Air Fryer Pancakes
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Back in 2023, there was a huge viral trend around making just about everything in the air fryer. No matter what you were cooking, someone on TikTok or Instagram was showing you how to make it in that magical little machine. And as someone who loves testing food trends at home, I had to know, can you really make pancakes in an air fryer?
At first, I wasn’t planning to publish this. Honestly, this post has just been sitting on my computer for almost two years. But in the spirit of helping anyone curious about air fryer pancake recipes, I figured it was time to share our experience using the Ninja Foodi to give it a go.
So let’s answer the big question: Can you make pancakes in the air fryer? Yes, you can. Should you? That’s where it gets a little tricky.
The texture and shape are pretty unpredictable. The batter doesn’t spread evenly, so you get a mix of thick and thin spots. Everyone ends up with a weird-looking pancake. But if you don’t have a griddle, your stove is out (like mine is right now), or you’re in a dorm room with nothing but an air fryer, this little breakfast hack can absolutely work in a pinch.
Ingredients
- Pancake mix (prepared and ready to cook)
- Parchment paper (not wax paper!)
- Maple syrup for serving
If your batter seems runny at all, go ahead and add a bit more pancake mix. You want it thicker than usual so it doesn’t slide all over the parchment paper. Just follow the instructions on the box and adjust as needed.
Please note that the Air Fryer that I am using is the Ninja Foodi All-in-One 6 quart. Your air fryer brand may have a different titled button than ours.
How to Make Pancakes in the Air Fryer
Preheat your air fryer for 5 minutes at 400 degrees on the Air Crisp setting.
Cut parchment paper into squares that fit your air fryer basket.
Spoon 1/4 cup of pancake batter onto a piece of parchment paper in the basket. Add another piece of parchment paper on top, then spoon more batter. Repeat until you have four layers, ending with batter on top.
Cook for 4–6 minutes at 400 degrees. I found that 6 minutes worked best, after 4 minutes, the middle layers were still raw. This could be entirely dependent on your air fryer, so I recommend checking.
Carefully remove the stack of pancakes and parchment paper. Peel off the paper (you can reuse it if you’re making more) and serve with maple syrup while they’re still warm.
Final Thoughts on This TikTok Pancake Hack
There are definitely ways to make this method better. Some people use silicone pancake molds made specifically for air fryers to help with uniform size and shape. I haven’t tried them yet, but I can definitely see how they’d help if you want to make air fryer pancakes more often.
Here is a single mold and here is a triple mold if you want to check them out.
At the end of the day, this viral air fryer recipe does work. But let’s be real—it’s not better than making pancakes the traditional way on a stovetop or griddle. Still, if you’re in a tight spot or just feel like experimenting, it’s a fun breakfast shortcut worth trying at least once.
Air Fryer Pancakes (without a mold)
Equipment
- air fryer
Ingredients
- 1 cup prepared pancake mix thickened if needed
- Parchment paper not wax paper
- Maple syrup for serving
Instructions
- Make batter according the box – If your batter is too runny, stir in a little more mix. A thicker batter helps it stay in place on the parchment paper while cooking.
- Preheat air fryer at 400°F on Air Crisp for 5 minutes.
- Cut parchment paper squares to fit your air fryer basket.
- Place one parchment paper square in the basket. Spoon about 1/4 cup of pancake batter onto it. Add another square on top, then another 1/4 cup of batter. Repeat until you have 4 layers, ending with batter on top.
- Air fry for 4–6 minutes at 400°F. Check at 4 minutes and if the middle layers are still raw, continue cooking. I found 6 minutes worked best in my Ninja Foodi Air Fryer.
- Carefully remove the stack from the air fryer. Peel away the parchment paper, serve pancakes warm, and drizzle with maple syrup.
Notes
- This is a great backup method if your stove’s not working or you’re cooking in a dorm or camper.
- Works best with thicker pancake batter and a little patience!
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
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