No Oven? No Problem. Bake with an Air Fryer Instead!

Gone are the days when we would associate the word ‘baking’ with a traditional oven. Unless you’re a professional baker or supplier of homemade baked goods, you can get creative with food recipes even without an oven. If you’re still deliberating over an oven purchase, you might (finally!) be able to make up your mind after reading these baking hacks with an air fryer, which is basically a compact countertop convection oven.

Burnt Cheesecake  

Image Source: Kirbie Cravings

While there are lots of techniques to consider when baking the perfect burnt cheesecake in an oven, you can leave those out when you use an air fryer. Ingredients you will need include the following:

  • 250g cream cheese
  • 125ml whipped cream
  • ½ cup caster sugar
  • 3 large eggs
  • 2 tbsp wheat flour
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

Simply combine all these ingredients in a blender or a stand mixer bowl, then pour the mixture into a 6-inch round baking mold lined with parchment paper. Place the mold in the air fryer basket. Set the air fryer temperature at 180°C and timer at 25 minutes. Once the time is up, allow your cake to cool and transfer it to the refrigerator to chill before indulging in the creamy and cheesy cake.

Crispy & Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookies

Image Source: New Air Fryers

Some people like them crunchy à la Famous Amos cookies while some others like them chewy like the ones sold at Subway.  What if we combine both textures with crispiness on the outside and gooeyness on the inside? Air fryers can certainly do so. Prepare these ingredients to make the cookie dough.

  • 2 sticks unsalted butter
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp baking soda
  • 2 ⅓ cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chunks/chips
  • Cooking spray

Mix both types of sugar, butter, egg, and vanilla extract in a bowl. Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a separate bowl. Next, combine both mixtures until they are fully incorporated. Toss in chocolate chips or chunks and stir with a spatula until combined.

Preheat your air fryer at 180°C for 5 minutes. In the air fryer basket, lay a parchment paper. Drop an ice-cream scoop or 2 spoonful of the dough onto the parchment paper, leaving 5 cm apart between each ball. Then cook the dough in the air fryer for about 5 to 6 minutes. Voila! It is that easy – perhaps the simplest cookie-baking process ever.

Baked Salmon, Baked Potatoes and Brussel Sprouts

Image Source: Lively Table

Whipping up a balanced meal is not as energy- and time-consuming as you might think. This dish only takes less than 20 minutes, including preparation and cooking time. To make your dish herby and fresh, here are the ingredients you will need:

  • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 tsp chopped thyme leaves (dry or fresh)
  • 1 medium lemon
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp ground black pepper
  • 1 salmon fillet
  • Cooking spray
  • ½ cup diced potatoes
  • Brussel sprouts
  • 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
  • 1 tbsp honey

Preheat your air fryer at 200°C for 10 minutes. Whisk the top six ingredients until they are well-combined. Then, brush this mixture all over your salmon fillets and pour the remaining mixture over your Brussel sprouts and potatoes evenly.

Grease the air fryer basket with cooking spray before placing the salmon fillet with its skin facing down and tossing in Brussel sprouts and potatoes. Cook the fillet for 6 to 8 minutes depending on your preference for doneness.

Once it’s done, remove the fillet and allow the rest to cook for about 1 to 3 minutes more until they turn golden brown and crispy. In the meantime, whisk balsamic vinegar and honey together. Finally, drizzle it over the Brussel sprouts once your dish is ready to be served. 

Optional: If you would like some extra spiciness to your dish, you can also mix in some chili powder or flakes in advance. Top the dish with chopped parsley to spruce it up!

Not only are air fryers a great substitute for traditional ovens, but they also can be used in various ways to produce scrumptious cuisines. Buttermilk chicken, salted egg yolk fries, chocolate muffins, CDO candied and cheesy bacon, etc. – so many possibilities! Don’t worry, Chef Boy Logro won’t be judging your dish, so be daring to try any recipes with the air fryer!

23 thoughts on “No Oven? No Problem. Bake with an Air Fryer Instead!”

  1. Having an air fryer makes your life so easy in making a delicious dish and I think this is the right time for me to buy an air fryer.

  2. All those dishes look absolutely delicious! But the cheesecake and chocolate chip cookies with definitely be a huge hit for my kids. It’s their absolute favorite treat.

  3. Cheesecake and chocolate chip cookies looks yummy. Sometimes I use air fryer too for baking cake. Air fryer will function at its best if you let it reach the proper temperature before using it for baking or cooking

  4. I am so intrigued by air fryers but I wonder if I use it if I get one. These are some great recipes too!

  5. This years christmas gift in Sweden (voted) is a portable stove, so I would love some recipe’s that you can use on a portable gas-stove outdoors :))

  6. I got an air fryer a few weeks ago and I wonder what to do with it, as I have never used it before, and your post offered me great ideas. I love salmon, potatoes and Brussel sprouts, and an air fryer could not be more handy,

  7. This is such a good idea. especially for people who may not have the space for an oven or move alot for work etc

  8. As air fryers have become very popular, I’ve been thinking of getting one. I’m not a big fryer person but it might come in handy.

  9. I’ve been eyeing an air fryer for awhile, they seem like a great tool! I love how versatile they are.

  10. I have been wanting to buy an air fryer and this post helps it to be at the forefront of my mind again. I had no idea that you could make some of these things in an air fryer.

  11. Wow I had no clue that I can bake in an air fryer! Those choc chip cookies look insanely good! I need to try them.

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