Yes, you can use whole apples (as long as they can stand upright in your air fryer) instead of cutting them in half. Cutting them in half will help cook them quicker, plus, it's easier to scoop the core this way. If you want to bake whole apples with the filling be sure to choose a medium-sized apple that can stand upright on its own. Add an additional 5 minutes to the cook time, or more if you have a larger apple.