How long to cook brownies in an air fryer

At-a-glance cooking parameters

Temperature

320 °F

160 °C

Total time

22 min

per single layer

Flipping

Not needed

Internal temp

—

use visual cue

Brownies bake in 22 minutes at 320 °F (160 °C) with no flip. The lower temperature plus the smaller pan size gives the centre time to set without scorching the top. A toothpick inserted dead-centre should come out with a few moist crumbs — wet batter means another 2 minutes, fully clean means you've overshot.

Per serving

Approximate values for a single portion of brownies (USDA baseline, cooked, includes light air-fryer oil spray).

Calories

220 kcal

Protein

3 g

Fat

11 g

Carbs

30 g

Brownies in popular air fryer brands

Adjusted for how each brand actually heats. Tap a brand name to see every food we calibrate for it.

How to tell it’s done

Top has a thin, papery, shiny crust; edges have pulled away from the pan walls by 1/8 inch; a toothpick in the centre comes out with a few moist crumbs (not wet batter). Sides feel firm when the pan is jiggled.

Step-by-step method

1. 1

   Prep

   Bring ingredients close to room temperature. Grease the pan with butter or pan-release spray and line the base with a parchment sling for easy lift-out. The batter itself contains the fat (butter or oil).

2. 2

   Season

   Season with unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar, butter, eggs, vanilla, all-purpose flour, salt, chocolate chunks (optional).

3. 3

   Load

   Arrange one 6 × 6 inch (or round 7-inch) air-fryer-safe pan, 9 squares — for larger basket models you can scale up to 8 × 8 inch / 16 squares for best convection airflow.

4. 4

   Cook

   Set the air fryer to 320 °F (160 °C) and cook for 22 minutes total.

5. 5

   Check & rest

   Check the visual doneness cue and serve immediately for best texture.

6. 6

   Store

   Store cooled, cut squares in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. Freeze in a single layer with parchment between; thaw at room temperature for 30 minutes.

Watch out for

• !Pan size matters more than recipe. A 9 × 9 inch pan will not fit a typical 5-quart basket — measure your basket before scaling a recipe. Use a 6 or 7 inch round / square pan for compact baskets, or step up to oven-style air fryers for larger pans.
• !Reduce the temperature by 25 °F vs the recipe's oven instructions and start checking at 18 minutes. Air-fryer convection is more aggressive than a conventional oven, so straight-from-the-box brownie box-mix instructions will overbake by 4–5 minutes.
• !Cool completely in the pan (at least 30 minutes) before lifting out and cutting. Hot brownies tear when cut and the centres look underbaked even when properly done — they set as they cool.
• !Skip the dark non-stick pans intended for ovens — their black surfaces over-brown the crust in air fryers. Light-coloured ceramic or anodized aluminium pans give a more even bake.

FAQ about brownies in an air fryer

What temperature should I cook brownies at in an air fryer?

Cook brownies at 320 °F (160 °C). The convection air at this temperature cooks the food gently — higher temperatures dry it out or scorch the surface.

How long do brownies take in an air fryer?

Brownies take 22 minutes at 320 °F (160 °C) with no flipping needed. Cook in a single layer for the air to circulate.

Do you need to flip brownies in an air fryer?

No — brownies cook evenly without flipping. The convection air reaches all sides simultaneously. Flipping is only needed for dense or thick foods where one side sits against the basket grate; this food does not benefit from it.

Do you need to preheat the air fryer for brownies?

Preheating is optional for brownies — most modern air fryers reach temperature in under 2 minutes and the food's total cook time already accounts for the ramp-up. If you do preheat, reduce the total time by 1–2 minutes and check earlier than usual.