Air Fryer Fudgy Brownies
A small-batch brownie slab, shiny top and all, no oven heated.
Kit that makes this foolproof
A few inexpensive bits that get you crispier results with less mess.
A roomy air fryer
A larger basket means fewer batches and crispier results.
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Perforated liners
Less sticking and mess, without blocking the airflow.
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Silicone tongs
Turn and lift without scratching the non-stick basket.
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Before You Start
An air fryer bakes a shockingly good brownie if you drop the temperature and trust the wobble. This is a half-batch of the classic cocoa brownie sized for a 15 to 18 cm tin that fits the basket: crackly top, dense middle, eight squares. The lower heat matters, since brownies scorch on top in the compact chamber at oven settings.
Instructions
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1
Line a 15 to 18 cm tin that fits your basket with baking paper, leaving handles of paper for lifting.
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2
Whisk the hot melted butter and sugar hard for a minute. This partial sugar melt is where the shiny top comes from.
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3
Whisk in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla, and keep whisking for another minute until glossy.
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4
Fold in the cocoa, flour and salt until just combined, then the chocolate chips. Scrape into the tin.
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5
Air fry at 160°C / 320°F for 20 to 24 minutes. The top should be set and crackled, and a skewer 3 cm from the edge should come out with moist crumbs, not liquid. The centre keeps a slight underdone look.
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6
Cool completely in the tin, a full hour, before lifting out and cutting into 8. Warm brownies cut like mud and set like fudge.
♨️ Air fryer notes
- Cook at 160°C / 320°F and preheat for 2 to 3 minutes for the crispiest result.
- Keep everything in a single layer with space around each piece. Overcrowding steams food instead of crisping it, so cook in batches if your basket is small.
- Shake or turn halfway, and check a few minutes early, since air fryers cook faster than ovens and every model runs slightly differently.
💡 Cook's tips
- If the top browns before 15 minutes, your air fryer runs hot: drop to 150°C and tent loosely with foil, tucked tight so the fan cannot lift it.
- The skewer test happens near the edge, never the centre, which is supposed to look underdone at pull time.
🔀 Make it your own
- Swirl a spoonful of peanut butter through the top before baking.
- A pinch of flaky salt on top after baking, as with all brownies everywhere.
📦 Storing & reheating
Airtight at room temperature for 4 days, improving on day two like all fudgy brownies. Freezes cut for 3 months.
❓ Frequently asked
Can you bake brownies in an air fryer?
Yes, in a tin that fits the basket, at a reduced 160°C / 320°F for 20 to 24 minutes. The lower temperature stops the top scorching before the middle sets.
Why did my air fryer brownies burn on top?
The heating element sits close and the fan is strong, so oven temperatures overbake the surface. Drop 20 degrees from any oven brownie recipe and shield with foil if needed.
Adapting your own recipe? Use the oven to air fryer converter for temp and time, or the recipe scaler to halve or double this.
