These Air Fryer Gingerbread Muffins are soft, warmly spiced, and full of classic gingerbread flavor. They bake up quickly in the air fryer, making them perfect for busy mornings or festive snacking.

Air fryer gingerbread muffins with warm spices and molasses
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Air Fryer Gingerbread Muffins are the perfect cozy treat when you want something warm, spiced, and homemade without turning on the oven.

Packed with gingerbread flavor from rich molasses and warming spices, these muffins bake up soft and tender in minutes.

They’re great for breakfast, afternoon snacks, or an easy holiday dessert when time is tight but cravings are real.

Plate of air fryer gingerbread muffins with warm spices

Why You Will Love These Muffins!

  • Fast baking: Ready in minutes without heating up the kitchen.
  • Classic gingerbread flavor: Warm spices and rich molasses in every bite.
  • Soft and moist: Tender crumb that stays fluffy.
  • Perfect for the holidays: Feels festive without extra effort.
  • Great anytime treat: Works for breakfast, snacks, or dessert.

Oh, so cute and perfect for your holiday dessert table.

Ingredients Needed

Ingredients needed for Air Fryer Gingerbread Muffins on kitchen table.
  • Butter: Adds richness and keeps muffins soft and moist
  • Dark Molasses: Provides deep gingerbread flavor and color
  • Dark Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness with rich caramel notes
  • Egg: Binds ingredients and adds structure to muffins
  • Sour Cream: Keeps muffins tender and adds slight tang
  • Milk: Thins batter and ensures even mixing
  • All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base structure of the muffins
  • Baking Soda: Helps muffins rise and stay fluffy
  • Seasonings (salt, ginger, cloves, cinnamon): Warm spices that create classic gingerbread flavor

How To Make Air Fryer Gingerbread Muffins

Creaming butter, brown sugar, and molasses with wet ingredients

Step One: In a large bowl, cream together the butter, dark brown sugar, and molasses until smooth. Add the egg, sour cream, and milk, mixing until fully combined.

Step Two: In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until the batter is smooth.

Folding dry gingerbread spices and flour into muffin batter

Step Three: Lightly spray or line a muffin tin with paper liners. Spoon the batter into each cup, filling about two-thirds full. Place the muffin tin in the air fryer and cook at 320°F for 10–12 minutes, until set. Let the muffins cool before adding the cream cheese frosting.

Filling muffin liners with gingerbread batter before air frying

Step Four: Mix the cream cheese, butter, pure vanilla extract, salt, and powdered sugar in a large bowl. Mix until smooth. Pipe the cream cheese frosting onto the gingerbread muffins.

Air fryer gingerbread muffins with warm spices and molasses

Air Fryer Gingerbread Muffins Recipe Tips

  • Use room-temperature ingredients: Helps everything mix smoothly and bake evenly.
  • Don’t overmix the batter: Stir just until combined to keep muffins soft.
  • Fill liners only two-thirds full: Prevents overflow while baking.
  • Check early: Air fryer models vary; insert a toothpick to test doneness.
  • Cool before frosting: Warm muffins will melt cream cheese frosting.

Storing Instructions

  • Room Temperature: Store unfrosted muffins in an airtight container for up to 2 days.
  • Refrigerator: Keep frosted muffins in a sealed container for up to 4 days.
  • Freezer: Wrap cooled muffins tightly and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
  • Reheating: Warm unfrosted muffins in the air fryer at 300°F for 2–3 minutes if desired.
Air fryer gingerbread muffins with warm spices and molasses topping

Air Fryer Gingerbread Muffins Recipe Faqs

Can I make these muffins gluten-free? Yes! Substitute all-purpose flour with a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend.

Can I make these muffins dairy-free? Absolutely. Use plant-based butter and dairy-free sour cream or yogurt.

How do I keep the muffins soft? Don’t overmix the batter and remove muffins from the air fryer once a toothpick comes out clean.

Can I add frosting or toppings? Yes! Cream cheese frosting, glaze, or a sprinkle of powdered sugar works beautifully.

How do I store leftover muffins? Store unfrosted muffins at room temperature for 2 days, or in the fridge up to 4 days. Freeze for up to 2 months.

Can I double the recipe? Yes, but cook in batches, ensuring your air fryer isn’t overcrowded for even baking.

More Easy Air Fryer Recipes

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Air Fryer Gingerbread Muffins

Air Fryer Gingerbread Muffins

5 from 1 vote
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Frosting: 20 minutes
Total Time: 52 minutes
Servings: 24 Servings

Description

Enjoy soft, spiced Air Fryer Gingerbread Muffins with rich molasses flavor, baked quickly for breakfast, snacks, or holiday treats.

Ingredients 

  • 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 3/4 cup dark molasses
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 2 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 4 cups powdered sugar

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, cream together the 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature , 1/2 cup brown sugar, and 3/4 cup dark molasses Until it's well incorporated, Fold the 1 large egg, 1/2 cup sour cream, and 1/2 cup milk in, mix well. Mix the dry ingredients, the 2 2/3 cup all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda, 1 teaspoon ground ginger 1 teaspoon ground cloves, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon in another bowl.
  • Slowly fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mix until smooth.
  • Spray or line your muffin tin with muffin liners, and then using a spoon, the batter in, filling it 2/3 the way full.
  • Set the muffin tin into the air fryer, and set the temperature to 320 degrees F, air fryer setting, for 10 to 12 minutes. Let the muffins cool before adding your cream cheese frosting.
  • To Make The Cream Cheese Frosting: Mix the 8 ounces cream cheese, room temperature, 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 4 cups powdered sugar in a large bowl. Mix until smooth.
  • Pipe the cream cheese frosting onto the gingerbread muffins.
  • Decorate, plate and serve.

Equipment

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 294kcalCarbohydrates: 44gProtein: 3gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 5gTrans Fat: 0.001gCholesterol: 21mgSodium: 224mgPotassium: 211mgFiber: 0.5gSugar: 33gVitamin A: 513IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 1mg

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