Air Fryer Baked Palm Sugar Rice Cake (Bánh Bò Thốt Nốt Rễ Tre) Recipe

 Craving a delicious Vietnamese Bánh Bò Thốt Nốt but don't have an oven? This recipe shows you how to make a perfect, airy, and flavorful palm sugar rice cake using your air fryer! Achieve that authentic "rễ tre" (bamboo root) texture with less oil.

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Ingredients for Air Fryer Bánh Bò Thốt Nốt:

(For an oval mold, dimensions: 22cm x 11cm x 5.5cm)

• 2 large chicken eggs
• 145g palm sugar (cut into small pieces if using a block)
• 185g coconut milk
• 90g tapioca starch
• 6g rice flour
• 4g baking powder
• 4g baking soda
• 5g cooking oil
• 3g vanilla extract
• A small amount of unsalted butter (for greasing)

Step-by-Step Instructions for Air Fryer Bánh Bò Thốt Nốt:

Follow these instructions to bake a fantastic Bánh Bò using your air fryer:

Step 1: Prepare the Palm Sugar Syrup

Place 145g palm sugar and 10g filtered water into a pot. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat. Continue boiling until the palm sugar turns a deep brown color. Then, add 185g coconut milk, stir well, and remove the pot from the heat as soon as the mixture comes to a boil.

Step 2: Combine with Starches

Allow the palm sugar mixture to cool down to about 30-40°C (86-104°F) – it should feel slightly warm to the touch. Sift in 90g tapioca starch and 6g rice flour. Whisk thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and well combined.

Step 3: Add Eggs and Rest the Batter

Crack 2 chicken eggs into a bowl and whisk them well until beaten. Pour the beaten eggs into the flour mixture, along with 5g cooking oil and 3g vanilla extract. Stir the entire mixture until evenly blended. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the batter rest for 20 minutes.

Step 4: Preheat Air Fryer & Mold, Incorporate Leavening Agents

While the batter is resting, preheat your air fryer to 160°C (320°F) for 10 minutes with the baking mold inside. Carefully remove the hot mold and brush a thin layer of unsalted butter on its surface. Return the mold to the air fryer and continue preheating for another 5 minutes.

Just before baking, add 4g baking powder and 4g baking soda to the batter. Stir gently until evenly distributed. Immediately and carefully (to avoid burns!) pour the batter directly into the hot baking mold.

Step 5: Air Fry and Finish Baking

Place the mold with the batter into the air fryer. Bake for the first 30 minutes at 150°C (302°F). After 30 minutes, reduce the temperature to 130°C (266°F) and continue baking for another 20 minutes. Once baked, carefully remove the Bánh Bò from the mold, let it cool completely, then slice and enjoy! For an even richer experience, serve the Bánh Bò Thốt Nốt with a drizzle of coconut cream and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.