--- title: "Your top recipes of 2025, from Ouma innie air fryer to a Christmas cake you can make this weekend" description: "Six of our readers’ top 10 choices of the year were air fryer recipes, proof, if it were needed, that these kitchen countertop ovens are here to stay, and not the passing fad many predicted they would be." type: "NewsArticle" publisher: "Daily Maverick" site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za" section: "READERS’ CHOICE" author: "Tony Jackman" author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/tonyjackman/" canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-12-12-your-top-recipes-of-2025-from-ouma-innieie-air-fryer-to-a-christmas-cake-you-can/" published: "2025-12-12T12:30:00" updated: "2025-12-12T11:29:58" lang: "en-ZA" word_count: 730 --- # Your top recipes of 2025, from Ouma innie air fryer to a Christmas cake you can make this weekend > Six of our readers’ top 10 choices of the year were air fryer recipes, proof, if it were needed, that these kitchen countertop ovens are here to stay, and not the passing fad many predicted they would be. By Tony Jackman · Published 12 December 2025, 14:30 SAST · Updated 12 December 2025, 13:29 SAST ## Key points - Air fryer recipes dominated reader favorites, showcasing their lasting popularity in contemporary cooking. - The traditional Christmas cake remains a hit, with readers encouraged to bake it this weekend despite late preparation. - Ouma innie air fryer recipe offers a comforting, nostalgic dish adapted for modern cooking methods. - Potato recipes continue to shine, illustrating their versatile and beloved role in readers' culinary experiences. ## Content You loved our air fryer recipes, and our Lekker Brekker Monday recipes make a good showing too. Readers also went mad for our Christmas cake, which, though it was best made in October and “fed” brandy once a week until Christmas, can be made now by those who missed that boat. There are still just short of three weeks to go before the day, and your cake will be perfectly fine, if not quite as happy as those that have already been fed once a week since late October. So, plan to make yours this weekend, and also try one of the popular potato recipes in our top 10 – because spuds are always a big feature in our readers’ cooking lives. ### #1 ### Chicken and vegetable bake in your air fryer ![Roast chicken and veg in the air fryer. (Photo: Tony Jackman)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/XH08xnwbNggtBDY1N0auOP0aF1s=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2985/roast-pveg-chicken_674526_3de7ed70e7d3c760146765f0a5ee8cce.jpg) *Roast chicken and veg in the air fryer. (Photo: Tony Jackman)* This recipe takes an old-fashioned chicken and vegetable bake out of the oven and puts it [in the air fryer](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-04-25-airfryday-chicken-and-veg-bake-in-your-air-fryer/). It’s a satisfying family meal. ### #2 ### Caramelised butternut boats in your air fryer ![Image](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/9Y3VXBtQafM2loZGQnMEQmvGhc0=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2985/airfry-butternut_955715_0ea2b0af1c76ef4d9cd5d899c1fe24de.jpg) Oven-roasting a butternut has always been a good option, but any honest cook will admit that there have been times when it’s been left in the oven for too long and has dried up like an unloved old shoe. So I decided to find a way to [roast a large butternut in an air fryer](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-08-29-airfryday-caramelised-butternut-boats-in-your-air-fryer/) and ensure that it is succulent, cooked all the way through, but still moist and caramelised. ### #3 ### Ouma innie air fryer! ![She looks pretty comfy in there. (Photo: Tony Jackman)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/_lOaJRLLHroFi60A375iyNMhEuo=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2985/ouma_789512_62ea043c91e0719c20b128dba4a78246.jpg) *She looks pretty comfy in there. (Photo: Tony Jackman)* Hang on to your rolling pin, tannie. The beloved comfort supper known as “ouma onder die kombers” (granny under the blanket) is [adapted for an air fryer](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-02-airfryday-ouma-innie-air-fryer/) in this AirFryday recipe. Skande! ### #4 ### Rich, fruity Christmas cake ![This fruit-and-nuts Christmas cake can be made this weekend and decorated closer to Christmas Day. (Photo: Tony Jackman)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/tm_zQ3jHZ_S-N_23ybQsnA-GPfo=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2985/christmas-cake1_760336_d29bee8fe1e0c39b35e8011b2fdc4e2e.jpg) *This fruit-and-nuts Christmas cake can be made this weekend and decorated