Air Fryer Pancakes are so easy to make. This simple breakfast recipe is perfect for a busy weekday. You can top these delicious pancakes in the air fryer in so many different ways. The options are endless. Not only are air fried pancakes quick to make, this is also an excellent recipe for the kids to learn to make. Can you cook pancakes in air fryer? Of course!
I love when kids get involved in the kitchen to help make meals. Over the years, I've found children are more likely to eat something if they are the ones who made it. Or at least if they helped make the meal.
These pancakes in the air fryer are an easy and fun way to get the kids involved with meal preparation. They will love picking their own toppings for their air fryer pancakes.
I'm telling you, you're going to LOVE this pancake recipe as much as we do!
What Should I Top Air Fryer Pancakes With?
- Honey or Maple Pecan Butter
- Maple syrup
- Pancake syrup
- Butter pecan syrup
- Whipped cream
- Powdered sugar
- Sprinkles
- Chocolate chips
- Fresh fruits like diced apples, sliced bananas, fresh berries, etc.
- Cinnamon sugar mixture
What Type of Air Fryer Should I Use for Pancakes in Air Fryer?
I used a basket-style air fryer to make these delicious pancakes in air fryer. That's not to say that you can't use the oven-style air fryer when you're making pancakes in air fryer. You can use any type of air fryer that you have on hand at your home. I just prefer a basket-style like this one on Amazon.
What Do You Use to Make Pancake Muffins?
For pancake muffins, I use individual Silicone Baking Cups to make these air pancakes but you can use a sheet or tray of them if that's easier for you. I LOVE the shape and it makes these air fried pancakes so easy to freeze.
The kids and husband also seem to prefer this round shape to flat, traditional pancakes so I go with it. They're super tasty so why would I mind making them?
Working with these silicone molds could not be easier. Just you wait and see.
How Do You Make Flat Pancakes in Air Fryer?
To create amazing, flat pancakes inside your air fryer we use a five or five-and-a-half inch baking pan with a little cooking spray and you're ready to go!
How to Make Your Own Buttermilk
Buttermilk gives these air fryer pancakes the best taste. Did you know that you can freeze buttermilk so that you always have some on hand for when you need a small amount? If you do not have buttermilk already, you can make your own. Or you could even use a powdered buttermilk substitute.
To make your own buttermilk, you will need two-and-a-half cups of milk inside of a bowl or measuring cup.
Then you will need to add two tablespoons of vinegar or lemon juice to your milk.
Once you add your vinegar or lemon juice to your milk, allow your milk to sit on the counter for about 10 minutes.
This will give your milk time to get sour. Buttermilk is essentially soured milk.
Use your homemade buttermilk just like you would use store bought buttermilk. You can use any type of milk that you have on hand. However, only use dairy milk to make your own homemade buttermilk. Non-dairy milk will not work as well as dairy-based milk. I like to use whole milk for best taste results when I am making homemade buttermilk.
How Do I Store Air Fryer Pancakes?
I have two different storage options for your air fryer pancakes. Since these pancake muffins in air fryer make such a delicious and easy breakfast, I know that you will want to make a double batch so you have plenty for the following day.
The first option is to store your leftover air fryer pancakes in the fridge. These soft pancakes store well in the refrigerator. All you need is to allow your pancake muffins to come to room temperature and then place them in the fridge, in a storage container. They'll keep for up to five days in the refrigerator.
A second option is the freezer. Airfryer pancakes can be stored in the freezer for up to three months. Keeping your pancakes in the freezer really helps you get breakfast together in a hurry on those busy weekday mornings.
Are you rushing off to school? Air fryer pancakes from the freezer are really the perfect breakfast, and the kids will love them. You can find my directions for freezing your pancakes below.
How to Freeze Pancakes
I love freezing these pancake muffins for later. You know that old saying "breakfast is the most important meal of the day"? I always say breakfast is also the most challenging meal of the day.
Mornings are busy around my house, and finding time to make breakfast each morning can be challenging. So, freezing these air fryer pancakes is just what I need for a quick and easy breakfast.
If you are making your air fryer pancakes to freeze here are the cooking directions.
Allow your pancakes to cool completely, and then you are ready to get them in the freezer.
When freezing your air fryer pancakes, I suggest wrapping them individually or allowing them to freeze individually first, before storing them in an airtight container or a large resealable bag.
When you wrap them individually, you can pull them out one or two at a time. I frequently wrap my pancake muffins in plastic wrap.
Double wrapping will help ward off freezer burn. Once your pancake muffins are wrapped, place them in a freezer-safe bag or container and store them in the freezer for up to three months.
For the most part our pancakes never last longer than a few weeks inside our freezer. Just wait until you see how easy these pancakes are to prepare right from your freezer frozen.
I still can't believe how easy it is! I'm sure you'll feel the exact same way.
How to Reheat Frozen Pancakes
There is no need to thaw your air fryer pancakes. You can reheat fully-cooked air fryer pancakes still frozen in the microwave or air fryer.
Thawing Frozen Pancakes in Air Fryer
If you want to reheat your frozen pancake muffins in your air fryer, don't worry. I've got steps to help you do just that.
- Preheat your air fryer to 300 degrees
- Place your frozen pancake muffins in your air fryer basket and reheat for four to five minutes
- Remember that you are not cooking your pancakes again. You are just reheating them. This should happen quickly
Thawing Frozen Pancakes in the Microwave
Reheating your air fryer pancakes in the microwave is a snap. Place your frozen air fryer pancakes on a microwave-safe plate, then microwave for 30 to 60 seconds until your pancake muffins are warm through the center.
