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I’ve always loved red velvet cake, but there’s something next-level fun about turning it into mini bundt cakes. They feel like little love notes in dessert form — especially when you drizzle them with cream cheese glaze. I made these for a Valentine’s dinner once and my guests couldn’t stop talking about them!
Thanks to the air fryer, these mini cakes bake up faster than you’d expect and come out with a perfectly tender crumb. You get all the richness and slight cocoa tang of red velvet, but in a cute, single-serve size that looks like it came from a bakery.
The color is vibrant, the texture is velvety, and the flavor is just sweet enough to make you close your eyes after the first bite. Trust me — air fryer cake is a thing, and it’s amazing.
This recipe takes about 25 minutes start to finish. It’s great for Valentine’s Day, Christmas, birthdays, or anytime you want a fancy little treat without heating up the whole kitchen.
🥕 Ingredients Overview
Here’s what you need to make these beautiful mini red velvet bundt cakes:
- All-purpose flour: The base of the cake; use a 1:1 gluten-free blend if needed.
- Cocoa powder: Just a touch for that classic red velvet flavor.
- Baking soda + vinegar: This combo helps the cakes rise and keeps them tender.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar adds the right level of sweetness.
- Buttermilk: The secret to that signature red velvet tang. You can sub with milk + lemon juice.
- Egg: Binds the batter.
- Vegetable oil: Keeps things super moist.
- Vanilla extract: For depth of flavor.
- Red food coloring: For that iconic red hue. Use natural dye if preferred.
- Salt: Just a pinch to balance everything.
You’ll also want mini bundt molds that fit inside your air fryer. Silicone works great. Lightly greasing the molds ensures easy release.
🔥 Step-by-Step Instructions
- Prep the molds: Lightly grease mini bundt molds and set aside.
- Mix dry ingredients: In a bowl, whisk together 3/4 cup flour, 1 tbsp cocoa powder, 1/4 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp baking soda.
- Mix wet ingredients: In another bowl, whisk 1/2 cup sugar, 1/2 cup buttermilk, 1 egg, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp vinegar, and 1 tbsp red food coloring.
- Combine: Stir the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.
- Fill molds: Spoon batter into prepared molds, filling about 2/3 full.
- Air fry: Place molds in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 320°F (160°C) for 10-12 minutes. Check with a toothpick.
- Cool: Let cakes cool in the molds for 5 minutes, then remove and transfer to a rack.
- Top: Drizzle with cream cheese glaze or dust with powdered sugar.
Pro Tip: Don’t overfill the molds! The batter will rise and needs room to expand.
❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Overmixing the batter — makes the cakes dense.
- Using too much cocoa — red velvet should only have a hint.
- Skipping the vinegar — it activates the baking soda.
- Overfilling molds — batter will overflow.
- Air frying too hot — leads to dry edges.
🎨 Variations & Add-Ons
- Gluten-Free: Use a gluten-free flour blend (1:1 ratio).
- Healthy-ish: Sub half the oil with applesauce and reduce sugar slightly.
- Kid-Friendly: Top with rainbow sprinkles or mini chocolate chips.
- Festive Touch: Add heart-shaped sprinkles or red sanding sugar.
- Chocolate Drizzle: Skip the glaze and add melted chocolate instead!
📦 Make Ahead & Storage
Bake the cakes ahead and store them unfrosted:
- Room temp: Up to 2 days in an airtight container.
- Fridge: Up to 5 days (glaze separately).
- Freezer: Up to 3 months — wrap each cake tightly in plastic.
Reheat in the air fryer at 300°F for 2-3 minutes or microwave for 10 seconds.
🥗 Nutrition Highlights
Each mini cake is about 200 calories before toppings. They’re lighter than a traditional slice of red velvet cake!
Mini Red Velvet Bundt Cakes (Air Fryer)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Grease mini bundt molds.
- Whisk dry ingredients.
- Whisk wet ingredients separately.
- Combine dry and wet.
- Fill molds 2/3 full.
- Air fry at 320°F for 10-12 minutes.
- Cool for 5 minutes, then remove.
- Drizzle with glaze or dust with sugar.
Notes
Whether you’re making these mini red velvet bundt cakes for a holiday, a birthday, or just a Wednesday sweet tooth, I hope they bring a little joy to your table. I love how easy they are in the air fryer, and they never fail to impress! If you make them, leave a comment below or tag me in your creations. Want another air fryer dessert idea? Try my air fryer chocolate lava cakes — they’re rich, gooey, and absolutely irresistible!
