancakes in 1-minute intervals until they are cooked through.

I hope you love these easy air fryer pancakes. They always come out perfectly round and use less oil than frying - win-win! Just remember to let the batter rest for a super fluffy texture. 

More delicious breakfast recipes:

Looking for other tasty breakfast ideas? Here are some delicious recipes to try:

• Carrot Cake Pancakes
• German Apple Fritters
• Raspberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast
• Mini Breakfast Pizzas on English Muffins
• Banana Waffles

Recipe