Incredibly tender, fluffy pancakes are so simple to make in the air fryer! These Air Fryer Pancakes can be made with any pancake mix or recipe, and they are a family favorite in the morning.
Recipe Overview
This recipe doesn’t take much more time than it would take to pan-fry pancakes. They’ll come out super thick, fluffy, and perfectly round every time!
You’ll have’ll have to cook air fryer pancakes one at a time, but each pancake is large, and only takes about 5 minutes to “bake”. Plus, you don’t have to flip them like you would on a griddle.
Ingredients you’ll need
- Pancake Batter – You’ll need your favorite boxed pancake mix, plus the ingredients called for on the box. This recipe calls for 2 cups of prepared pancake batter, which is typically made with one cup of pancake mix, milk, an egg, and oil.
- Whole milk: Depending on the pancake mix you’re using you may need to add milk.
- Egg: most pancake mixes call for an egg.
How to Make These Pancakes
- Mix The Pancake Batter: Follow the instructions on the box and mix together a batch of pancake batter in a large mixing bowl. While you’re doing this, preheat the air fryer at 400°F/200°C for about 5 minutes.
- Spray a small cake pan with cooking spray coating the bottom and sides well. Add ½ cup of batter to the pan, and spread it out so that it evenly covers the bottom.
- Turn down the heat to 350°F/180°C, and cook the pancake in the air fryer for 5 minutes.
- Let the pancake cool in the pan, then remove it re-grease, and refill the pan to make the next pancake. Keep going, cooking one large pancake at a time until you’ve used all of the pancake batter.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- The ingredients needed for your pancakes will vary based on the brand of pancake mix. I’m using Pearl Milling Company Pancake Mix, and I needed: 1 cup dry pancake mix, ¾ cup whole milk, 1 large egg, and 1 tablespoon vegetable oil.
- This recipe will work with any brand or type of pancake mix, or with your favorite homemade pancake recipe!
- The best way to cook pancakes in the air fryer is to use a small cake pan to ensure that they keep their shape and don’t fall through the grates of the basket.
- If you don’t have any small cake pans (I recommend 4-6” pans), you can always buy disposable aluminum pans– they work great!
- Grease the pan well so that there is no risk of the pancakes sticking! As a bonus, that oil will give your pancakes nicely crispy edges.
- Unless you are cooking with a large oven-style air fryer, you’ll likely only be able to cook one pancake at a time. As you air fry each one, keep it in a warm oven until the rest are ready.
What To Serve With These Pancakes
Top your pancakes with maple syrup, whipped cream, fresh berries, or anything that you enjoy on pancakes!
On the side, whip up a batch of air fryer sausage links or crispy air fryer bacon.
FAQs
I’ve seen videos on YouTube and TikTok where people show this as being possible, but I have to tell you, I tested it, and it was a DISASTER! Trust me! In order to air fry any type of liquid batter, it must be contained. To make pancakes, cook them in a small cake pan instead. They come out perfectly round and you won’t have any drippy, sticky mess to clean up like I did.
We’ve tested air fryer pancakes with many different box mixes, including gluten-free mixes and they all worked perfectly! You may have different results with pancake recipes that are mostly bananas or pumpkin, or carb-free pancakes that are mostly made with eggs. Adjust the cooking time as needed if you decide to try any of those specialty pancake recipes in your air fryer.
Yes, you can! Follow the instructions in my recipe for frozen waffles in the air fryer, and reduce the time by a minute or two, cooking just until the frozen pancakes are done.
Air Fryer Pancakes
Equipment
- 4 or 6-inch cake pan
Ingredients
- 2 cups prepared pancake batter prepared according to the box instructions, or your favorite recipe
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer at 400°F/200°C for 5 minutes.
- Grease your cake pan well (on the bottom and sides) with cooking spray and add ½ cup batter to the pan. Spread the batter out so it evenly covers the bottom of the pan.
- Cook the pancakes at 350°F/180°C for 5 minutes, or until they are golden brown. Remove the cake pan from the air fryer and allow the pancake to cool in the pan for 1-2 minutes. Then carefully remove them and repeat with any remaining pancake batter.
- You’ll need to cook these pancakes in batches– keep cooked pancakes warm in a 225°F oven for up to 30 minutes.
Notes
- The ingredients needed for your pancakes will vary based on the brand of pancake mix you’re using. For Pearl Milling Company Pancake Mix you’ll need: 1 cup dry pancake mix ¾ cup whole milk 1 large egg 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- The best way to cook pancakes in the air fryer is to use a small cake pan to ensure that they keep their shape and don’t fall through the grates of the basket. If you don’t have any small cake pans (I recommend 4-6” pans), you can always buy disposable aluminum pans– they work great!
