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Mary Berry Air Fryer Lemon Drizzle Cake Recipe

Mary Berry Air Fryer Lemon Drizzle Cake Recipe

Mary Berry's air fryer lemon drizzle cake bakes in 25 minutes with a vivid lemon sponge and a sharp, crunchy drizzle — the classic made faster.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cooling Time 1 hour
Servings: 8 Slices
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: British
Calories: 330
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Lemon Sponge:
  • 175 g unsalted butter softened
  • 175 g golden caster sugar
  • 3 large eggs room temperature
  • 175 g self-raising flour sifted
  • 1½ tsp baking powder
  • 2 tbsp whole milk
  • Finely grated zest of 2 large unwaxed lemons
  • Lemon Drizzle:
  • Juice of 2 large unwaxed lemons about 5–6 tbsp
  • 100 g golden caster sugar or granulated sugar

Method
 

  1. Grease and line a 900g loaf tin with a parchment sling. Test it fits in your air fryer with at least 2cm clearance above.
  2. Beat butter and sugar 3–4 minutes until pale and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time. Add lemon zest. Sift in flour and baking powder. Add milk — fold gently.
  3. Spoon into tin — spread evenly. Tin should be about two-thirds full.
  4. Preheat air fryer to 160°C for 3 minutes. Place tin in basket. Air fry at 160°C for 25–30 minutes until skewer comes out clean and top is golden. Cover loosely with foil if top browns too quickly.
  5. Remove tin carefully using parchment sling. Immediately mix lemon juice and sugar — do not dissolve the sugar. Pour evenly over the hot cake. Leave to cool completely in tin — 1 hour minimum.
  6. Lift out using parchment sling. Slice and serve.

Notes

Use a tin that fits with at least 2cm clearance — the air fryer needs space to circulate air.
Preheat the air fryer 3 minutes before baking.
Cover with foil if the top browns too quickly — air fryers can over-brown the surface.
Apply drizzle while the cake is hot and in the tin — it soaks in and crystallises correctly.
Know your air fryer — temperatures vary between models. Check at 22 minutes for a hot model.
Freeze without drizzle for up to 3 months — apply drizzle fresh on defrosting.
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