The Unexpected Way Duncan Hines Says You Can Make Quick And Easy Cupcakes

Baking isn't usually an activity that can be deemed quick and easy. There are some oven-free recipes that can land in the category, but when it comes to cakes, cupcakes, or anything that needs to rise, a little time typically needs to be carved out. Unless, of course, you take a cue from Duncan Hines and utilize everyone's favorite countertop appliance: the air fryer.

The baking mix company shared a recipe for air fryer cupcakes on its website, where it instructs people how to make the treats in under 15 minutes. All you need are the usual ingredients for boxed cake mix — oil, eggs, and water — plus some muffin cups. But like with other desserts you didn't know you could make in the air fryer, the directions are a little different.

On a typical Duncan Hines boxed cake mix, the instructions call for 1 cup of water, 3 eggs, and ½ cup of vegetable oil to make 24 cupcakes. For the air fryer cupcakes, you'll need to cut that to ½ cup water, 2 eggs, and ½ cup oil. The air fryer cupcakes are also only baked for 10 to 14 minutes versus 18 to 21 minutes.

The Duncan Hines air fryer recipe only makes 14 cupcakes versus the usual 24, so the lower ratios make sense, but you may still want to use bigger muffin cups if you feel like you have a lot of batter. You also might need to bake these in batches, depending on the size of your air fryer. Air fryers work by circulating hot air around the basket, so make sure there is a little space between each cupcake so they bake evenly. They also run warmer, so bake the cupcakes at 325 degrees Fahrenheit instead of 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

You can use any boxed cake mix for the recipe, even if it isn't from Duncan Hines. Tasting Table tested and ranked some of the best packaged cake mixes, though, and our favorite was the classic Duncan Hines yellow cake. Angel food cupcakes are also delicious, as are decadent chocolate cupcakes. You could try this recipe with a seasonal pumpkin spice mix too, or use a colorful frosting. The torched effect of these lemon meringue cupcakes will always impress a crowd.

Once you've figured out air fryer cupcakes, try out some other recipe ideas. Here are tips for baking a cake in the air fryer and instructions on how to use one to make a cheesecake. Anything is possible when you start thinking outside the oven.