Can I Add Anything to These Pancakes?
There are so many options that you add to your pancakes. Here are some of my favorite suggestions.
- Diced apples
- Cinnamon
- Pumpkin pie spice
- Bananas
- Chopped nuts
- Peanut butter
- Chocolate chips
- Fresh or frozen blueberries
Air Fried Pancakes or Muffins Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons granular sugar
- 2.5 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2.5 cups buttermilk
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
- 2 large eggs, room temperature
- Half a teaspoon vanilla extract
- Cooking spray
How to Make Pancakes in an Air Fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 325 degrees F
- Grease silicone baking cups
- Add flour, sugar, baking powder, sugar, and salt to a mixing bowl and whisk
- Add buttermilk, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl and whisk together
- Next, add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture and mix until just incorporated
- Fill baking cups with pancake batter just over two-thirds of the way full
- Place in the air fryer basket in batches (I did four at a time)
- Set timer and cook for seven to eight minutes or until browned on top
Notes:
- Do not overcrowd your air fryer. Your air fried pancakes will not cook well if they are overcrowded. No more than four muffins per batch
- Make sure that your ingredients are room temperature before starting to make your pancakes
- Cook times can vary based on the brands of air fryers. Your pancake muffins may need a little more cooking time or a little less. Keep an eye on your pancake muffins for the last two or three minutes of your cook time
Save time in the kitchen on busy mornings without skimping on breakfast. Make these delicious pancakes ahead of time and have them ready to reheat and eat on a hectic morning.
Your children will love how tasty these air fried pancakes or muffins are, and you can help them love them even more by jazzing your pancake muffins up with fun toppings.
More Delicious Air Fryer Recipes
Crispy Air Fryer Bacon Twists
Air Fryer Pizza
Apple Dumplings
Buffalo Chicken Wings in the air fryer
Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
Air Fryer Pancakes and Pancake Muffins Video
Air Fryer Pancakes and Pancake Muffins
Equipment
- 5 or 5 ½ inch cake pan that will fit in your air fryer for flat pancakes
- 7 inch cake pan if it will fit inside your air fryer
- silicone or metal full size muffin pan that will fit in your air fryer for pancake muffins
Ingredients
- 2 ½ cups flour
- 2 tablespoons granular sugar
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 2 teaspoons baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 ½ cups buttermilk
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled
- 2 large eggs room temperature
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Get out and measure your ingredients.
- Preheat air fryer to 325 degrees F.
- Grease silicone baking cups.
- Add flour, sugar, baking powder and sugar, and salt to a mixing bowl.
- Add buttermilk, butter, eggs and vanilla extract to a large mixing bowl.
- Whisk both bowls together.
- Add buttermilk mixture to flour mixture.
- Mix until just incorporated.
Pancake Muffins
- Fill baking cups just over ⅔ of the way full. Place in air fryer basket in batches (I did 4 at a time).
- Cook for 7-8 minutes or until browned on top.
- Remove your pancake muffins from the air fryer.
- Place your air fryer pancake muffins on a plate and top with your favorite toppings.
- Serve and Enjoy every bite.
Flat Pancakes
- Prepare your 5 to 7 inch cake cake pan with cooking spray.
- Add spoonful's of batter to your prepared cake pan until batter is half way full.
- Place inside your air fryer.
- Set your air fryer temperature to 325 degrees and preheat your air fryer.
- Set your timer for 5 to 6 minutes, with 5 inch pan, around 8 minutes for each 6 inch pan, or if using a 7 inch cake pan set tier for 10 minutes, removing after each is cooked.
- Place on serving plate and serve or set aside.
- Make a stack, if desired.
- Add berries, bananas, chocolate chips, butter, peanut butter, nutella or powdered sugar.
- Add maple syrup.
- OR Serve with our homemade pecan butter and butter pecan syrup.
- Enjoy every bite!
Notes
- Do not overcrowd your air fryer. Your pancakes will not cook well if they are overcrowded. No more than four muffins per batch.
- Make sure that your ingredients are room temperature before starting to make your pancakes.
- Cook times can vary based on the brands of air fryers. Your pancake muffins may need a little more cooking time or a little less. Keep an eye on your pancake muffins for the last two or three minutes of your cook time.
Kate McMurry
I am mainly interested in making pancakes in my air fryer, and possibly crepes if I can get pancakes to work. How much batter do you use per pancake, 1/4 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/2 cup? What do you use to shape your pancakes? Do you use a metal cooking ring set on top of parchment paper? Or do you use a 7-inch cake pan? Or nothing? Your pancakes seem perfectly round. Why do the edges seem to stick up more than the center? Thank you.
Karin and Ken
We use a round pan like this 7 inch pizza pan or this 8 inch, depending on how big your air fryer is. This is a set of two 7 inch pans that work great too. The edges seem to always be raised a little. Add enough pancake batter to reach to edges of each round pan and the recipe works beautifully. Usually about 1/3 of a cup. As for crepes, we have tried to make them in the air fryer and the problem we always have is thinning the crepe without it burning. it's difficult to do because the air fryer is so hot. My husband preheated the pan inside the air fryer to 375 degrees and then removed the hot pan, added the crepe batter, smeared it all over the pan and returned it to the hot air fryer for a minute with the lid closed(unit off) and the crepes worked well. Just be careful because the pan is hot! Please let me know how you make out. I would love to hear. I hope I've helped you at least a little. Take care and all the best. Karin