1. If you don't have an air fryer, this is your sign!
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People who own air fryers are truly obsessed with their convenience. You can make healthier versions of your favorite foods with ease, including snacks, appetizers, full meals, and more. But did you know that there are also some amazing dessert recipes too that you can make in the air fryer? In fact, you can bake everything from cookies to doughnuts pretty easily! Here are some of the must-have dessert recipes you'll be making all the time in your air fryer! So if you don't have one, run, don't walk to get one!
2. Doughnuts
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Air fryer lovers say that it's super easy to make your own homemade doughnuts in an air fryer. They also say that it ends up to be way cheaper than heading to your local bakery. The best part? They come out light and flakey. Most air fryer recipes call for puff pastry as the main ingredient, giving the doughnuts and airy and sweet flavor that's perfect when it's coated in cinnamon sugar. It also makes them very easy to put together since you don't have to make the dough from scratch if you don't want to. You honestly can't go wrong!
3. Hand Pies
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If you're in the mood for a little pie, but you don't feel like going through the work of making a homemade pie crust and full pie, then try these air fryer hand pies as soon as possible! You use a refrigerated pie crust and can fill them with whatever you want. If you want to keep it super simple, you can even use canned or pre-packaged pie filling. After you assemble the pie, sprinkle it with some coarse sugar before you pop it in the air fryer to get that lovely hand pie crunch. 10/10 would try these!
4. Churros
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Churros are the perfect crispy, sweet treat. The cinnamon sugar and crunchy outside makes for a delicious dessert. However, to make them the normal way, you need to use a LOT of hot oil, so it can be a lot of work, and not the most healthy dessert. But you can make the same dough recipe and pop them in the air fryer! They will taste almost the same, and people say it's a way easier process to make them this way with less cleanup. They're served best with some chocolate sauce for dipping! We never say no to chocolate!
5. Chocolate Chip Cookie
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Who doesn't love a good chocolate chip cookie? You can make the perfect chocolate chip cookies in an air fryer. Want to impress your dinner guests? Instead of individual cookies, make one giant cookie in the air fryer to replicate a pizookie! Top it with your favorite ice cream for a truly delicious dessert. The best part is that you can use your favorite pre-made cookie dough to cut down on effort, and the results will still be fantastic! Honestly, this would be problematic, because we'd made them every day.
6. Lemon Cake
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If you love the idea of baking but have a hard time getting your recipes to turn out the way you want them, then you HAVE to try baking in your air fryer. It makes the whole process a lot easier, and you can even bake a cake in there! That's pretty crazy! This lemon cake is the perfect one to try out first. It comes out moist and flavorful, and the best part is that it's the perfect size. Whether you share it or not is totally up to you, but we suspect it might be gone before the opportunity to share arises :)
7. Peanut Butter Cookies
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Peanut butter lovers, unite! Everyone who loves peanut butter is probably properly obsessed with these classic peanut butter cookies. If your heart skips a beat when you see these fork-imprinted cookies, then you're going to love this air fryer version. It's super quick and easy to bring the dough together. The best part is that they're also vegan! When you make them in the air fryer, it's easy to get that perfectly crispy outside and chewy middle. This would probably be the first dessert we try to make, if we're being truthful!
8. Homemade Pop Tarts
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It seems like Pop Tarts are an American staple growing up. Whether you always had them in stock or you had to beg your parents for the latest flavor, you probably loved these handheld treats. With an air fryer, you can make them homemade with puff pastry and your own choice of filling, making them a slightly healthier version. You can even assemble extras and put them in your freezer. That way, whenever you're craving one, you can just pop it in the air fryer, and you're ready to go! Brown sugar cinnamon with brown sugar frosting is elite, just saying.
9. Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie
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We already talked about the classic chocolate chip cookie or cookie pie. But we can't leave this oatmeal alternative off of the list. Some people are die-hard oatmeal cookie fans, as it balances out the chocolate and adds a chewy texture to the cookie. We love! This air fryer version actually makes a pretty big batch without the hassle of having to deal with turning on the oven. Your family is sure to love these cookies. When in doubt, you can always make both the oatmeal and the chocolate chip cookies. No one will complain, we promise!
10. Raspberry Crumble Coffee Cake
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If you love a good piece of crumble coffee cake with your morning beverage, whether it's coffee or tea, then you probably want to give this air fryer version a try! It gives you that same lovely crumble top that you get in the oven, and the raspberry gives it a fresh fruity kick. It makes for the perfect breakfast cake when you want to enjoy a slow morning with your family or friends. It's so easy to make, it might also make its way into your any time dessert routine! You could probably even experiment with different fillings.
