Air Fryer Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
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I’ve made pancakes every weekend for years but these Air Fryer Lemon Ricotta Pancakes completely reset my expectations. The ricotta makes them impossibly soft and tender, and the lemon zest and fresh juice give every bite a bright citrus flavor that’s irresistible. They come out of the air fryer perfectly golden every time.
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I love making these for lazy weekend mornings, holiday brunches, and family breakfasts because they’re bright, fluffy, and feel like a genuinely special treat that goes so far beyond a regular pancake. They come together quickly and the air fryer makes the whole process surprisingly easy. Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.
How to Make Air Fryer Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with Step-By-Step Instructions
Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full printable recipe and measurements in both US customary and metric units.
Here’s how to make lemon ricotta pancakes from scratch using your air fryer and with just a few simple steps.
Whisk the Dry Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, granulated sugar, and salt until everything is evenly combined.
Getting the dry ingredients mixed well first means the baking powder is evenly distributed, which helps you achieve extra-fluffy pancakes all the way through.
Add the Wet Ingredients
Make a well in the center of your flour mixture, then add the ricotta cheese, milk, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and eggs directly into the well.
Stir everything together gently until the batter is smooth and well combined. Don’t overmix or you’ll end up with tough pancakes.
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
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Prep the Air Fryer
Line your air fryer basket with a sheet of parchment paper cut to fit. Parchment keeps the pancakes from sticking and makes cleanup so much easier.
Spoon about ¼ cup of pancake batter per pancake onto the parchment, leaving a little space between each one.
Air Fry the Pancakes
Air fry at 350°F (180°C) for 5 minutes. Carefully flip pancakes using a wide silicone spatula and cook for an additional 2 minutes, or until they’re golden brown and cooked through.
Work in batches with the remaining batter, lining the basket with fresh parchment paper as needed.
Serve and Enjoy
Serve the cooked pancakes warm right out of the air fryer with your favorite toppings. Maple syrup, fresh blueberries, or a dusting of powdered sugar from a powder sifter all work beautifully here.
Enjoy!
If you’re bringing these to a brunch or holiday gathering, pack a stack of lemon ricotta pancakes in a portable airtight container or a tortilla warmer with parchment in between each one to keep them from sticking and to hold in the warmth during transit.
Wrap the container in a thick towel or tuck it into an insulated bag to keep it warm on the way over. Skip toppings until you arrive so the tender pancakes don’t get soggy, and set out the maple syrup and fresh fruit on the side for everyone to add their own.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 large eggs
- 1 lemon zest and juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Maple syrup for serving
- Fresh fruit for serving
Instructions
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar, and salt.1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, 1 tablespoon sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt
- Make a well in the center and add the ricotta, milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and eggs. Stir gently until the batter is smooth and well combined.1 cup ricotta cheese, ¼ cup milk, 2 large eggs, 1 lemon zest and juice, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper. Spoon about ¼ cup of batter for each pancake onto the paper.
- Air fry at 350ºC (180ºF) for 5 minutes. Flip the pancakes and cook for an additional 2 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through. Repeat with the remaining batter.
- Enjoy warm with your favorite toppings like maple syrup, berries, or a dusting of powdered sugar.Maple syrup, Fresh fruit
Notes
Nutrition
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
Includes ad-free recipes like:
How to Store Leftovers
Let the pancakes cool completely on a cooling rack, then stack and store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days with a piece of parchment between layers.
To reheat, pop them back in the air fryer, skillet, or toaster oven, and they’ll come out warm, soft, and still unbelievably delicious like they were freshly made.
For longer storage, flash-freeze the pancakes in a single layer on a freezer-safe sheet pan for about an hour before transferring them to a freezer bag or container. That extra step keeps them from sticking together, so you can grab just one or two at a time.
These delicious pancakes keep well in the freezer for up to 2 months without losing their fluffy texture, and reheat straight from the freezer in just a few minutes.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Lemon Ricotta Pancakes
A drizzle of warm maple syrup is always the obvious first choice, and it really does make every bite taste even better. Fresh berries like blueberries, raspberries, or sliced strawberries pair naturally with the lemon flavor and add a pop of color to the plate.
A light dusting of powdered sugar keeps things simple and elegant if you want to skip syrup entirely. A hot cup of coffee or a latte rounds everything out if you’re making a slow weekend morning of it.
For a more complete breakfast spread, they go beautifully alongside a bowl of Greek yogurt, a side of scrambled eggs, or a glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice.
More Easy Recipes for You to Try at Home
If you love these fluffy lemon ricotta pancakes, here are a few more easy air fryer recipes to sweeten up your morning.
