Easy Air Fryer Pancakes Recipe For Your Next Morning Date

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We love putting a spin on our regular dates. Date nights are fun but not everything has to happen at night. With busy lives and schedules, sometimes, it’s easier and better value to spend some quality time together in the morning, introducing breakfast dates!

In that context, transform your weekend breakfast dates 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 You Will Love This Recipe

Better For You Option: Air frying pancakes means less oil than pan frying – lightly mist a cake tin with enough oil to get the pancakes out. Enjoy these pancakes with all the taste and none of the extra calories. If you’re trying to eat a balanced diet, you can make them more nutritious by pairing them with healthy toppings like fruit, nuts, seeds, and vegan yogurt.

Perfectly Round Pancakes: Have you ever wondered how to get those round diner-style pancakes at home? Well, now you know! Using a cake tin to cook the pancakes, you’ll always get perfectly round pancakes in any size you like. To get creative, you could make different shapes by selecting novelty tins.

Fluffy and Golden: These pancakes rise well in the air fryer, resulting in a fluffy, bouncy texture that soaks up maple syrup perfectly.

Egg-free: No need for eggs in this recipe. The binder for these pancakes is a simple creamy buttermilk. You can also easily make these into vegan pancakes by swapping out the dairy milk for soy or almond. 

Ingredients

Flour: The base of our pancake batter, giving structure and soft texture to the pancakes.

Caster Sugar: Adds a subtle sweetness without being overpowering.

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

Salt: Just a pinch to balance the flavors.

Milk: The base of our wet ingredients. In this recipe, as a binder, we will transform regular milk into a thick and creamy buttermilk to bind the pancakes. 

Apple Cider Vinegar: Combines with milk to create a buttermilk effect, helping to bind the pancakes and give them a delicious, soft texture.

Vanilla Extract: Infuses the batter with a warm, aromatic flavor.

Vegetable Oil: Use lightly to grease your cake tin to ensure the pancakes don’t get stuck.

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.

Equipment

Air Fryer: The hero of this recipe is an air fryer that can fit an 8-inch cake tin. If you’re skeptical about making pancakes in the air fryer, trust me, it works! You’ll be amazed at how well air fryers can make baked goods. You can even use them to make air fryer cake and vegan banana bread. 

Now, if your air fryer basket is too small for a cake tin, don’t worry – I have an alternative solution! See variations listed below. 

8-inch Round Cake Tin: The vessel to create our perfectly round large pancakes.

Variations

Pikelet-Sized Mini Pancakes: If you don’t have an 8-inch cake tin, or if your air fryer is too small to fit a cake tin, you can also make this recipe using individual silicone trays or large patty pans to make pikelet-sized pancakes. 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 further in 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. You could also add a scoop of protein powder to your pancakes to make them more filling.

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

Instructions

Making air fryer pancakes is so simple! For ingredient quantities, see the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here’s how to make air fryer pancakes in just five easy steps:

Combine milk, vanilla, and apple cider vinegar. Rest for 5 minutes to thicken.

Sift flour, sugar, and baking powder together.

Combine wet and dry ingredients. Rest for 30 minutes.

Pour batter into a greased cake tin and air fry at 350°F (180°C) for 8 minutes.

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

Substitutions

Dairy-Free Milk: Soy, almond, or oat milk can be used instead of regular milk for those preferring a dairy-free option.

Apple Cider Vinegar: If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can use lemon juice 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 in the air fryer or microwave for a quick breakfast.

To Freeze: Freeze the pancakes between layers of baking paper wrapped in clingfilm, then place them inside a freezer-safe container. The baking paper prevents them from sticking together, and the cling film stops them from drying out. They will keep for up to 2 months. 

Serving Suggestions

Here are some delicious topping ideas for your pancakes:

• Butter
• Maple syrup
• Ice cream
• Whipped cream
• Yogurt
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Banana
• Lemon
• Walnuts
• Pecans
• Chia seeds
• Berry compote

Do you need ideas about what to serve your pancakes with? Here are some complementary drink and meal ideas that pair beautifully with pancakes:

• Vanilla Coffee
• Yogurt Mousse
• Blueberry Smoothie
• Air Fryer Pineapple

FAQ

Can you cook pancakes in the air fryer?

Yes, believe it or not, you can make fluffy round pancakes in an air fryer! It really is similar to making regular pancakes. Follow this recipe and instructions to try it out for yourself.

Can you reheat pancakes in the air fryer?

Yes, you can quickly reheat cooked pancakes in the air fryer. Simply wrap a small stack of pancakes in aluminum foil to prevent them from drying out and reheat them at 350°F for 3 minutes. 

The cake tin doesn’t fit in my air fryer; any suggestions?

You can use patty pans or small individual silicone or non-stick cake tins. Your pancakes will be much smaller (pikelet size) but still delicious. Be sure to reduce the cooking time to 4 minutes, and insert a skewer 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.

Can I make the batter in advance?

Yes. You can make the batter up to 1 day before cooking and store it in the refrigerator. Leaving the batter to rest actually helps improve the finished result.

Related Recipes

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

• Savory Breakfast Muffins
• Air Fryer Banana Muffins
• Banana Waffles
• Strawberry Cheesecake Chocolate Crepes
• Buttermilk Pancakes

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

In the comments, let me know what you think of this recipe and your favorite toppings.

This article originally appeared on Pink When.