closer to Christmas Day. (Photo: Tony Jackman)* Fruit, nuts, spices and strong liquor – that’s [the recipe](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-10-23-october-means-its-time-to-make-a-rich-fruity-christmas-cake/) for the kind of traditional Christmas cake that is often made two months in advance. But there’s no reason you can’t make it this weekend. It’s best to make a family occasion of it, creating memories along with a cake to look forward to. ### #5 ### Roast leg of lamb with garlic, oregano and lemon ![Roast leg of lamb with garlic, lemon and oregano. (Photo: Tony Jackman)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/p-mskI7jNsuKp6yfLNUXC0kffGs=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2985/lamb-oregano_427120_5b70f13fee7193fec45eb57fc148207d.jpg) *Roast leg of lamb with garlic, lemon and oregano. (Photo: Tony Jackman)* This thrills me – one of my leg of lamb recipes as a readers’ favourite. A [roast leg of lamb](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-08-27-roast-leg-of-lamb-with-garlic-oregano-and-lemon/) holds a special place in my family kitchen, very often redolent of garlic and a single herb. Often that herb was rosemary, but on a recent visit to my family in Cape Town, Grandad Tones made it with oregano instead. ### #6 ### Baked potato boats stuffed with cheese and onion ![Stuffed potato boats for breakfast. (Photo: Tony Jackman)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/cDbt7D1FFRGUMzhIRiV6v84wQG4=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2985/potato-bacon-cheese_139457_2bfdd3fd802b6760b8e3d52de959b70e.jpg) *Stuffed potato boats for breakfast. (Photo: Tony Jackman)* This was a Lekker Brekker Monday recipe in January. Cheese, onion and bacon – that’s the [perfect breakfast](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-13-lekker-brekker-monday-baked-potato-boats-stuffed-with-cheese-and-onion/) for me. The cheese and onion are inside, while the bacon is served on top. ### #7 ### One-pan fry-up of cheese, tomato and egg on toast ![Breakfast in a pan. (Photo: Tony Jackman)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/9jz0xYCnQDQAWgPhgrW9A-3nDqo=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2985/toast-egg-cheese_529242_f738ecfb2361b751b5b69846170a00a0.jpg) *Breakfast in a pan. (Photo: Tony Jackman)* When I wrote [this recipe](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-03-10-lekker-brekker-monday-one-pan-fry-up-of-cheese-tomato-and-egg-on-toast/), I thought it was too simple – yes, here it is, one of our most popular recipes of the year. Shows how much I know. ### #8 ### Roast potatoes in your air fryer, the updated edition ![Roasties in an air fryer. (Photo: Tony Jackman)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/ImSHlHfRiE2bYOJTT1jUfrEq758=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2985/potato-air_185179_2eff56d69d22dd53eca9bdfc405e8295.jpg) *Roasties in an air fryer. (Photo: Tony Jackman)* As time moves on and the more I experiment in my air fryers, the more I learn. I don’t even think about a recipe any more, generally. I don’t measure anything. I don’t use much oil at all. Read on to find out what I’ve learnt about [roasting spuds](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-05-30-whats-cooking-today-air-fryer-roast-potatoes/) in that strange machine in your kitchen. ### #9 ### Crispy potatoes with bacon and rosemary ![Rosemary and bacon make roast potatoes even better. (Photo: Tony Jackman)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/EsBNsQgGqMWFrWiDZ1jCx6A8Ay8=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2985/potato-caram_581482_4dcad35870688ac148deb95af541724c.jpg) *Rosemary and bacon make roast potatoes even better. (Photo: Tony Jackman)* Yes, another potato recipe, and another air fryer recipe. Bacon makes everything seem better. Potatoes have that effect too. In [this recipe](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-06-27-airfryday-crispy-potatoes-with-bacon-and-rosemary/) we put them together and turn out what may be the most satisfying air fryer potato dish of them all. ### #10 ### Chicken schnitzel in your air fryer ![Chicken schnitzel, air fryer style. (Photo: Tony Jackman)](https://cdn.dailymaverick.co.za/i/EQrd-UBhYPc8SaoUL0HF-4Z7y_E=/200x100/smart/filters:strip_exif\(\)/file/attachments/2985/ch-schnityzel1_676918_7b94daf6ba4cd6a02fcb43d290523b48.jpg) *Chicken schnitzel, air fryer style. (Photo: Tony Jackman)* The [chicken schnitzel](https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-08-08-airfryday-chicken-schnitzel-in-your-air-fryer/) has defied fads and food crazes for decades, a hardy survivor of human whims and foibles. Now it has arrived in the age of the air fryer. **DM**