Best Air Fryer for Baking: Top Picks for Cakes, Cookies, and Bread

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Published: January 20, 2026 · By
Most Consistent Baker
Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSS)

Small convection-style air fryer oven that keeps temps steady and circulates heat evenly for dependable cakes, cookies, and multi-rack baking.

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Best Air Fryer for Baking

Trying to bake in an air fryer without burnt tops and raw centers can feel like a gamble. These are the air fryers that actually hold steady heat, circulate air evenly, and fit real bakeware for reliable baking results.

Best Overall
This is the closest thing to a small convection oven that also happens to air fry.
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Best Space-Saver
If you love the idea of an air fryer oven but do not want a permanent countertop takeover, this flip-up design is a practical win.
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Best Basket-Style for Baking
For a basket air fryer, this one is unusually dependable for baking because it cooks from both directions, which helps reduce the classic problem of overbrowned tops with underdone centers.
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In-depth Reviews

Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSS)

Interior Capacity
1 cu ft
Cooking Functions
13
Temperature Range
80 to 480 F
Power
1800 W
Fits
9 x 13-inch pan, 14-lb turkey
Real Talk: This is the closest thing to a small convection oven that also happens to air fry. For baking, it shines because heat feels stable and predictable once it is preheated, so cakes rise more evenly and cookies brown without turning dry. The fan is strong but not so aggressive that lighter batters get weirdly lopsided. It is also easier to manage multiple racks when you are baking more than one item.
✅ Pros
  • Consistent baking performance with even browning
  • Handles a wide range of baked goods without constant tweaking
  • Plenty of usable rack and pan flexibility
❌ Cons
  • Takes up meaningful counter space
  • Higher price than most air fryers
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Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven (SP101)

Functions
8-in-1
Temperature Range
150 to 450 F
Power
1800 W
Storage Style
Flip-up against backsplash
Fits
13-inch pizza, 9 slices toast
Real Talk: If you love the idea of an air fryer oven but do not want a permanent countertop takeover, this flip-up design is a practical win. Baking results are reliably crisp on the outside and tender inside, especially for cookies, scones, and reheated pastries. The airflow is assertive, so you will want to keep an eye on lighter bakes, but once you learn your timing it becomes a very fast, weeknight-friendly baking tool.
✅ Pros
  • Flip-up storage makes it easier to live with in small kitchens
  • Strong convection gives quick browning for pastries and cookies
  • Simple controls that are easy to repeat consistently
❌ Cons
  • Airflow can brown tops quickly on delicate batters
  • Shallower height limits taller pans
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COSORI Dual Blaze 6.8-Qt Air Fryer

Basket Capacity
6.8 qt
Heating Elements
Top and bottom
Temperature Range
175 to 400 F
Power
1750 W
Presets
12
Real Talk: For a basket air fryer, this one is unusually dependable for baking because it cooks from both directions, which helps reduce the classic problem of overbrowned tops with underdone centers. It does especially well with brownies, bar cookies, small cakes, and baked oatmeal, where you want a more even set. The basket shape also makes it easy to lift out a pan and check doneness without fighting a cramped oven cavity.
✅ Pros
  • More even baking thanks to heat from above and below
  • Good results for bars, brownies, and small cakes
  • Less mid-bake flipping and fussing than many baskets
❌ Cons
  • Not as roomy or flexible as an oven-style unit
  • You still need the right-sized pans for best results
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Instant Omni Plus 18L Toaster Oven Air Fryer

Oven Capacity
18 L
Temperature Range
170 to 450 F
Power
1800 W
Programs
11
Includes
Rotisserie kit, air fry basket, bake pan
Real Talk: This is a strong choice when you want oven-style baking versatility without paying premium-oven prices. It bakes evenly enough for most everyday recipes, especially muffins, biscuit-style bakes, and sheet-pan cookies, and it is straightforward to switch between toast, bake, and air fry. The learning curve is mostly about rack position and timing, but once dialed in it can replace a lot of weeknight oven use.
✅ Pros
  • Great versatility for the money with true oven-style baking
  • Easy to move between baking, toasting, and air frying
  • Roomy interior for multiple items
❌ Cons
  • May need a little trial and error with rack position
  • Accessories can feel cluttery to store
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Cuisinart AirFryer Toaster Oven (TOA-70)

