Air Fryer Cookies: Is It Possible?

Air fryers have become a popular kitchen appliance, and it turns out they're not just great for cooking savoury snacks and meals. You can also bake delicious cookies in an air fryer! In fact, many people prefer using an air fryer over a conventional oven because it's quicker, easier, and produces a perfect texture—crispy on the outside, and gooey on the inside. If you're looking to make a small batch of cookies, the air fryer might be your best bet.

Air fryer chocolate chip cookies

Air fryers are a great way to make chocolate chip cookies. They're quick, easy, and convenient, and can make a small batch of cookies in just a few minutes. The high fan speed and concentrated heat of the air fryer make the cookies crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside.

To make chocolate chip cookies in an air fryer, you'll need the following ingredients:

• Butter
• White and brown sugar
• Egg
• Vanilla extract
• Salt
• Baking soda
• Flour
• Chocolate chips

You can also add other ingredients like walnuts, shredded coconut, or peanut butter chips to switch up the mix-ins. If you're making the dough from scratch, it's recommended to let it sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour or overnight before air frying.

When you're ready to bake, preheat your air fryer to 325°F-350°F. Line the air fryer basket or rack with parchment paper or aluminium foil, leaving room for air to flow. Place the cookie dough balls about 1 inch apart and bake for 5-8 minutes, depending on your desired level of doneness. For thicker cookies, you may need to bake for a few minutes longer.

Air fryer cookies without parchment paper

Air fryers are great for making cookies, especially if you want to avoid turning on your oven. They yield thick, soft, and chewy cookies with crispy edges and gooey centres.

To make cookies in an air fryer, you will need the following ingredients:

• All-purpose flour
• Baking soda
• Salt
• White and brown sugar
• Butter
• Milk
• Chocolate chips (optional)

First, make the cookie dough by folding the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients. If you're using chocolate chips, stir them through now. Then, roll out 12 balls of cookie dough and place them in the air fryer basket, leaving room for the cookies to spread. You can also push together 3-4 dough balls to make larger cookies.

If you want thicker cookies, it is recommended to refrigerate the dough for at least an hour before placing it in the air fryer.

Although most air fryer cookie recipes call for parchment paper, you can still make delicious cookies without it. Instead, line your air fryer basket with aluminium foil, which works just as well and is perfectly safe to use. Place your dough balls in the basket and bake for 6-10 minutes, checking every 2 minutes. If you are making larger cookies, bake for 10-15 minutes, checking every 1-2 minutes after the 5-minute mark.

Once the cookies are golden on the outside, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool completely before eating. This is important, as the cookies will continue to cook and firm up as they cool.

Now you're ready to enjoy freshly baked, warm cookies straight from your air fryer!

Air fryer cookies with a gooey middle

Air fryers are a great way to make cookies with gooey middles and crispy edges. The high fan speed and concentrated heat of the air fryer make the exterior of the cookie crispy while keeping the inside gooey. The close proximity of air circulation and intense dryness of an air fryer's heat cook and crisp the entire exterior of the cookie.

To make air fryer cookies with a gooey middle, you will need an air fryer, parchment paper or aluminium foil, and cookie dough. You can either make your own cookie dough or use store-bought dough. If you are making your own dough, the dry ingredients include all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, and white and brown sugar. For the wet ingredients, you will need butter, milk, and vanilla extract. You can also add chocolate chips, walnuts, shredded coconut, candy buttons, or peanut butter chips.

Once you have your cookie dough, roll it into balls and place them in the air fryer basket lined with parchment paper or aluminium foil. Be sure to leave enough room between the cookies to allow for spreading. For thicker cookies, it is recommended to refrigerate the dough for at least an hour before placing it in the air fryer.

Bake the cookies at a temperature between 170-350°F for 7-12 minutes, or until the edges are slightly firm. The exact temperature and time will depend on the type of air fryer you have and whether your cookie dough is chilled or at room temperature.

Once the cookies are done, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your warm, freshly baked, gooey cookies!

Air fryer cookies with a crispy exterior

Air fryers are a great way to make cookies with a crispy exterior and a gooey, chewy, or fudgy centre. The intense dryness of an air fryer's heat cooks and crisps the exterior of the cookie, while the middle remains soft and gooey.

To make these cookies, you will need an air fryer and parchment paper or aluminium foil. You can use store-bought or homemade cookie dough. If you are making the dough yourself, you will need all-purpose flour, baking soda, salt, white and brown sugar, butter, and milk.

Once you have your dough, roll it into balls and place them in the air fryer basket lined with parchment paper or aluminium foil. Leave about 1 inch of space between each ball of dough to allow for spreading. You can also use small foil pans as air fryer liners. Air fry the cookies at 170C/325F for 7-8 minutes, or until the edges are slightly firm and golden. If your dough is chilled or frozen, you may need to bake for up to 13 minutes.

Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes in the basket, then transfer them to a wire rack to continue cooling. Enjoy your warm, crispy, and gooey cookies!

Air fryer cookies vs. oven-baked cookies

Air fryers have become a popular alternative to traditional ovens for baking cookies. They are known for their ability to cook food quickly and efficiently, but how do they fare when it comes to baking cookies?

Speed

One of the biggest advantages of using an air fryer to bake cookies is the speed. Air fryers can bake cookies in about half the time of a conventional oven. While oven-baked cookies typically take between 9 and 15 minutes, air fryer cookies are usually done in 5 to 12 minutes. This is because air fryers rapidly heat up and circulate hot air evenly around the food, cooking it faster and at a lower temperature.

Texture

Air fryer cookies are known for their unique texture. They tend to have crispy edges and a gooey, fudgy center, which is often considered the ideal cookie texture. This is achieved due to the close proximity of air circulation and the intense dryness of an air fryer's heat, which cooks and crisps the exterior of the cookie while keeping the inside soft. Oven-baked cookies, on the other hand, can sometimes turn out too hard or crunchy, especially if the baking time is not carefully monitored.

Batch Size

However, one disadvantage of air fryers is their limited cooking space. While this can be advantageous for portion control, it also means that you can only bake a few cookies at a time. Oven-baked cookies are better suited for larger batches, as you can fit more cookies on a baking tray.

Taste

When it comes to taste, air fryer cookies seem to have a slight edge over their oven-baked counterparts. Many people report that air fryer cookies taste even better than oven-baked cookies, with a perfect crunch and a soft, gooey texture.

Ease of Use

Air fryers are also praised for their ease of use. They require minimal prep time and no pre-heating, making the overall baking process quicker and more convenient. Additionally, clean-up is often easier, as any mess is contained within the air fryer drawer.

In conclusion, both air fryers and ovens can be used to bake delicious cookies, each with their own unique advantages and disadvantages. Air fryers are ideal for small batches of cookies, producing a perfect crispy-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside texture. Ovens, on the other hand, are better suited for larger batches and provide more control over the final texture of the cookies. Ultimately, the decision between using an air fryer or an oven comes down to personal preference and specific baking needs.

Frequently asked questions