Air Fryer Cookie Baking: Is It Possible?

Air fryers are a convenient alternative to traditional ovens for baking cookies. They can bake a few cookies in about half the time an oven takes, and they don't need much time for preheating. Air fryers are basically countertop convection ovens with a new look and intense drying capabilities. They produce cookies with crispy exteriors and gooey, fudgy centres.

Air fryer cookies are crispy on the outside and gooey on the inside

Air fryer cookies are a quick and easy way to achieve a crispy exterior and a soft, gooey interior. The high fan speed and concentrated heat of the air fryer cook the outside of the cookie to a crisp while keeping the inside molten and gooey.

To make air fryer cookies, first, prepare your cookie dough. Most recipes recommend a basic cookie dough with flour, butter, sugar, eggs, and vanilla, with chocolate chips as an optional extra. However, you can experiment with different ingredients, such as cornflour, baking soda, or milk.

Once your dough is ready, cover it and place it in the fridge for 30 minutes to overnight. This step is optional but will help the butter to set and improve the flavour and texture of the cookies.

When you're ready to bake, line your air fryer basket with parchment paper or aluminium foil to aid with cleanup. Place 2-5 balls of cookie dough in the basket, leaving enough space between them to allow for spreading.

Air fry the cookies at between 160ºc and 350ºF for 5 to 13 minutes, or until the edges are slightly firm or golden brown. The exact temperature and time will depend on your air fryer and the size of your cookies.

Once baked, remove the cookies from the air fryer and allow them to cool for a few minutes. This will give them time to set and make them easier to handle.

You can also bake cookies from frozen dough in the air fryer. Simply add on one or two minutes to the baking time.

Air fryers are like countertop convection ovens

The downside of air fryers is they can't cook as much food at one time as you can in an oven. Food cooks better in an air fryer when it's in a single layer. Some foods, like French fries, can be stacked, but should be tossed at least once. Air fryers can also be loud, although many manufacturers consider this in development.

Air fryers are typically designed with a large fan located on top of the appliance, and they cook from the top down. They rarely have any heating elements at the bottom, unless the air fryer also offers additional functionality, like true toasting or baking.

Convection ovens, on the other hand, use a built-in heating mechanism to blow hot air via a fan that's often located at the back or side of the oven. While this is more powerful than a traditional bake setting, air frying is designed to be the most powerful. Most convection ovens now also offer an air fry setting, using a unique heating system with a larger and faster fan.

Air fryer cookies are quick and easy to make

Air fryer cookies are a quick and easy way to satisfy your sweet tooth. The high fan speed and concentrated heat of the air fryer create the perfect crispy-on-the-outside, gooey-on-the-inside texture for your cookies. Plus, it doesn't heat up your entire kitchen!

Here's a simple step-by-step guide to making delicious air fryer cookies:

Step 1: Prepare the Dough

If you're short on time, you can use store-bought cookie dough. However, if you want to make your dough from scratch, here's a basic recipe:

• Mix wet ingredients: Cream together butter and sugars, then stir in milk and vanilla extract.
• Mix dry ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt.
• Combine: Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the wet mixture until combined. You can also add chocolate chips, walnuts, or other mix-ins of your choice.

Step 2: Shape the Dough

Using a cookie scoop or spoon, portion out the dough into equal-sized balls. You can flatten them slightly to form the perfect cookie shape. If you have time, chilling the dough in the refrigerator for an hour can help achieve thicker cookies.

Step 3: Prepare the Air Fryer

Line the bottom of your air fryer with foil for easy cleanup. Then, place a circle of parchment paper on the air fryer rack or basket. You can use parchment paper with holes, cut slits in the paper, or simply leave some space around the edges to allow for proper air circulation.

Step 4: Bake the Cookies

Place 3-4 balls of cookie dough onto the parchment paper, leaving enough space for the cookies to spread. If your air fryer has a "bake" function, set the temperature to 325-350°F and bake for 7-12 minutes. If your air fryer doesn't have a "bake" function, simply set it to 320-330°F.

Step 5: Cool and Enjoy

Once the cookies are golden brown, remove the rack or basket from the air fryer and let the cookies cool for a few minutes. This step is crucial, as it allows the cookies to firm up and achieve the perfect texture. Then, enjoy your freshly baked, warm, and delicious air fryer cookies!

Air fryer cookies are a convenient and quick way to indulge your cookie cravings. They're easy to make, require minimal cleanup, and deliver that perfect crispy-gooey texture. So, go ahead and give it a try!

You can use store-bought or homemade cookie dough

If you want to make your cookies from scratch, you can prepare your own cookie dough. It's recommended that you let your homemade cookie dough sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour, or even overnight, before air frying. This will help the dough firm up, making it easier to shape and handle.

When it comes to baking your cookies, the air fryer excels at creating crispy exteriors while keeping the inside gooey. The high fan speed and concentrated heat of the air fryer are what create this ideal texture. The close proximity of air circulation and intense dryness of an air fryer's heat cook and crisp the entire exterior of the cookie. This is something that a standard oven can't achieve, as the larger chamber and distance from the heating elements mean only the edges will crisp while the tops and middles stay soft.

The exact baking time and temperature will depend on the type of cookie you're making and the specific model of your air fryer. As a general rule, it's recommended to reduce the temperature by about 25°F if you're adapting a conventional oven recipe for the air fryer. For example, if a conventional oven recipe calls for 350°F, set your air fryer to around 325°F. Start by baking your cookies for 5 minutes, then add additional bake time in 1-minute increments as needed.

To prepare your air fryer for baking cookies, it's important to line the basket with parchment paper or aluminium foil to prevent the dough from sticking. You can also use a small baking pan if you have one that fits inside your air fryer. If using parchment paper, it's a good idea to create some holes or slits in the paper to allow for better air circulation.

With an air fryer, you can enjoy freshly baked cookies in half the time it would take in a conventional oven, without having to heat up your entire kitchen. So, whether you're using store-bought or homemade cookie dough, the air fryer is a convenient and effective way to satisfy your cookie cravings!

You can bake around 3 cookies at a time in an air fryer

Yes, you can bake cookies in an air fryer! In fact, it's a great way to achieve the universally loved textural profile of crispy edges and a fudgy centre.

You can bake around three cookies at a time in an air fryer, depending on their size. The number of cookies you can bake simultaneously will also depend on the size of your air fryer.

• Line the bottom of the air fryer with foil for easy cleanup.
• Line the racks or basket with parchment paper to allow for even cooking and air circulation. You can buy parchment paper with holes in it, cut slits into the paper, or simply leave room around the paper.
• If you have a baking pan that fits your air fryer, using it can help to avoid a mess, as the dough can drip through the basket.
• If your cookie dough is freshly made (at room temperature), bake three or four scoops at 320°F for 9 to 10 minutes, or until spread and just golden on top.
• If your cookie dough is chilled or frozen, bake at a lower temperature (around 270°F) for 11 to 13 minutes.
• For thicker cookies, chill the dough for at least an hour before baking.
• Let the cookies cool for a few minutes before removing them from the air fryer. They will continue to firm up as they cool.

So, if you're craving some freshly baked cookies, but don't want to make a whole batch, the air fryer is a great option! You can have warm, delicious cookies in no time.

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