This single-serve air fryer brownie cupcakes recipe is the answer to a serious chocolate craving… without making a whole pan of brownies. It’s rich, fudgy, super chocolatey, and honestly sooo satisfying.
Watch my Air Fryer Brownie Cupcake recipe video below, then give it a like if it made you crave chocolate too. Subscribe to my YouTube channel here for more easy air fryer desserts, brownie recipes, and small batch sweet treats.
Why you’ll love these brownie cupcakes
This is a single-serve style recipe that makes two small brownie cupcakes, which means quick, cute, and no leftovers staring you down.
It’s also made with simple pantry ingredients. No mixer, no fancy steps, and you still get that deep brownie flavor. How can you not?!
Texture + flavor
These smell amazing while they cook… like warm cocoa and brown sugar.
They taste like a classic fudgy brownie, but in cupcake form. The edges set up, the middle stays soft and a little melty when warm, and if you add the semi-sweet chocolate chips, you get those gooey chocolate pockets too. I’m obsessed.
Air fryer brownie cupcake ingredients
You only need a few things to make these chocolaty cupcakes.
- 2 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter (36 g)
- 4 Tbsp light brown sugar, packed (53 g)
- 1 large egg yolk (18 g)
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (1 g)
- 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder (15 g)
- 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour (8 g)
- pinch of salt (0.3 g)
- 1 Tbsp semi-sweet chocolate chips, optional (10 g)
Top Tip: Dutch-processed cocoa powder, like the one below, usually gives a darker color and a smoother chocolate flavor, in my opinion, but regular unsweetened cocoa powder still works great here.
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Equipment
I make these air fryer brownie cupcakes in my Ninja air fryer, like the one below. I love it because it cooks evenly and heats up fast, so I get dessert quickly.
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- Air fryer
- Microwave-safe bowl
- Whisk or fork
- Rubber spatula or spoon
- 1 or 2 cupcake cups that fit your air fryer
Note: Silicone cupcake cups work especially well in an air fryer, but any cupcake cups that fit and hold their shape are fine.
Let’s make these air fryer brownie cupcakes
Step 1: Melt and mix
Mix together 4 Tbsp light brown sugar, packed, and 2 1/2 Tbsp unsalted butter until combined. It should look glossy and thick.
Step 2: Add yolk and vanilla
Add 1 large egg yolk and 1/4 tsp vanilla extract, then mix until smooth. Keep going until it looks thick and shiny with no streaks of egg.
Step 3: Sift in dry ingredients
Sift in 3 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder and 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour, then add a pinch of salt. This helps keep the batter smooth.
Top Tip: If your cocoa powder tends to clump, take the extra moment to sift it. Those little dry cocoa pockets can taste bitter.
Step 4: Mix
Give the batter a gentle mix until the cocoa and flour are fully mixed in. The batter should look thick, dark, and smooth.
Step 5: Add chocolate chips
Add 1 Tbsp semi-sweet chocolate chips if using, and mix just until they are spread through the batter.
Step 6: Fill the cups
Scoop the batter into one or two cupcake cups.
Step 7: Air fry
Air fry at 340°F (170°C) for 15 to 16 minutes. Start checking at 15 minutes. They are done when the edges look set, but the middle still looks a little soft. A toothpick should come out with a little batter or very moist chocolatey bits.
Note: Air fryers can run differently. If yours runs hot, check a minute early.
Related Recipe: If you liked these air fryer brownie cupcakes, you are going to love this super gooey and chocolatey air fryer brownie recipe here too.
Fudgy Air Fryer Brownie Cupcake Recipe
1
servings10
minutes16
minutes590
kcal26
minutesThese single-serve air fryer brownie cupcakes are my go-to when I need chocolate right now… rich, fudgy, and sooo cute in cupcake form. You get that deep brownie flavor with a soft, gooey middle, and they cook up fast with just a handful of pantry staples.
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Ingredients
2 1/2 Tbsp (36 g) unsalted butter
4 Tbsp (53 g) light brown sugar
1 large egg yolk
1/4 tsp (1 g) vanilla extract
3 Tbsp (15 g) cocoa powder (or Dutch Processed Cocoa Powder)
1 Tbsp (8 g) all-purpose flour
Pinch (0.3 g) salt
1 Tbsp (10 g) chocolate chips
Directions
- Mix together four tablespoons of light brown sugar and two and a half tablespoons of melted unsalted butter until well combined.
- Add one large egg yolk and a quarter teaspoon of vanilla extract. Mix again until smooth and shiny with no streaks of egg.
- Sift in three tablespoons of cocoa powder and one tablespoon of all-purpose flour, and mix until the batter has a thick, smooth consistency.
- Add one tablespoon of semi-sweet chocolate chips and gently fold them into the batter until evenly distributed.
- Scoop the brownie batter evenly into one or two small cupcake cups, depending on their size.
- Air fry the brownie cupcakes at 170°C (340°F) for 15 to 16 minutes until the edges are set, but the center remains slightly soft.
- Enjoy the brownie cupcakes while they are warm for a gooey, fudgy experience.
Equipment
Ninja Air Fryer Check it out on Amazon here
Recipe Video
Notes
- Cocoa powder options: Use unsweetened cocoa powder, either natural or Dutch processed. Dutch-processed usually gives a darker color and a smoother, deeper chocolate vibe, while natural cocoa can taste a little brighter and more intense.
- Prevent a too dark top: If the tops start looking done but the middle is still soft, lower the temp a bit next time, or loosely cover the cups with a little foil for the last few minutes. Air fryers heat from the top fast, so this helps the center catch up.
- Fix dry or overbaked cupcakes: Pull them when the edges look set, but the center still looks a little soft, because they keep setting as they cool. If they came out dry, start checking a minute or two earlier next time, since many air fryers finish faster than you expect.
- Storage and quick reheat: Store cooled brownie cupcakes in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week.
- Make a bigger batch: Double or triple the recipe by multiplying every ingredient by the same number, and use the gram amounts if you can, so it stays accurate. When you scale up, keep the baking time similar but start checking a little earlier than you think, since air fryers can cook fast, and different cup sizes change timing.
- Serving ideas I love: Serve them warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a little whipped cream, or a spoonful of peanut butter on top. You can also dust the top with powdered sugar right before serving for a cute bakery look.
Nutrition Facts
- Total number of serves: 1
- Calories: 590kcal
- Fat: 36g
- Carbohydrates: 69g
- Protein: 6g
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Storage
Let them cool, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
More air fryer dessert recipes
If you love small-batch treats like these air fryer brownie cupcakes, check out my other air fryer desserts too.
- Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies (Soft, Gooey, and Delicious) – These cookies bake up soft in the center with perfectly gooey chocolate chips, ideal when you’re craving a quick, warm cookie without turning on the oven.
- Easy Air Fryer Cheesecake Recipe – A creamy, smooth cheesecake made simple in the air fryer, perfect for small batches and no-fuss dessert nights.
- Chewy Air Fryer Chocolate Baked Oats Recipe – A cozy, chocolatey baked oats recipe that’s chewy, satisfying, and great when you want dessert that doubles as breakfast.
And please leave a comment or ask a question about these air fryer brownie cupcakes in the comments below or in the YouTube video comments. I try to respond to everyone… because I love hearing how yours turned out!