Craving cake but avoiding consuming egg this Navratri? You can make individual size chocolate cake portions in the air fryer. By swaping the all-purpose flour (aka maida), for wheat flour, this can also
make for a healthier dessert.
For many people in India who do not have an oven, the easiest and quickest way to make a cake used to be in the cooker over the gas stove. However, there has been a LPG gas cycliner shortage due to the on-going Iran-Israel war.
To counter-act this, one can use the air fryer, as it can make a soft and decadent cake in just a few minutes. It works on electricity, so there is no tension of the gas shortage.
This easy recipe for individual sized chocolate cake was shared by food content creator Dhairya Hasija (@dhairya.hasija) on Instagram.
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Air Fryer Chocolate Cake Recipe
Ingredients:
• Curd- 90 gm (6 tbsp)
• Castor sugar/desi khaand/powdered sugar- 50 gm (1/4 cup)
• Oil- 50 mL (1/4 cup)
• Whole wheat flour- 65 gm (1/2 cup)
• Cocoa powder- 20 gm (4 tbsp)
• Corn flour- 10 gm (2 tbsp)
• Baking powder- 3/4 tsp
• Baking soda- 1/8 tsp
• Salt- 1/8 tsp
• Milk- 90 mL (1/4 cup + half of 1/4 cup)
Method:
- Prepare Wet Base: In a mixing bowl, whisk dahi and sugar vigorously 1-2 mins until sugar dissolves and mixture turns smooth/creamy. Drizzle in oil; whisk until fully emulsified (no separation).
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Sift together whole wheat flour, cocoa, corn flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt directly over wet mix—this prevents lumps.
- Form Batter: Gently fold dry into wet using cut-and-fold motion (silicone spatula best). Batter will be thick. Gradually add milk (2 tbsp first), mixing to ribbon-stage consistency—smooth, pourable, no lumps.
- Prep Katoris: Grease 3 heat-safe 150-200ml steel/aluminum katoris generously with oil using pastry brush (reaches crevices). Divide batter equally (~⅓ cup each). Tap katoris on counter 5x to release air bubbles. Stud tops with chocolate chunks/chips, pressing lightly.
- Preheat Air Fryer: Set air fryer to 160°C (320°F); preheat 7-8 mins empty—this stabilizes heat for even rising.
- Bake in Batches: Place 2 katoris only in single layer (no overcrowding—hot air must circulate). Air fry 15-17 mins at 160°C. Toothpick test: Insert center; clean or fudgy crumbs = done (overbake dries). Cool in katoris 5 mins, then unmold onto rack.
- Repeat & Serve: Bake third katori solo. Dust powdered sugar or serve warm with vanilla ice cream. Stores 2 days room temp; refrigerate 4 days.
