Air Fryer Muffins

Muffins are quick, tender bakes with a softly domed top and a crumb that should stay light rather than cake-like. This air fryer version keeps the format practical for small-batch baking, using a simple vanilla-scented batter enriched with butter, milk and egg, then folded with blueberries for pockets of jammy fruit. The key is restraint: mix only until the flour disappears, portion into a tin that fits the basket, and bake at 170°C (340°F) until risen and golden. Best served warm, they work for breakfast, afternoon tea or an easy homemade sweet without turning on the oven.
Cuisine style American-style home baking
Flavor profile Sweet • Fruity • Buttery
Techniques Air frying • Folding batter
Key equipment Air fryer • Muffin tin
Cooking style Minimal cleanup • Make-ahead friendly
Time commitment Under 1 hour

Why this recipe works

  • Fast small-batch baking: The air fryer preheats quickly and bakes the muffins in a short window, making them practical when you do not want to use a full oven.
  • Simple batter method: Separating the wet and dry ingredients, then folding them together briefly, keeps the method straightforward and helps prevent a tough crumb.
  • Lightly sweet, fruit-led flavour: Caster sugar sweetens the batter without overwhelming the blueberries, so the fruit stays bright and slightly jammy.

Get the most out of this recipe

Texture tips

  • Keep the batter lumpy: Stop folding as soon as no dry flour remains. A slightly uneven batter gives a softer muffin than a smooth, heavily mixed one.
  • Manage juicy berries: Very ripe or wet blueberries can streak the batter and sink; coating them in the flour mixture helps distribute them more evenly.

Timing notes

  • Best served warm: These muffins are at their softest after a brief cool, when the crumb has settled but the blueberries are still jammy.
  • Let them set before lifting: Leaving the muffins in the tin for a few minutes helps them firm up, making them easier to remove without breaking.

Make-ahead tips

  • Refresh before serving: Rewarm cooled muffins in the air fryer at 160°C (320°F) for a few minutes to revive the crumb and soften the fruit.
  • Freeze once cooled: Cool the muffins completely before freezing in an airtight container. Defrost at room temperature, then reheat gently before serving.

Equipment you'll need

Ingredients
Instructions
Print
  1. Put a muffin tin that fits your air fryer basket in the air fryer and preheat to 170°C (340°F) for 3 minutes. Lightly grease the cups with a little of the butter, then melt the remaining butter and let it cool slightly.
  2. In a bowl, whisk the milk, eggs, vanilla and melted butter until smooth. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt.
  3. Pour the wet mixture into the dry ingredients and fold just until combined; the batter should be lumpy, not smooth. Fold in most of the blueberries, saving a few to press on top.
  4. Divide the batter between the muffin cups and top with the reserved blueberries. Air fry at 170°C (340°F) for 14 to 16 minutes, until risen and a skewer inserted in the centre comes out clean.
  5. Leave the muffins in the tin for 5 minutes, then lift out and cool for another 5 minutes before eating. They are best warm, when the crumb is soft and the blueberries are jammy.

Made this recipe? Rate it — a comment is optional.

Recipe notes

Tips

  • Do not overmix once the flour is added; a few lumps help keep the muffins tender.
  • If using very juicy blueberries, toss them through the flour mixture first to help reduce sinking and streaking.
  • If you are pregnant, elderly, immunocompromised, or serving young children, use eggs that are produced to be eaten raw or lightly cooked, or bake until the centres are fully set.

Substitutions

  • Replace Blueberry with mixed berries for a similar result with a mix of fruit flavours.
  • Replace Vanilla extract with vanilla bean paste for a fuller vanilla note.

Storage

  • Refrigerate up to 3 days
  • Cool completely, then store in an airtight container. Refresh in the air fryer at 160°C (320°F) for 2 to 4 minutes. Freeze for up to 2 months and defrost at room temperature before reheating.

Ratings & reviews

Liked this recipe? Share your feedback to support our cooking community.

Tried this recipe?

Choose 1–5 stars. A comment is optional.

If you leave a comment, use 10–500 characters.

Stay inspired

Discover new recipes, seasonal favourites and cooking inspiration every day. Follow JustRecipes on Pinterest and Spillt.

Air Fryer Muffins
Image by JustRecipes
Pinterest

Recipe overview

  • Servings: 12 pieces
  • Yield: blueberry muffins
  • Total time: 35min (15min active)
  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Cuisine: American
  • Allergens:
    Eggs Gluten Milk Wheat
Beginner friendly Freezer friendly Kid friendly

Plan your meals and get a complete grocery list automatically.

Add to meal planner

Equipment you'll need

Advertisement

Recommended tools for this recipe

Best overall

KitchenAid Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls

Non-slip steel set
  • Non-slip base
  • Stainless steel
  • Not microwave safe

Got ingredients left?

Find recipes using ingredients from this recipe or what you already have at home.

Find recipes with these ingredients →

Make this recipe easier next time

Advertisement

These tools help you get better results with less effort.

Best overall

KitchenAid Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls

Non-slip steel set
  • Non-slip base
  • Stainless steel
  • Not microwave safe
Best value

Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowls with Lids

Microwave-safe glass
  • Microwave safe
  • BPA-free lids
  • Glass is heavier
Top quality

OXO Good Grips Stainless Mixing Bowl Set

Insulated grip bowls
  • Non-slip base
  • Comfort grip
  • Higher price

Browse alphabetically

Looking for a specific recipe? Choose a letter below to jump directly to recipes starting with that letter or number.

Enjoy cooking with JustRecipes?

Add JustRecipes as one of your preferred Google sources to discover our recipes more easily across Google Search.

Add JustRecipes to Google

Every recipe on JustRecipes follows the same structured editorial process. Learn how recipes are created, validated, translated, illustrated, and continuously improved across the platform. How we create recipes.