Chocolate Chips Air Fryer Experiment: How Many Fit?

Air fryers have become a popular alternative to conventional ovens for baking cookies. They are compact, convenient, and energy-efficient, delivering crispy exteriors and soft, gooey centres. But how many chocolate chips can fit in an air fryer?

The number of cookies that can be baked at once depends on the size of the air fryer and the cookies. Generally, 2-5 cookies can be baked per batch, leaving enough space between each cookie for air circulation.

Air fryers are tiny but mighty, with heating elements and high-powered fans that circulate hot air around the food, drying out and crisping the surface. This results in a crispy exterior and a soft, chewy interior—the perfect cookie texture!

How to prepare the cookie dough

To prepare the cookie dough, you'll need the following ingredients:

• Butter
• Sugar (white, light brown, or a mix of both)
• Egg
• Vanilla extract
• Flour (all-purpose or plain)
• Baking soda or bicarbonate of soda
• Chocolate chips

You can also add a pinch of salt to enhance the flavour. If you want to make your cookies chewier, add cornflour to the mix.

To prepare the dough, start by whisking the butter, sugars, eggs, and vanilla until the mixture is nice and fluffy. Then, stir in the remaining ingredients. At this point, you can cover the dough and place it in the fridge for 30 minutes to overnight. This step is optional but will help the dough develop a better flavour and texture.

When you're ready to bake, line your air fryer with parchment paper and scoop the dough into the fryer, placing the portions about 1 to 1.5 inches apart to allow space for spreading. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you should be able to fit 2-5 cookies.

Bake the cookies at 325°F for 5-7 minutes or until golden and cooked through. For a Ninja Air Fryer, you can bake at 160ºC for 10 minutes.

Let the cookies rest in the air fryer basket for 2-3 minutes before removing them. This helps them set and makes them easier to handle.

How to shape the cookies

Shaping your cookies is an important step in the baking process, especially if you're going for a particular look or want to ensure they hold their shape during baking. Here are some detailed instructions on how to shape your cookies for the best results:

Method 1: Use Paper Towel Cardboard Rolls as a Sling

If you're making icebox or slice-and-bake cookies, this method can help keep your cookie dough log perfectly round. After shaping your dough into a log, place it inside a cardboard tube from a paper towel roll. Then, chill the dough in the fridge or freezer. This will prevent the log from flattening out during chilling.

Method 2: Use Round Cookie Cutters or Ring Molds

If you want to make round cookies from rolled-out cookie dough, this method is a great option. Simply use round cookie cutters or ring molds to cut out perfectly round shapes from your dough. This method is especially useful for making sandwich cookies, where you want each cookie to be exactly the same shape and size.

Method 3: Use Ice Cream or Cookie Scoops

For drop cookies like chocolate chip, oatmeal, or peanut butter, using a small ice cream or cookie scoop is an easy way to achieve uniform size and shape. Fill the scoop with dough, scrape off any excess, and release the dough onto your baking sheet. This method ensures each cookie is the same size and round!

Method 4: Roll the Dough into Smooth Balls

This method requires no special tools. Simply use your hands to gently roll each portion of dough into a perfectly round ball before baking. While this technique works best with smooth cookie doughs, you can apply a little extra pressure to press in any chunky pieces. This method will result in more uniform cookies than simply dropping spoonfuls of dough onto your baking sheet.

Method 5: Chill or Freeze Cut-Out Cookies

If you're making cut-out cookies, try this trick to help them hold their shape: after cutting out your shapes, place the cookies on a lined baking sheet and put them in the freezer for about 10 minutes before baking. This helps the cookies hold their shape and prevents them from spreading too much in the oven.

How to bake the cookies

Ingredients

• Butter
• Sugar (white and/or brown)
• Egg
• Vanilla extract
• Flour
• Baking soda or bicarbonate of soda
• Chocolate chips

Method

• Mix the wet and dry ingredients separately.
• Cream the butter and sugars together in a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer.
• Stir in the milk and vanilla extract.
• Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until combined.
• Stir through the chocolate chips.
• Line an air fryer basket with parchment paper.
• Roll out 12 balls of cookie dough.
• Place 3-4 balls of cookie dough into the air fryer basket, leaving room for the cookies to spread.
• Air fry the cookies at 170C/325F for 7-12 minutes or until the edges are slightly firm and golden.
• Remove the cookies from the air fryer basket and let them cool for five minutes.
• Transfer the cookies to a wire rack to continue cooling, then continue air frying the remaining cookies in batches.

Tips

• You can use aluminium foil instead of parchment paper, but cookies may stick to the bottom.
• For thicker cookies, refrigerate the dough for at least an hour.
• Don't skip the resting time after baking, as this keeps the cookies from breaking.
• If your cookies feel raw, continue air frying in one-minute intervals until done.
• You can switch up the mix-ins, e.g. swap chocolate chips for walnuts, shredded coconut, candy buttons, or peanut butter chips.

How to store the cookies

Now that you've baked your chocolate chip cookies in the air fryer, it's time to store them.

If you have any leftover cookie dough, you can store it in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Simply scoop the dough into balls and place them in ziplock bags.

When it comes to storing the baked cookies, you have a few options. You can keep them at room temperature in an airtight container or bag for up to a week. Alternatively, you can store them in the fridge for up to 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months. This way, you can enjoy freshly baked cookies whenever you want!

Some people prefer to store their cookies in the freezer and then reheat them in the air fryer for a minute or two when they're ready to eat. This helps to maintain that fresh-out-of-the-oven taste and texture.

No matter which storage method you choose, your air fryer chocolate chip cookies are sure to be a delicious treat!

How to prevent the cookies from sticking to the air fryer basket

Air fryers are a great way to cook your favourite foods with minimal oil. However, one common issue is food sticking to the air fryer basket. Here are some tips to prevent this from happening:

Preheat the Air Fryer

First, preheat your air fryer. Most brands recommend preheating to ensure even cooking. If your air fryer doesn't have a preheat setting, simply set it to the desired temperature and let it run for about three minutes before adding your food.

Use Oil Sparingly

Oil helps to promote browning and crisping of your food. It also acts as a barrier between your food and the air fryer basket, reducing the chances of sticking. However, use oil sparingly, as too much can be counterproductive. For example, if your food already has some fat, like red meat or chicken, you probably don't need to add more oil.

Grease the Fryer Basket

Even if your food doesn't require oil, always grease the fryer basket. You can do this by rubbing or spraying a small amount of vegetable oil on the racks. This will create a non-stick surface and ensure your food doesn't stick. Avoid using aerosol sprays, as these can damage the coating of the basket over time. Instead, opt for a bottle of good-quality oil.

Don't Overload the Basket

Overloading the basket can lead to uneven cooking and increase the chances of food sticking. Make sure you don't overfill the basket, especially with foods that can melt, such as cheese or chocolate.

Use a Foil Sling

Creating a foil sling is an effective way to prevent sticking and make food removal easier. Simply fold a sheet of aluminium foil so that it is 4 inches wide and lay it across the basket, pressing it into the sides. Then, fold any excess foil so that it's flush with the top of the basket. Place your food on top of the foil before air frying.

Shake the Basket During Cooking

When cooking small foods like chicken wings or chips, shake the basket every few minutes to ensure even cooking and prevent sticking. You can also use kitchen tongs to flip larger foods gently.

Frequently asked questions