11. Honey Cinnamon Roll-Ups
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If you're craving baklava, but you don't want to put in the effort of making it, then try these honey cinnamon roll-ups. They're definitely a lot less work than traditional baklava, but it will hit all the same flavor notes that you're craving. The honey and the cinnamon give it such a sweet and rich flavor, and your kids are also bound to love the fun shape of them! So if you're wanting to change it up from your normal dessert rotation, then be sure to give these a try. They will definitely be a success!
12. Banana Bread
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One of my personal favorite sweet treats is a piece of toasted banana bread slathered in butter. Now you can make this delicious, fluffy bread in the air fryer! It comes together really quickly and makes the perfect amount shaped to the size of your air fryer. Make sure you eat it while it's still warm with some butter. We promise it will change your life! This bread is perfectly sweet and dense and fluffy all at the same time. You really can't go wrong. Feel free to add some walnuts to the batter too if you want!
13. Mini Nutella Doughnut Holes
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Who doesn't love doughnuts, and who doesn't love Nutella! Why not combine the two in this perfect Nutella doughnut. The best part about these sweet treats is that you can make them in advance and keep them in the refrigerator. They'll hold in the fridge for a few days if you want to space out eating them. Just make sure you bring the dough to room temperature before you pop them in your air fryer. They'll give you the perfect bite-sized doughnut with a chocolate hazelnut kick. You won't even feel guilty if you eat the whole tray!
14. Apple Chips
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If you're a snacker, and you have a sweet tooth, then this is the PERFECT air fryer recipe for you. Apple chips are delicious, and they also have nutritional value, which is a major bonus. They are crispy and sweet while also being healthy, and they come out the perfect texture in the air fryer. So before you reach for the potato chips or another snack, try making these first. We promise they won't disappoint, and you'll feel really good even after devouring an entire bowl full! That's our favorite type of snack!
15. Cheesecake
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Wow, we would have NEVER thought to try this in the air fryer. Cheesecake is so delicious and airy and rich, but it can be a tedious process to bake and get just right. Now you can make this easier version in the air fryer. Users say this recipe really hits the spot and won't disappoint for even the most critical cheesecake lover out there. You can still get the buttery, crumbly crust with that rich, creamy cheesecake middle. Be sure to top it with your favorite fruity compote if that's your thing. Try some cherries or raspberries!
16. Pecan Strawberry Rhubarb Cobbler
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This is the perfect summertime dessert. Why? Because it's full of berries and rhubarb, two of the best summer dessert fillings. The cobbler comes out perfectly crisp, but soft and delicious, with a filling that's comforting and sweet. Top it with some pecans, and either some whipped cream or ice cream, for a truly decadent dessert. The best part about this dessert is that it's the perfect serving size for two, so when you're planning a special date night, be sure to wow your partner with this treat.
17. Mocha Cupcakes
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Okay, this is definitely HUGE news! You can make cupcakes in the air fryer. The best recipe is apparently this mocha cupcake, because it comes out moist and chocolatey. They will make your entire house smell amazing while you cook them. You can make up to 6 cupcakes at a time, and depending on your air fryer, you can either put a small 6-cup muffin tin straight in the air fryer, or you can use the silicone cupcake liners to space them out however you want. Definitely making these immediately with some cream cheese frosting.
18. Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
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This is such a classic dessert that our family has loved for generations. Every family seems to have a pineapple upside-down cake recipe that has been passed down generation to generation. Now you can make the same delicious cake in the air fryer. What sets this cake apart is how soft and moist it is, plus the real pineapple on the top (or bottom, depending on how you look at it). One user said they even added a layer of cheesecake to the cake in the air fryer for an added boost of deliciousness.
19. Sticky Buns
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Sticky buns probably remind you of childhood. Maybe you picked them up from the school vending machine in the morning or found them stashed in your pantry. But there's not much better, even as an adult, than a warm sticky bun in the morning! Now you can make them in the air fryer to get that same buttery honey gooey-ness dripping down the side. If you love coconut, add some shredded coconut to the top for a more grown-up version! We would definitely try these, and we we probably not share with the kids.
20. Honeyed Pears in Puff Pastry
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This is one of those desserts that your kids will probably think is really fun. It will also probably really impress your guests. It looks decadent, and it's super easy to put together in the air fryer. It's that perfect summer dessert that also brings everyone a lot of comfort! You can use pre-made puff pastry and wrap your pear. Throw it in the air fryer, and it will come out resembling a little beehive. It's a healthier treat than a lot of others, as it's mostly fruit. The honey brings out the sweetness and depth of flavor.
