Air Frying Dough: Is It Possible?

Air fryers have become a popular alternative to conventional ovens, and many people are curious about whether they can be used to cook dough. The short answer is yes, you can put certain types of dough in an air fryer. In fact, air fryers are great for achieving a crispy exterior and soft, gooey interior for cookies and other dough-based desserts. However, it is important to note that not all doughs are suitable for air frying, and the cooking process may vary depending on the type of dough and the desired outcome.

Cookie dough in an air fryer

Air fryers are a great way to cook cookie dough quickly and conveniently. The strong fan in an air fryer gives the top of the cookie dough an amazing crispy baked finish while the inside stays doughy and gooey.

How to Cook Cookie Dough in an Air Fryer

To cook cookie dough in an air fryer, first prepare the cookie dough by mixing together the usual ingredients, such as butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, flour, baking soda, and chocolate chips. You can use light or dark brown sugar, and melt the butter for a nuttier taste. For a basic chocolate chip cookie dough, you can customize it with milk or white chocolate chips, M&Ms, nuts, freeze-dried berries, or crushed Oreos.

Once the dough is ready, roll it into balls and flatten them. Place parchment paper on the bottom of the air fryer basket and place the dough on top. A standard air fryer can fit about 4 cookies. Preheat the air fryer to 320°F (160°C) and cook the cookies for 6-8 minutes or until browned on top. For a crispier cookie, you can increase the cooking time to up to 10 minutes, but keep an eye on them to avoid burning.

Let the cookies cool in the basket for 5 minutes before removing them. Serve with a dollop of ice cream, whipped cream, or clotted cream, and top with sprinkles for a fun touch.

Tips for Cooking Cookie Dough in an Air Fryer

• Use a silicone mat at the bottom of the air fryer to protect the non-stick surface when placing the cookies in and out.
• Use small silicone potholders to remove the hot cookies from the air fryer.
• The dough can be refrigerated for up to 1 day or frozen for up to 3 months before cooking.
• If using refrigerated dough, you may need to increase the cooking time slightly.
• Frozen dough can be cooked straight from frozen, but you may need to add a few extra minutes to the cooking time.

Liquid dough in an air fryer

Air fryers are a great alternative to deep-frying, offering an easy and healthier way to cook your favourite foods. However, they do have their limitations. Soft, moist, or liquid doughs that you would normally drop into hot oil for frying are not suitable for air fryers. The dough will not hold its shape and will create a mess.

If you want to cook with liquid dough in an air fryer, there are a few things you can do to prevent a disaster:

• Freeze the dough before frying: Chill the dough in the freezer for 40 minutes to 2 hours before placing it in the air fryer. This will help it hold its shape better.
• Use a dry dredge: Coat the liquid batter with a dry dredge, such as breadcrumbs, before placing it in the air fryer. This will give the dough something to hold onto and help it maintain its shape.
• Preheat the air fryer: By preheating the air fryer, you create a hotter environment that can help the liquid dough set and crisp up faster, reducing the chances of it melting and creating a mess.
• Use a suitable dough: Opt for a dry, sturdy dough that holds its shape well, such as pizza dough or cookie dough. These doughs are more likely to succeed in an air fryer and give you a desirable texture.

It is important to note that even with these precautions, the results may not be the same as deep-frying. Air fryers circulate hot air to cook food, so they are more similar to convection ovens than deep fryers. The texture of your final product will be different, with a harder, chewier bite. If you are looking for the traditional soft and fluffy texture of fried dough, sticking to deep-frying is your best option.

