Air Fryer Cookies: Pillsbury's Quick-Bake Treats?

Air fryers are a convenient alternative to ovens for baking cookies. You can make delicious, fresh, and warm cookies with a nice crunch and gooey chocolate chips using Pillsbury cookie dough and an air fryer. The air fryer is ideal for baking cookies and can be used with any cookie dough brand and flavor. This article will provide a step-by-step guide on how to make perfect Pillsbury cookies in an air fryer.

Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients

• Butter
• Brown sugar
• White/granulated sugar
• Egg
• Vanilla extract
• Flour
• Baking soda
• Chocolate chips

Optional Ingredients

• Walnuts
• Salt

Method

• Whisk the butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until fluffy, then stir in the remaining ingredients.
• Cover the dough and place it in the fridge for 30 minutes to a few days. This step is optional but will improve the flavour and texture.
• Line your air fryer with parchment paper or foil.
• Place 2-5 balls of cookie dough in the air fryer, allowing space for them to spread.
• Cook at 325°F for 5-7 minutes, or until golden.
• Allow the cookies to rest in the air fryer basket for 2-3 minutes before serving.

Tips

• You can use aluminium foil instead of parchment paper, but you will need to poke holes in it to allow for air circulation.
• You can cook the cookies straight on the air fryer rack if you don't have a basket, but you will need to use parchment paper or foil to stop the batter from dripping through.
• You can cook the cookies from frozen, but you will need to add a couple of minutes to the cooking time.

Air Fryer Sugar Cookies

Ingredients

1 package refrigerated cookie dough (sugar cookie)

Method

• Take out the air fryer basket and open the package of cookie dough.
• Break apart the cookies from the dough if they are pre-portioned. If using a cookie dough log, you will need to slice the cookies first.
• Place them about 2 inches apart in the basket so they don’t stick together. They will need room to spread while cooking.
• Return the basket to the air fryer and set the temperature to 300°F for 10 minutes.
• When done, carefully remove the cookies with a spatula onto a serving plate.
• Let cool slightly and enjoy warm!

Tips

• You can use any brand of cookie dough and adapt the recipe to any flavor.
• If you want to make cookies in bigger batches, you will need to do so in batches.

Air Fryer Basket vs Air Fryer Oven

Air fryers are like mini countertop convection ovens, using a fan to circulate hot air and cook food evenly with a crispy texture. They are a great alternative to deep-fried foods, as they require little to no oil.

Air Fryer Basket

The basket-style air fryer is a good choice for those with limited counter space and smaller servings of food. It is also a good option for quick cooking or reheating, as its smaller size means it heats up faster. The basket is also easier to clean than oven-style wire racks. The basket can be shaken to move food around, which is especially useful for cooking things like French fries. Most air fryer baskets are also dishwasher-safe. However, food can burn more easily in the basket if it is too close to the top heating element, and you are limited to cooking one item at a time.

Air Fryer Oven

The oven-style air fryer is larger and can cook more food at once, including bigger items like roasts and pizzas. It is a good option for those who want to cook for a larger group or family. Some models have multiple racks, allowing you to cook multiple items at different temperatures simultaneously. The oven style also tends to have more features, such as rotisserie functions, baking, dehydrating, and roasting. However, it takes longer to heat up and cook food, and it takes up more counter space. The wire racks can also be more difficult to clean.

Making Cookies in an Air Fryer

The oven-style air fryer is better suited for making cookies, as it allows you to make larger quantities and adjust the trays to control the heat. You can also make cookies in the basket-style air fryer, but you will need to do so in batches.

Air Fryer Temperature Settings

Air fryers are a great alternative to baking cookies in the oven. They can be used to make a small batch of cookies, or even just a couple at a time, without heating up the entire kitchen. The bake feature on the air fryer is perfect for making cookies, producing a batch in 5 minutes at 320 degrees Fahrenheit, or 8 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit when using the air fry feature.

When making cookies in an air fryer, it is important to use air fryer parchment paper to prevent the dough from falling through the basket. However, it is crucial to ensure that the parchment paper is weighed down with dough and never preheated in the air fryer by itself, as this can pose a fire hazard. Additionally, poking holes in the parchment paper is recommended to allow for better air circulation.

The ideal temperature for baking cookies in an air fryer varies depending on the type of cookie dough being used. For instance, if the cookie dough is freshly made (at room temperature), it is recommended to bake the cookies at 320 degrees Fahrenheit for 9 to 10 minutes, or until they are slightly golden on top. On the other hand, if the cookie dough is chilled or frozen, a lower temperature of 270 degrees Fahrenheit for 11 to 13 minutes is suggested.

It is important to note that different air fryers may have varying wattages, which can affect cooking times. Therefore, it is advisable to experiment with the temperature and timing settings to achieve the desired cookie texture. For example, if you prefer gooey cookies, reduce the cooking time by 1-2 minutes, and if you like them crispier, add an extra minute to the cooking time.

By following these temperature guidelines and adjusting as needed, you can achieve the perfect batch of cookies with your air fryer!

Air Fryer Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 5 x Pillsbury™ Ready to Bake!™ Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough (24 Count)
• 5 x Rolo® chewy caramels wrapped in rich chocolate candy, unwrapped
• Foil
• Air fryer parchment paper

Method:

• Line the inside of the air fryer basket with foil.
• Remove 5 cookie dough rounds from the package and flatten each one in the palm of your hand to about a 1.5-inch circle.
• Place the flattened dough on the foil in the air fryer basket, spacing them evenly apart around the outer edge.
• Set the air fryer to 300°F and cook for 13 to 14 minutes or until the edges are set (the centers will be soft).
• Remove the basket and place one candy in the center of each cookie.
• Let the cookies stand in the basket for 5 minutes.
• Carefully remove the cookies on the foil from the basket to a cooling rack, using a spatula to help lift the foil out of the basket if needed.
• Cool for 15 minutes on foil before removing.

Tips:

• You can use aluminum foil instead of parchment paper.
• You can also bake the cookies straight onto the air fryer rack without a basket.
• Small foil pans work great as air fryer liners, too.
• If you have a multi-function air fryer, you can use either the Bake feature at 320 degrees F and bake the cookies for 5-6 minutes, or use the Air Fry feature at 300 degrees F for 7-8 minutes.
• For gooey cookies, lower the cook time by 1-2 minutes.
• If you prefer crispy cookies, add an additional minute to the cooking time.

Frequently asked questions