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Air-Fryer Mocha Cupcakes

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Test Kitchen Approved
Total Time

Prep: 25 min. Cook: 15 min./batch + cooling

Makes

1 dozen

Updated: Nov. 28, 2023
These luscious air-fryer cupcakes smell wonderful while they cook. If you have the drawer-type air fryer, you'll need to use individual silicone cupcake liners. If you have a bigger air fryer, a 6-cup muffin tin should fit in nicely. —Mary Bilyeu, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Air-Fryer Mocha Cupcakes
Air-Fryer Mocha Cupcakes Recipe photo by Taste of Home
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup brewed coffee, cold
  • 1/2 cup canola oil
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 3 teaspoons cider vinegar
  • 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/3 cup baking cocoa
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • MOCHA FROSTING:
  • 3 tablespoons milk chocolate chips
  • 3 tablespoons semisweet chocolate chips
  • 1/3 cup butter, softened
  • 2 cups confectioners' sugar
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons brewed coffee
  • 1/2 cup chocolate sprinkles

Directions

  1. Preheat air fryer to 325°. In a large bowl, beat sugar, coffee, oil, eggs, vinegar and vanilla until well blended. In a small bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt; gradually beat into coffee mixture until blended.
  2. For muffin tins that fit in air fryer, fill paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full. Otherwise, use silicone muffin cups. Place muffin cups in a single layer in air fryer. Cook until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, 11-13 minutes. Cool completely before removing from muffin cup.
  3. For frosting, in a microwave, melt chips and butter; stir until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar and enough coffee to reach desired consistency. Pipe frosting onto cupcakes. Top with sprinkles; gently press to adhere.

Air-Fryer Cupcakes Tips

How long should you preheat the air-fryer before air-frying the cupcakes?

Like an oven, preheating an air fryer ensures that your dishes start to cook right away. Because these appliances are fairly small, they typically take only a few minutes to reach the targeted temperature. Check your manufacturer's guide for the correct timing, and check our air-fryer tips to learn more about how to best use your appliance.

Can you use paper cupcake liners instead of silicone?

If you use your air-fryer for muffins or cupcakes enough, you may want to consider the custom cupcake pan accessories sold by most air-fryer brands. Until then, if you don’t have silicone liners, try doubling up your paper liners for these air-fryer cupcakes to make them a little sturdier.

How do you store air-fryer cupcakes?

After you’ve had your fill, you can store your cakes in the fridge. Just be sure to eat them within 2 or 3 days. If you’d rather freeze them, you can seal unfrosted cupcakes in an airtight container or zip-top bag. They’ll keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. When you’ve got a cupcake craving, set them on the counter to defrost. Once they’re up to room temperature, top them with a fresh batch of frosting.

—Maggie Knoebel, Taste of Home Associate Recipe Editor/Tester
Air Fryer Cook Times
In our testing, we find cook times vary dramatically between brands of air fryers. As a result, we give wider than normal ranges on suggested cook times. Begin checking at the first time listed and adjust as needed.

Nutrition Facts

1 cupcake: 414 calories, 19g fat (5g saturated fat), 45mg cholesterol, 260mg sodium, 59g carbohydrate (43g sugars, 1g fiber), 4g protein.