I love making air fryer carrot cake every now and then because they are super moist, tender, and rich in flavor. When topped with traditional cream frosting it makes a delicious dessert.
You don’t have to wait for Easter to enjoy your delicious carrot cake or carrot muffins. Enjoy it anytime you want because the recipe for carrot cake is quite simple and the air fryer is best for baking. And if you love simple baking then next you should definitely try making a banana bread recipe.
I simply love warm carrot cake without any frosting. However, you can enjoy them depending on your liking. And don’t worry I’ve shared the frosting recipe that you can try with your carrot cake.
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How to make an air fryer carrot cake?
The carrot cake recipe is the most simple and easy cake recipe I’ve made by far. I can say that you’ll enjoy making this classic carrot cake recipe.
Ingredients for air fryer carrot cake:
- 1 cup carrot (grated)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs (room temperature)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup sugar (brown/white)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions for air fryer carrot cake:
Step 1:
Grate 1 cup of carrot and set aside.
Step 2:
Take a mixing bowl to add all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon powder. Mix them until well combined and set aside.
Step 3:
Take a large mixing bowl to add eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk them together until the sugar dissolves.
Once the sugar gets dissolved add the oil and whisk until well combined.
Step 4:
Fold the dry mixture into the egg mixture. Make sure you don’t over-mix them because it results in a dense and chewy texture.
Once the dry mixture is well combined add the grated carrots, and add walnuts if using. Mix them until well combined.
Step 5:
Prepare a cake pan or an oven-proof pan by lining parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Preheat the air fryer to 160C/320F for 5 minutes.
Step 6:
Pour the carrot cake batter about ⅔ part of the pan and tap to remove the air bubbles.
Place the pan into the air fryer basket. Cook at 160C/320F for 30 minutes.
Insert a clean toothpick in the center of the cake to check if the cake is cooked. If the toothpick comes out clean your carrot cake is cooked.
Step 7:
Once the air fryer carrot cake has finished cooking, remove it from the air fryer and let it cool completely.
Spread the frosting and enjoy your cake.
Ingredients for cream cheese frosting:
- 4 oz cream cheese (soften)
- 2 tablespoons room temperature butter
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
Instructions for cream cheese frosting:
- Take a mixing bowl to add cream cheese and butter. Mix them smoothly with a hand mixture or electric mixture.
- Once the mixture is smooth and creamy add powdered sugar and vanilla essence. Mix them until well combined.
- Apply on the cake and enjoy.
You can find the air fryer carrot cake recipe in the printable card below:
Substitutions
Sometimes you don’t have the exact ingredients mentioned in the recipe and you just drop out. But here are some helpful substitutions idea/tips for the air fryer carrot cake recipe that you can use.
- You can use cake flour instead of all-purpose flour.
- If you don’t like walnuts you can use pecans, raisins, or roasted almonds.
- In place of vegetable oil, neutral-flavored oil is the best choice.
- You can use store-bought cream cheese frosting instead of making it at home.
Recipe Tips
- Make sure to preheat the air fryer before making any kind of food.
- If you don’t have a baking pan, use any oven-proof pan.
- To avoid cake sticking on the bottom use parchment paper or alumunium foil.
- Do not pour all the cake batter at once, pour about ⅔ part of the pan for the best result. Do it in batches if necessary.
- To check if the cake is fully cooked insert a clean toothpick in the middle of the cake. If the toothpick comes out clean your cake is ready. If the middle of the cake is still wet cook it further.
- Allow the cake to cook before removing it from the cake pan.
What to serve with carrot cake
- I love this classic air fryer carrot cake mostly for my breakfast with a hot cup of coffee or milk.
- You can enjoy the sweet carrot cake as a dessert with cream cheese frosting.
Storage
Make sure to cool down the cake completely before storing it. Place the carrot cake in an air-tight container and store it in the refrigerator. It’s good for 4-5 days.
You can also freeze it for longer storage. Place the cake in a freezer-proof container and store it in the freezer. It’s good for 2-3 months.
But make sure there is no cream cheese frosting if you want to store them in the freezer. The frosting will begin to form ice crystals after a month.
Reheating
Place the cake in the air fryer and reheat them at 160C/320F for 2-3 minutes or until warm through.
Here are some of the frequently asked questions:
Can I bake cake in air fryer?
Yes, air fryers are not only made for making fries and chicken. If you love baking air fryer is the best appliance. You can bake your favorite desserts in an air fryer and satisfy your sweet tooth!
How do I store this cake?
You can put them in an air-tight container and store them in the refrigerator.
How long will this cake last?
Their fryer carrot cake is good for about 4-5 days if stored in the refrigerator. And they last for 1 month with frosting in the freezer, and they last for 2-3 months without the cream cheese frosting.
Can I freeze air fryer carrot cake?
Yes, you can freeze the carrot cake. Place the cake in a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer. It lasts for about two to three months.
If you want to store them in the freezer, just make sure there isn't any cream cheese icing. Because after a month, the icing will start to crystalize.
If you’ve tried this recipe, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below.
You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest for more easy & Tasty air fryer recipes.
📖 Recipe
Air Fryer Carrot Cake
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
Ingredients for air fryer carrot cake:
- 1 cup carrot (grated)
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 eggs (room temperature)
- ½ cup vegetable oil
- ⅓ cup sugar (brown/white)
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Ingredients for cream cheese frosting:
- 4 oz cream cheese (soften)
- 2 tablespoons room temperature butter
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
Instructions
Instructions for air fryer carrot cake:
- Grate 1 cup of carrot and set aside.1 cup carrot
- Take a mixing bowl to add all-purpose flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon powder. Mix them until well combined and set aside.1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon powder
- Take a large mixing bowl to add eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract. Whisk them together until the sugar dissolves. Once the sugar gets dissolved add the oil and whisk until well combined.2 eggs, ½ cup vegetable oil, ⅓ cup sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla essence, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- Fold the dry mixture into the egg mixture. Make sure you don’t over-mix them because it results in a dense and chewy texture.
- Once the dry mixture is well combined add the grated carrots, and add walnuts if using. Mix them until well combined.
- Prepare a cake pan or an oven-proof pan by lining parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Preheat the air fryer to 160C/320F for 5 minutes.
- Pour the carrot cake batter about ⅔ part of the pan and tap to remove the air bubbles.
- Place the pan in the air fryer into the air fryer basket. Cook at 160C/320F for 30 minutes.
- Insert a clean toothpick in the center of the cake to check if the cake is cooked. If the toothpick comes out clean your carrot cake is cooked.
- Once the air fryer carrot cake has finished cooking, remove it from the air fryer and let it cool completely. Spread the frosting and enjoy your cake.
Instructions for cream cheese frosting:
- Take a mixing bowl to add cream cheese and butter. Mix them smoothly with a hand mixture or electric mixture.4 oz cream cheese, 2 tablespoons room temperature butter
- Once the mixture is smooth and creamy add powdered sugar and vanilla essence. Mix them until well combined.¾ cup powdered sugar
- Apply on the cake and enjoy.