Interior Capacity
0.6 cu ft
Power
1800 W
Temperature Range
Warm to 450 F
Functions
7
Toast Capacity
6 slices
Real Talk: If you want a straightforward toaster-oven setup that also bakes and air fries, this one keeps things simple. For baking, it performs best with sturdy items like cookies, rolls, hand pies, and quick breads where you want gentle convection and an easy-to-monitor finish. It is not the most aggressive air fryer, but that can actually help for baking because it is less likely to blast the top before the center cooks through.
✅ Pros
  • Simple, no-fuss controls that are easy to repeat
  • Solid baking results for everyday, sturdy bakes
  • Less harsh airflow can be forgiving for cakes and breads
❌ Cons
  • Air frying is not as crisping-focused as newer designs
  • Can run a little uneven if pans are crowded
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Buying Guide

If your baking looks like…Look for…Top pick
Cookies, muffins, quick breads, and you want true oven behavior Oven-style cavity, steady heat, multiple rack positions, predictable convection Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSS)
Small kitchen, limited counter space, but you still want an air fryer oven Flip-up or compact footprint, fast preheat, easy-to-set controls Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven (SP101)
Small-batch desserts like brownies and snack cakes in a basket air fryer Bake-capable presets, even heating, less need to flip mid-bake COSORI Dual Blaze 6.8-Qt Air Fryer
You want the most baking versatility for the money Oven-style capacity, usable accessories, wide temperature range, dependable convection Instant Omni Plus 18L Toaster Oven Air Fryer

Pro Tip: The Small-Pan Rules That Make Air Fryer Baking Work

Give your pan breathing room. Air fryers bake with moving air, so a pan that fits too tightly can block airflow and leave you with pale sides and an underdone center. Aim for at least a little space around the pan so hot air can circulate.

Choose the right pan material. Light-colored aluminum is usually the most forgiving for air fryer baking. Dark pans brown faster (sometimes too fast), and glass can lag behind on heat, which can throw off timing. If you do use silicone molds, plan on a longer bake and a softer edge.

Manage top browning on purpose. If the top is getting too dark before the middle is set, drop the temperature a bit and tent loosely with foil once the surface has set. In oven-style models, moving the rack down one position often makes the biggest difference with almost no effort.

💡 Editor’s Final Thoughts

Final Verdict: The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro is the top pick for baking because it behaves the most like a true countertop oven, with consistent heat and the flexibility to handle everything from cookies to quick breads without constant babysitting. If you want a smaller footprint, the Ninja Foodi Digital Air Fry Oven is the easiest high-performing bake setup to live with day to day.

See also

If you want your air fryer baking to feel easier (and look prettier on the counter), start with kitchen accessories that upgrade everyday baking and our guide to kitchen gadgets that earn their counter space.

Frequently Asked Questions ▾

Can you really bake cakes in an air fryer?

Yes, especially smaller cakes like snack cakes, loaf-style cakes, and rounds that fit comfortably with air space around the pan. The key is using the right pan (usually metal), preheating when your model benefits from it, and lowering the temperature a bit compared to a standard oven so the top does not overbrown before the center sets.

Basket air fryer or air fryer toaster oven for baking, which is better?

An air fryer toaster oven is usually better for baking because you get more usable rack space, easier pan shapes, and more even heat across a larger surface. Basket air fryers can still bake well for small-batch desserts, but you may need to rotate pans more often and watch the top browning closely.

What pans work best for air fryer baking?

Light-colored metal pans tend to bake the most evenly in an air fryer because they heat quickly without scorching as easily as dark pans. Silicone can work for muffins and bites, but it often needs extra time and can lead to softer edges. If your model has strong top heat, choose a pan that sits lower in the cavity so the top is not too close to the heating element.

Why are my air fryer baked goods browning too fast on top?

Most air fryers push hot air from the top, so the surface can brown before the inside is done. Try dropping the temperature, moving the pan down a rack (oven-style models), tenting loosely with foil once the top is set, and avoiding dark pans that accelerate browning.

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