Air Fryer Cookies: Timing For Perfect Treats

Air fryers are a great alternative to ovens when it comes to baking cookies. They can bake cookies with a gooey inside and a crispy outside in under 15 minutes. The best part? You don't have to worry about preheating the air fryer or heating up your entire kitchen!

Preheat the air fryer to 330°F

Preheating your air fryer is a crucial step in the cooking process. It ensures your food cooks evenly and efficiently, and it can also help create that sought-after crispiness. Here's a comprehensive guide on preheating your air fryer to 330°F:

Step 1: Understand Your Air Fryer

Before you begin, it's important to consult your air fryer's manual. Some models may have specific instructions or requirements for preheating. Additionally, ensure your air fryer is clean, plugged in, and ready to go.

Step 2: Turn on the Air Fryer

Power on your air fryer and set the temperature to 330°F. If your air fryer has a preheat button, use that. If not, you can manually preheat it by setting the desired temperature.

Step 3: Allow Time for Preheating

Give your air fryer sufficient time to reach the set temperature. Preheating usually takes around 2 to 5 minutes, but it can vary depending on the model. Some air fryers will alert you when they've reached the desired temperature.

Step 4: Prepare the Air Fryer Basket

While the air fryer is preheating, line the basket with parchment paper. This step is crucial for baking cookies, as it prevents the dough from sticking and sinking into the basket. Cut the parchment paper to fit the basket, and consider poking holes or slits in the paper to allow for better airflow.

Step 5: Maintain Temperature

Once your air fryer reaches 330°F, it's important to maintain that temperature. Depending on your air fryer's settings, you may need to adjust the temperature slightly to ensure it stays at 330°F.

Step 6: Place Cookies in the Basket

After preheating, it's time to place your cookie dough in the basket. Place the cookies approximately 1 inch apart to ensure even cooking. If your air fryer basket can accommodate it, you can bake around 4 cookies at a time.

Step 7: Bake the Cookies

Close the air fryer and let the cookies bake. The baking time may vary depending on your air fryer model, but it typically takes around 12 to 14 minutes for the cookies to be ready. Keep an eye on the cookies to ensure they don't overcook.

Step 8: Cool the Cookies

Once the timer goes off, carefully remove the basket from the air fryer. Allow the cookies to cool for a few minutes in the basket before transferring them to a cooling rack. This helps ensure the cookies firm up slightly and don't fall apart when moved.

Step 9: Repeat as Needed

If you have more cookie dough, repeat the process. Preheat the air fryer again to 330°F, and continue baking in batches until all your cookies are done.

Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper

Lining your air fryer basket with parchment paper is a great way to keep your appliance clean and your food delicious. It's also more sustainable than using aluminium foil.

To line your air fryer with parchment paper, cut a piece of parchment paper from a roll, or use pre-cut, perforated parchment paper rounds. The paper should be roughly the size of your air fryer basket. Some people recommend punching holes in the paper to allow for airflow, but this is not necessary. Place the paper inside the air fryer basket, add your ingredients, and you're ready to start cooking.

When using parchment paper in your air fryer, it's important to add the paper at the same time as your ingredients. This prevents the paper from lifting up and coming into contact with the heating element. Parchment paper can handle the heat inside your air fryer, withstanding temperatures up to 428°F (220°C).

After cooking, clean-up is easy. Simply throw the parchment paper into the compost bin.

Place cookies 1 apart in the basket

When placing the cookies in the air fryer basket, it's important to ensure they are spaced out adequately. Leaving about 1 inch (or 2.5 cm) between each cookie is ideal, as this allows for even cooking and prevents overcrowding in the basket. This spacing also helps to achieve that perfect texture—crispy on the outside, gooey on the inside.

The number of cookies you can fit in one batch will depend on the size of your air fryer and the size of your cookies. For example, with a Ninja Air Fryer, you can fit about three standard-sized cookies in one batch. If you're making larger cookies, you might only be able to fit one or two in the basket at a time.

If you're baking a big batch of cookies, don't worry! You can always bake in batches, or you can refrigerate the cookie dough for up to 48 hours until you're ready to bake the next batch. This is a great option if you want to enjoy freshly baked cookies every day!

When placing the cookies in the basket, it's also important to use parchment paper or a small pan to prevent the cookies from sticking and sinking into the basket. This is a crucial step to ensure you don't lose any of your delicious treats to the depths of your air fryer!

So, to summarise, place your cookies about 1 inch apart in the air fryer basket, lined with parchment paper or a small pan. Adjust the number of cookies per batch based on their size and the size of your air fryer, and remember, it's fine to bake in batches or refrigerate the dough for later!

Bake for 12 minutes

So, you've got your cookie dough ready to go and your air fryer preheated to 330°F. You've lined the fryer basket with parchment paper and placed your cookies about 1" apart. Now, it's time to bake!

Depending on the size of your cookies, you'll want to bake them for 12 minutes. This timing will give you that perfect texture: ooey-gooey soft on the inside with a nice crisp texture on the outside. If you're making smaller cookies, you might bake for 5-6 minutes, and larger cookies might need 11-14 minutes. But for your standard-sized cookies, 12 minutes is just right.

While your cookies are baking, you can start to prepare your cookie dough for the next batch. If you're making a big batch, you might want to keep the dough in the refrigerator between batches to help it maintain its shape. You can also freeze the dough for later—it freezes perfectly once scooped into portions.

When the timer goes off, remove your cookies from the air fryer. They'll still be soft, so it's best to remove them on the piece of parchment paper and let them cool for a few minutes before serving or transferring to a wire rack. Enjoy!

Let cool, serve, and enjoy

Once your cookies are baked, it's time to let them cool, serve, and enjoy! The length of time you should leave your cookies to cool will depend on the recipe you've used. Some recipes suggest leaving the cookies to cool for a couple of minutes before removing them from the air fryer, whereas others recommend waiting 15 minutes before enjoying them.

If you've baked your cookies in batches, you can serve them as soon as they're cool enough to eat. However, if you've baked a large batch all at once, you might want to let them cool completely before serving. This will allow you to store any leftovers in an airtight container for later. Most recipes suggest that cookies will stay fresh for a few days if stored correctly.

If you're serving your cookies to guests, you might want to get creative with your presentation. You could arrange them on a plate or platter, add some decorations or garnishes, or even provide a selection of toppings and spreads for your guests to customize their cookies. For a more informal gathering, you could simply stack the cookies on a plate or platter and let your guests help themselves.

Finally, don't forget to enjoy your delicious, homemade cookies! Indulge in the warm, gooey chocolate chip cookies straight from the air fryer, or wait until they've cooled to room temperature. You could even experiment with different serving temperatures to see which you prefer. Whatever you choose, take the time to savour and appreciate the perfect texture and flavour of your air-fried cookies.

Frequently asked questions