Do you want to learn how to make muffins without a muffin pan? Many people think that making muffins without a muffin pan is impossible, but this is not true. Thanks to air fryers, people can now make delicious muffins in them easily and quickly.
An air fryer is a kitchen appliance equipped with cutting-edge air circulation technology. The machine uses produce intense heat and hot air that circulates around the food and cook, fry or bake it quickly.
Research shows that air fryers are an excellent way to prepare healthy food because they don’t require a large quantity of oil, leading to fewer calories and less fat content. What about muffins? Yes, you can make muffins in your air fryer.
All you need is to mix your favorite batter, fill liners with ingredients and place them in the air fryer’s basket for about 15 to 20 minutes. The good news is that you don’t need to change ingredients or use other methods to convert an oven-backed recipe.
On the other hand, even if you want to convert the recipe into an air fryer recipe, you only need to set the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. In that case, the cooking duration is between 10 and 12 minutes.
You can make healthy muffins for breakfast or afternoon and evening snacks. You can also make sweet muffins and eat them as a dessert. Here is everything you need to know when making muffins without a muffin pan.
Paper Baking Cups vs. Silicone Cups
Summary
Many people ask whether they should use paper baking cups or silicone cups when making muffins in an air fryer. Although you can use both paper and silicone cups, experts recommend silicone baking cups because they are relatively sturdier and hold thick muffin batter. That way, you can reduce the risk of spilling, which is common with paper cups.
In addition, it is quite easy to use silicon cups for your muffins. These cups are heavy, and you can easily fill them on the counter, allowing you to transfer them into the air fryer’s basket without the risk of spillage. Make sure you check the muffins after 10-15 minutes using a toothpick.
If you want to make mini muffin balls, use a silicone egg bites mold. These will look similar to the lemon drop cookies prepared in an air fryer. You can set the same temperature and time that you set for the cookies.
Ingredients You Need for Muffins
How to make muffins without a muffin pan? Muffins are healthy dish because it contains healthy ingredients, such as apples, carrots, raisins, and pecans. You can use yogurt, honey, applesauce, and egg to sweeten and moisten your muffins.
If you have allergies to eggs, you can use a flax egg. Besides, use nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger as spices. Muffins are loaded with essential nutrients, such as vitamins and minerals. Consuming them in the morning can provide your body with these essential nutrients, leading to higher energy levels. Here is the list of ingredients you need for making muffins in an air fryer.
- 1 ½ cups of flour
- Two teaspoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- Two teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/3 cups applesauce
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ cup plain yogurt
- 2/3 cup honey
- Two teaspoon vanilla extract
- One egg
- One cup shredded apples
- One cup shredded carrots
- ½ cup raisins
- ½ cup pecans
How to Make Muffins without a Muffin Pan – Steps
- Use a large bowl to combine all dry ingredients
- Add wet ingredients in the center of dry ingredients by making a hole in the center
- Mix the ingredients and avoid overmixing to prevent dense muffins
- Fold in ingredients like apples, carrots, pecans, and raisins
- Make sure you prepare a thick batter
- Now, put the batter into the silicone baking cups
- Make sure you fully fill the cups.
- Place the muffins cups in the basket of your air fryer
- Set the temperature to 350 degrees Fahrenheit
- Cook the muffins for about 10-12 minutes
- Check the doneness by interesting a toothpick into the center
- If the muffins are not adequately cooked, make sure you add 1-2 minutes in the cooking time
- Remember, the cooking time must not exceed 15 minutes
- Use tongs to remove the muffins from your air fryer
- Let them cool for about 15-20 minutes before serving
Key Takeaways
You can keep your muffins for 3-5 days at room temperature using a sealed container. You can also store them in the fridge for about one week and in the deep freezer for six months. You can use a wide range of muffin recipes in an air fryer at the same temperature and cooking time.
Always check your muffins after ten minutes for doneness using a toothpick. Increase the time by one minute to achieve a perfect crisp. Moreover, use silicone baking cups instead of paper cups to avoid spillage. You can fill them easily on the counter and then place them into your air fryer’s basket without spilling.
Avoid filling the silicone cups inside the air fryer because a small mistake can create a lot of mess, causing you to perform thorough cleaning. Spillage can also damage your air fryer. That’s why it is crucial to fill the cups outside of the air frying machine. Once filled, you can transfer these cups to the basket or tray. That way, you can keep the air frying machine clean and maintained.
Final Words
Muffins have a rough, pebbled, and golden brown appearance. The texture of muffins is usually large gas holes with uniform distribution in the cups. Muffins do not have a lot of tenderness when cooked in a muffin pan.
However, you can achieve crispy muffins with tenderness on the inside using an air fryer. The flavor of muffins is bland or slightly sweet. Muffins contain various essential nutrients that can improve your health. We recommend consuming them in the morning or the evening.
The texture of muffins cooked in an air fryer is similar to those baked in the oven. A perfect muffin recipe always comes out soft and moist. Thanks to the hot air technology, the heating element will remove moisture from the surface but maintain it inside, leading to better texture, taste, and deliciousness.
