Craving freshly-baked cookies but don’t want to turn on the oven? Air fryer cookies are the perfect solution! These cookies come out beautifully soft, with a slightly crispy edge, and you’ll love the convenience of using your air fryer. The best part? You don’t have to heat up your entire kitchen to enjoy this treat! Let’s dive into the recipe so you can experience warm, gooey, air fryer cookies in no time.
Ingredients List
Cookie Dough Ingredients:
- 115 g (½ cup) unsalted butter – softened to room temperature for easy mixing.
- 150 g (¾ cup) light brown sugar – for that rich, caramel flavor.
- 150 g (¾ cup) granulated sugar – adds sweetness and a slight crispy texture.
- ½ tsp vanilla powder (optional) – for a deeper vanilla aroma.
- 2 medium eggs – helps bind the ingredients and give moisture to the cookies.
- 1 tsp vanilla extract – adds that classic homemade vanilla flavor.
- 320 g (2 ¼ cups) all-purpose flour – the base for your cookie dough.
- 1 tsp baking powder – helps the cookies rise slightly.
- 1 tsp baking soda – aids in giving cookies that perfect chewiness.
- ½ tsp salt – balances the sweetness and enhances the flavor.
- 300 g (scant 2 cups) chocolate chips or chopped chocolate bar – the more chocolate, the better!
Preparing the Cookie Dough
Now that we’ve gathered all the ingredients, it’s time to whip up that delicious cookie dough! This part is easy, and it’s also where the magic begins.
Step 1: Cream the Butter and Sugars
Start by measuring out your softened butter and both sugars (light brown sugar and granulated sugar) into a large mixing bowl. If you’re using a stand mixer, attach the paddle attachment for this step. Beat the butter and sugars together until smooth and creamy. This should take about 2-3 minutes, and you’ll notice the mixture becoming lighter in color. Remember to scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl to ensure everything is evenly mixed.
Step 2: Add the Eggs and Vanilla
Next, crack in your eggs and add the vanilla extract (and the optional vanilla powder if you’re feeling fancy). Beat these ingredients into the creamed mixture until fully combined. Don’t rush this step! Make sure the eggs are fully incorporated, and the mixture looks smooth and light. Again, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl to catch any unmixed spots.
Step 3: Combine the Dry Ingredients
In a separate bowl, whisk together your flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. This step helps to evenly disperse the baking agents, so your cookies rise and bake evenly in the air fryer. Slowly add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients and mix on a low speed (or use a spatula) until the dough comes together. Be careful not to over-mix at this point, or your cookies may turn out tough instead of soft and chewy.
Step 4: Incorporate the Chocolate
Finally, add about ⅔ of your chocolate chips into the cookie dough. Gently fold them in until they’re evenly distributed. You’ll want to reserve some chocolate chips to place on top of the cookie dough balls later – this ensures you have those beautiful, melty chocolate chunks on top of every cookie!
Step 5: Chill the Dough
Once your cookie dough is wrapped up, it’s important to chill it for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour , or even overnight if time allows. Chilling the dough helps develop the flavors and ensures the cookies won’t spread too much during air frying. If you’re impatient (hey, no judgment!), even a short chill in the fridge will work wonders.
Air Frying the Cookies
Now, the fun part—using the air fryer! This method makes cookies quick and easy without sacrificing flavor. Here’s how to get those cookies baked to perfection in your air fryer:
Step 1: Prepping the Air Fryer
Before anything else, line your air fryer basket with a baking liner or parchment paper. This step is crucial to prevent the dough from sticking and to make cleanup easier later.
Step 2: Forming the Cookie Dough Balls
Once your cookie dough has chilled, it’s time to scoop and shape! Use a tablespoon or small cookie scoop to measure out about 2 tablespoons of dough per cookie. Roll each portion into a smooth ball with your hands. Space the dough balls apart in the air fryer basket . Because air fryers are smaller than ovens, you won’t be able to bake as many cookies at once—four to five per batch should fit comfortably, depending on the size of your basket.
Step 3: Adding Extra Chocolate Chips
Remember those extra chocolate chips we set aside? This is where they come in handy. Press several extra chocolate chips into the tops of each dough ball. This trick gives the cookies that bakery-style look with pools of melty chocolate on top.
Step 4: Cooking Time and Temperature
Air fry the cookies at 160°C (325°F) for approximately 10 minutes . The cookies should start coloring at the edges while the centers remain soft and almost undercooked. This is key to getting that gooey inside once they cool.
Step 5: Let Them Rest
Once the timer goes off, carefully remove the air fryer basket and leave the cookies to rest in the basket for about 5 minutes . This step allows the cookies to continue cooking and firming up without becoming overly crisp. After 5 minutes, transfer them onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Remember, the cookies might still look slightly doughy when they first come out, but they will firm up as they rest. This technique ensures you get that perfect soft-on-the-inside, crispy-on-the-outside texture!
Storing, Freezing & Final Tips
Your air fryer cookies are almost as good as done, but let’s talk about storage and some final pro tips on getting the most out of your cookie dough!
Step 1: Storing the Cookies
If you’re not planning to eat all your cookies in one go (hard to imagine, I know!), the best way to ensure they stay fresh is to store them in an airtight container . They’ll keep at room temperature for about 3-4 days . To maintain their chewy texture, you can place a small piece of bread in the container with the cookies—it helps prevent them from drying out.
Step 2: Freezing the Dough
One of the great things about this recipe is that you can freeze the cookie dough ! If you don’t need to bake the entire batch, simply scoop the dough into balls and freeze them on a tray. Once they’re solid, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. You can store the cookie dough in the freezer for up to 3 months .
When you’re ready for a fresh batch of cookies, there’s no need to thaw the dough. You can air fry the dough straight from frozen —just add an extra 1-2 minutes to the cooking time.
Step 3: Reheating Cookies
If you want your baked cookies to taste freshly made, you can reheat them in the air fryer ! Simply pop them in at 150°C (300°F) for about 1-2 minutes . They’ll warm up nicely, giving you that “fresh from the oven” experience while keeping the edges crisp and the center soft.
Final Tips:
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer. It’s tempting to bake as many as possible at once, but cookies need space to spread a little and to get even airflow.
- Experiment with mix-ins. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can substitute some chocolate chips for nuts, toffee pieces , or even M&Ms for a different flavor profile.
- Stagger your batches. If you’re only craving a few cookies at a time, save some dough in the fridge for the next day!
By following these steps, you’ll have perfectly stored or fresh-baked cookies whenever those cravings hit.
Enjoy Your Cookies!
And that’s it! With this air fryer cookie recipe, you get rich, chewy, chocolatey, delicious cookies in just minutes—without the hassle of a full oven. The air fryer makes it easy, and the results are totally satisfying.
Next time you’re in the mood for cookies, skip the oven, and go straight to your air fryer. Happy baking!