Air Fryer Pancakes

by: Air Fryer Eats Team
Updated: July 24, 2024


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.

a small cup of syrup being poured over a stack of air fryer pancakes

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

The ingredients needed for air fryer pancakes.
  • 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

A collage of four images showing how to make pancakes in the air fryer, using a small round cake pan as a mold.
  1. 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 400ยฐF/200ยฐC for about 5 minutes.
  2. Spray a small cake pan with cooking spray coating the bottom and sides well. Add ยฝ cup of batter to the pan, and spread it out so that it evenly covers the bottom.
  3. Turn down the heat to 350ยฐF/180ยฐC, and cook the pancake in the air fryer for 5 minutes.
  4. 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, ยพ 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 donโ€™t fall through the grates of the basket.
  • If you donโ€™t have any small cake pans (I recommend 4-6โ€ pans), you can always buy disposable aluminum pansโ€“ 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

Air fryer pancakes that are airy and fluffy, on a plate topped with whipped cream and fresh berries.

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

Can you cook pancakes on parchment paper in the air fryer?

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.

Can I air fry any pancake recipe?

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.

Can you cook frozen pancakes in the 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.

a plate stacked with 5 air fryer pancakes.
closeup of round formed pancakes that were cooked in an air fryer, topped with cream and berries.
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Air Fryer Pancakes

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.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Servings: 4 large pancakes
Calories: 142kcal

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 cups prepared pancake batter prepared according to the box instructions, or your favorite recipe

Instructions

  • Preheat your air fryer at 400ยฐF/200ยฐC for 5 minutes.
  • Grease your cake pan well (on the bottom and sides) with cooking spray and add ยฝ cup batter to the pan. Spread the batter out so it evenly covers the bottom of the pan.
  • Cook the pancakes at 350ยฐF/180ยฐC 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.
  • Youโ€™ll need to cook these pancakes in batchesโ€“ keep cooked pancakes warm in a 225ยฐF 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 youโ€™ll need: 1 cup dry pancake mix ยพ 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 donโ€™t fall through the grates of the basket. If you donโ€™t have any small cake pans (I recommend 4-6โ€ pans), you can always buy disposable aluminum pansโ€“ they work great!

Nutrition

Serving: 1pancake | Calories: 142kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 328mg | Potassium: 129mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 163IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 140mg | Iron: 1mg
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