21. Apple Fritters
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Apple fritters are an old-fashioned dessert that people love. While they're truly delicious, they aren't exactly healthy. So this air fryer version is definitely a little better for your cholesterol levels and will give you the same yummy flavors. They come together really quickly, and throwing them in the air fryer is so easy to set it and forget it. The best part of apple fritters is definitely the brown butter glaze, so be sure not to scrimp on that when you make this recipe. It's sure to be a crowd-pleaser!
22. Bread Pudding
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Bread pudding is one of those comfort desserts that always hits the spot. Now you can make it in the air fryer, and there are even variations of it that include chocolate if you want to change it up from the traditional recipe. It's a rich dessert, so you might want to share, but it will definitely hit the spot if you need some emotional support through your food! If you want to take it next level, be sure to add a scoop of fresh vanilla ice cream to the top while it's still warm. Truly melt in your mouth delicious!
23. Scottish Shortbread
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If you're a fan of Ted Lasso, the you've probably drooled over the cute little shortbread cookies that Ted brings to Rebecca on the regular. We know we have! Now you can try baking them in your air fryer with a super simple recipe. These are the perfect cookies to make around the holidays and give them out as gifts. You can make them as aesthetic as you want, or you can just throw the dough in the air fryer and devour it yourself when no one is watching :) Even in the air fryer, you'll get that same crisp, buttery taste you love.
24. Peppermint Lava Cake
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Okay, this is truly impressive! You can make a lava cake in an air fryer. If you don't know what a lava cake is, it's one of the little cakes that has warm chocolate pudding in the middle, giving it the perfect soft and gooey consistency. And now you can make it in an air fryer pretty easily! This peppermint and chocolate lava cake is perfect for the holidays, especially when you serve it with fresh whipped cream or your favorite ice cream! Our mouths are already watering; we need to try this immediately!
25. Brownies
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Did you seriously think we would leave brownies off this list? We know better than that. Brownies are that one dessert that seems to be almost universally loved, right?The best part about air fryer brownies is that they go from batter to ready to eat in just 20 minutes! You'll get that gooey chocolatey feel you love. It definitely makes a smaller batch than when you put together a full tray of them, but it's the perfect amount when you need a little chocolatey sweet treat at midnight. Don't worry, we won't tell anyone, eat the whole batch!
26. Strawberry Turnovers
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The word on the street is that puff pastry (the pre-made kind) works GREAT in the air fryer. This gives you so many options of different types of desserts to try making in there. People swear by these strawberry turnovers with a simple strawberry filling. You can either get a pre-made filling or make it fresh. You can also try other types of fillings with the same method, so if strawberry isn't your thing, don't worry. Apple, blueberry, and peach are the most popular. What flavor would you most want to try? We'll take one of everything, please!
27. Cinnamon Rolls
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Is there anything better to wake up to in the morning than the smell of freshly baking cinnamon rolls? We think not! If you want a simple version of these, try the pre-made Pillsbury cinnamon roles and pop them into the air fryer. It's a lot less work, and they'll be ready in just 15 minutes. We love instant gratification, especially when it's in the form of gooey, perfectly iced cinnamon rolls! Seriously, we're starting to think that there's nothing you can't make in the air fryer. Who knew that it was so versatile?
28. Strawberry Thumbprint Cookies
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This is a classic cookie that has been around for a long time. They're a traditional cookie staple, especially around the holidays. But once you try this simple air fryer recipe, you'll probably want to make them year round. The best part about thumbprint cookies is that you can actually make them with any flavor of jam or filling that you'd like. So whether you're into grape or apricot or strawberry, or a combination, you'll be able to try them all in the air fryer. Brb, going to stock up on all flavors of jam.
29. Fried Oreos
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These babies are a state fair fan favorite, and now you can enjoy a healthier version at home! They're super low effort, just using some refrigerated, pre-made dough. Wrap up the Oreo and pop it in the air fryer. People say they taste just as good as the ones from the fair, with a slightly healthier feeling since they aren't as greasy. If you're throwing a party or just need a special treat, you might want to give these a try! You can even make a gluten-free option. What's your favorite fair food you'd want to try to replicate in the air fryer?
30. Baked Apples
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This is the PERFECT autumn dessert, or well, if we're being honest, it's pretty good any time of the year. You can make amazing baked apples in the air fryer. They will come out the perfect combination of soft and flavorful. Top them with a little cinnamon sugar before you pop them in the air fryer. People say that it creates a healthier flavor sensation of an apple pie, and each apple is the ideal serving size. If you're having a dinner party, your guests will be impressed with these little individual desserts!