Air fryer chocolate chip cookies

Air fryers are a great way to make chocolate chip cookies. They are quick, easy, and can be cooked in under 10 minutes. The high fan speed and concentrated heat of the air fryer make the outside of the cookies crispy, while the inside remains soft and gooey. The air fryer also doesn't heat up your kitchen and is easy to clean.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 stick
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup white sugar
• 1 egg, at room temperature if possible
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Method:

• Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl for 10-20 seconds or until the butter begins to melt.
• Add the brown and white sugars and beat until fully combined.
• Beat in the egg and vanilla and beat for another 30 seconds.
• Stir in the remaining ingredients until fully combined.
• Place the dough in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes to overnight (optional).
• Line the air fryer racks with parchment paper, leaving room on all sides for air to flow.
• Scoop 2-tablespoon dough balls into the air fryer basket, about 1.5 inches apart. You should be able to fit 2-4 depending on the size of your air fryer.
• Air fry at 325°F for 5-7 minutes or until golden and cooked through.
• Allow the cookies to rest for 2-3 minutes in the air fryer before removing.

You can also get creative and customise the recipe by using milk or white chocolate chips, M&Ms, nuts, freeze-dried berries, or crushed Oreos.

Air fryer cookie dough dessert pots

Ingredients

• Butter (salted or unsalted)
• Brown sugar (light or dark)
• Vanilla extract
• Plain white flour
• Baking soda (bicarbonate of soda)
• Chocolate chips (dark, milk, or white) or other mix-ins like M&Ms, nuts, freeze-dried berries, or crushed Oreos
• Ice cream or whipped cream
• Sprinkles (optional)

Utensils

• Ramekins or standalone silicone muffin/cupcake cases
• Silicone mat (optional)
• Small silicone potholders (optional)

Method

• Melt the butter.
• Add the brown sugar, vanilla, and egg. Mix vigorously until well combined.
• Add half of the flour, sprinkle the salt and baking soda over the flour, and stir through. Add the remaining flour and continue to stir until a dough is formed. If the dough is runny or sticking to the bowl, add more flour, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the dough comes away from the sides of the bowl easily.
• Fold in your chocolate chips or other mix-ins.
• Preheat the air fryer to 160°C / 320°F.
• Portion the dough into 4 or 6 ramekins, and place in the air fryer once it's heated. It's ideal to place the ramekins on top of a silicone mat to protect the basket's non-stick coating.
• Cook for 7-10 minutes. The cook time will be on the higher end if you start with cold dough and on the lower side if you start with room-temperature dough or stretch it to six portions. Check in at the earlier stage and adjust as needed.
• Top with ice cream, whipped cream, and sprinkles!

Tips

• This recipe is for a basic chocolate chip cookie dough but can be customized in many ways.
• If making the dough ahead of time, it can be refrigerated for 1 day or frozen for up to 3 months.
• If using fridge-temperature dough, you'll need a higher-end cook time. Frozen dough can be defrosted before use or cooked straight from frozen with a few extra minutes added to the cook time.
• For a cooling effect, add a dollop of vanilla ice cream. But whipped cream, pouring cream, clotted cream, or mascarpone could also work.
• Sprinkles add a fun touch to the presentation and can be used to make it seasonal for holiday times.

Air fryer cookies vs. oven cookies

Air fryers can be used to bake cookies, and they can turn out even better than those baked in a conventional oven. The cookies will have a crisp, golden-brown exterior and a soft, gooey, crunchy texture inside.

Air fryer cookies are also quicker to bake than oven-baked cookies, taking around 10 minutes as opposed to 12-15 minutes in an oven. However, you can bake a lot more cookies in one go in an oven, so an air fryer is better for small batches.

To bake cookies in an air fryer, line the bottom basket with foil that doesn't ride up the sides, so the interior fan can't blow it around. There's no need to preheat the air fryer. If the cookie dough is freshly made (room temperature), bake three or four scoops at 320°F for 9 to 10 minutes, or until spread and just golden on top. If the cookie dough is already chilled or frozen, bake at a lower temperature (270°F) for 11 to 13 minutes.

For oven-baked cookies, preheat the oven to 350°F and spoon two-level tablespoon portions of chilled dough 2 inches apart onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake the cookies for 12 to 15 minutes for a crunchier cookie. They will turn out flat and thin, with a crispy layer on the outside and a soft, gooey centre.

So, if you're looking for a quick, easy way to bake cookies with a crispy exterior and a gooey centre, an air fryer is a great option. But if you're baking for a crowd, you might want to stick with a conventional oven.

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