Welcome to a quick and delightful solution for your last-minute Christmas preparations – the Air Fryer Christmas Cake. This ingenious recipe utilizes a high-quality Christmas cake mix, turning your air fryer into a time-saving holiday baking companion. Often referred to as an air fryer fruit cake, this recipe is perfect if you find yourself short on time and still yearning for a Christmas cake that doesn’t require months of soaking.

Can You Bake Cake In An Air Fryer?

Absolutely, you can! However, there’s a catch – you need to adjust the temperature and cooking time to avoid burning the top. A lower temperature, around 170°C/340°F, is ideal, and if the center isn’t quite done after the initial cooking time, lower the temperature to 160°C/320°F. Keep in mind that the cooking time may vary depending on the size of your cake.

Why Air Fryer Christmas Cake?

Cooking a Christmas cake in the air fryer is not only ridiculously easy but also my preferred method over using the oven. To make things even smoother, I recommend using a silicone cake pan. These pans are a game-changer as they prevent the cake from sticking to the bottom, and they conveniently accommodate an entire Christmas cake.

Ingredients for Air Fryer Christmas Cake

Our Christmas cake mix came with precisely weighed and measured ingredients, including:

• Caster Sugar
• Golden Syrup
• Ground Rice
• Plain Flour
• Baking Powder
• Currants
• Raisins
• Sultanas
• Glace Cherries
• Brandy

All that was needed additionally were four large eggs and 225g of butter. It’s a straightforward recipe, and interestingly, the included ingredients are all pantry items that remain fresh until someone decides to make the Christmas cake at home.

How To Cook Christmas Cake In Air Fryer?

1. Mix: Combine the ingredients in a mixing bowl, gradually adding them until only the dried fruit and brandy remain. A hand mixer can speed up this process.
2. Fork: Use a fork to incorporate all the dried fruit and cherries into the cake batter. The fork helps navigate the thick texture.
3. Cook: Transfer the Christmas cake batter to the silicone baking pan and place it in the air fryer. Cook for 50 minutes or until the center is fully done.
4. Beeps: Once the air fryer signals, remove the cake from the silicone mold and pour over the brandy. Let it rest for 6 hours before icing or serving.

When To Add Brandy?

You have two options – the traditional method involves soaking the fruit in brandy for a couple of months. Alternatively, for a last-minute Christmas cake, you can add brandy over the just-cooked cake. Surprisingly, a taste test revealed that the brandy wasn’t essential; the cake still tasted delicious without it.

How Long Do You Cook A Cake In Air Fryer?

Cooking time varies, ranging from 30 minutes to an hour, depending on the cake type and density. Lower temperatures, as recommended for Christmas cake, might extend the cook time.

Can You Freeze Christmas Cake?

Yes, you can freeze Christmas cake without compromising its deliciousness. Ensure it fully defrosts before indulging, and don’t forget to pair it with some cheese!

How To Store Christmas Cake?

Store your Christmas cake in a large cake tin in a cool pantry, kitchen cupboard, utility room, or garage – anywhere that extends its shelf life. Although, if you’re a Christmas cake enthusiast like me, it might not last very long!

Air Fryer Christmas Cake

Recipe by Naveed

3.7 from 3 votes

Course: DessertCuisine: American

Servings

4

servings

Prep time

30

minutes

Cooking time

40

minutes

Calories

300

kcal

Total time

1

hour 

10

minutes

Make a festive delight effortlessly in the air fryer with this instant Christmas cake.

Ingredients

• 4 Large Eggs

• 255g Plain Flour

• 225g Butter

• 225g Caster Sugar

• 56g Ground Rice

• 1 Tbsp Golden Syrup

• ¼ Tsp Baking Powder

• 454g Currants

• 114g Raisins

• 114g Sultanas

• 56g Glace Cherries

• 50ml Brandy (optional)

Directions

• Place butter and sugar in a mixing bowl, use a hand mixer to blend until creamy.
• Add eggs and golden syrup, mix slowly until well combined.
• Add baking powder, ground rice, and half of the flour. Mix slowly, then gradually add the rest of the flour.
• Use a fork to scrape the edges.
• Add dried fruit and cherries bit by bit, using a fork to mix until well combined.
• Load the Christmas cake mix into a silicone baking mould, fitting the size of your air fryer, and place it in the air fryer basket.
• Air fry at 150°C/300°F for 40 minutes, followed by 10 minutes at 160°C/320°F. Remove from the silicone, coat in brandy, and let it rest overnight if possible.

Notes

• Experiment with your favorite dried fruits; this Christmas cake kit provides a mix of everything.
• The extended cook time is due to the low cooking temperature traditionally used for Christmas cakes compared to other air fryer cakes.