Air-Fryer Pizookie: Quick, Easy, And Delicious!

Pizookie, a combination of pizza and cookie, is a mouth-watering dessert that can be made in an air fryer. It is a giant chocolate chip cookie with a crispy edge and gooey centre, served warm with a scoop of ice cream. The dessert is easy to make and can be customised with different toppings and mix-ins. The preparation time is minimal, and the cooking time is under 20 minutes. The ingredients are basic and easily available. The pizookie can be made in a springform pan, cake barrel pan, or small cast iron skillet. The air fryer needs to be preheated, and the cookie dough is then pressed into the pan and cooked for about 15-20 minutes. The pizookie is ready when it is golden brown with crispy edges. It is a decadent and indulgent dessert, perfect for satisfying sweet cravings.

Choosing a pan for your pizookie

Pan Material

The material of the pan can influence how evenly your pizookie bakes and how easy it is to remove the dessert from the pan. Here are some common materials used for pizookie pans:

• Cast iron skillet: This is a traditional choice for baking pizookies, as it can give your dessert a crispy edge and a gooey centre. Cast iron skillets retain heat well, resulting in a pizookie with a consistent texture.
• Disposable aluminium pie plate: This is a convenient option if you're looking for an easy clean-up. However, it may not produce the same level of crispness as a cast iron skillet.
• Springform pan: A springform pan with a removable bottom can make it easier to remove your pizookie from the pan, especially if you want to keep it intact for presentation.
• Glass or ceramic ramekin: These materials conduct heat well and can give your pizookie a uniform texture. They are also good options for individual-sized pizookies.

Pan Size

The size of the pan will determine the size and thickness of your pizookie. Here are some common sizes mentioned in the sources:

• 6-8" pan: This size is suitable for a small pizookie, perfect for one or two people.
• 7" pan: This size is commonly used for pizookies and can be found in packs of three.
• 5" pan: This size is ideal for individual servings or servings for two if you want smaller portions.
• 8-9" pan: This larger size is suitable if you want to make a family-sized pizookie or serve a larger group.

Pan Shape

The shape of the pan can affect the overall presentation of your pizookie:

• A round pan is the traditional choice for pizookies, giving them their pizza-like shape.
• A square pan can also be used, but it will result in a pizookie with square edges, which may affect the serving process.

When choosing a pan for your pizookie, consider the material, size, and shape that will best suit your needs and the number of people you plan to serve. Remember to adjust your cooking time and temperature accordingly, as different pans may require slight adjustments for the perfect pizookie.

Preparing the dough

To make the pizookie dough, you will need basic cookie ingredients. You can use pre-made cookie dough or make your own. If you are using pre-made dough, let it sit on the counter for about an hour to soften.

If you are making your own dough, combine the butter, sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl. Use a stand mixer or handheld mixer to beat the mixture until it is smooth and creamy. You can also do this by hand.

Next, add the eggs, vanilla extract, salt, and baking soda to the butter mixture. Mix until the ingredients are well combined.

Once the wet ingredients are mixed, slowly add in the all-purpose flour. Continue mixing until the dough is smooth and well combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can lead to a dense texture.

Now it's time to add your mix-ins! You can use chocolate chips, M&Ms, peanut butter cups, nuts, or any other candies you like. Fold these ingredients into the dough gently until they are evenly distributed.

If you want to get creative, you can even divide your dough into portions and add different mix-ins to each portion to create a variety of pizookie flavours.

Adding toppings

Once your pizookie is cooked, it's time to add your toppings of choice! Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Vanilla ice cream
• Chocolate sauce or syrup
• Hot fudge
• Sweetened strawberries
• Sprinkles
• Marshmallows
• Peanut butter cups
• Milk chocolate chips
• Dark chocolate chips
• White chocolate chips
• Chopped nuts, such as pecans or macadamia nuts
• Crumbled Oreo cookies
• Whipped cream
• Melted chocolate
• Gelato
• Caramel sauce
• Chocolate-covered caramels
• Chocolate-covered pretzels
• Chocolate bars
• Chocolate candies, such as kisses or M&Ms
• Peanut butter M&Ms
• Peanut butter cups
• Peanut butter
• Marshmallows
• Chocolate or peanut butter ice cream
• Chocolate or peanut butter chocolate ice cream
• Chocolate bars
• Chocolate-covered pretzels
• Chocolate-covered caramels
• Sprinkles
• Sparkles
• Chopped nuts
• Pecans
• Walnuts
• Cashews
• Almonds
• Pistachios
• KitKats
• Reeses cups or pieces
• Butterfinger
• Snickers
• Turtles
• Rolos

Feel free to get creative and experiment with different combinations of toppings to find your favourite!

Cooking the pizookie

There are a few ways to cook a pizookie in an air fryer. One method is to use pre-made cookie dough, such as Pillsbury™ Ready to Bake!™ Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough. Take five pieces of pre-cut refrigerated cookie dough and place them in the middle of a large piece of aluminium foil, which has been folded into an 8x8-inch square. Arrange the remaining pieces of cookie dough around the first piece in a pattern similar to the five-side of a die. Place the foil with the cookie dough into the air fryer and bake for 6 minutes. Then, gently push down the top of the cookie and continue to bake for another 2 to 4 minutes or until it is a deep golden brown.

Another method is to make the cookie dough from scratch. To do this, combine the butter, sugar, and brown sugar in a large bowl and beat together until smooth and creamy. You can use a stand mixer or a handheld mixer for this step. Then, add the eggs, vanilla extract, salt, baking soda, and about half of the flour to the butter mixture to form a batter. Once these ingredients are mixed in, add in the remaining all-purpose flour and beat until it forms a smooth cookie dough. At this point, you can also add in any mix-ins such as chocolate chips, M&Ms, or chopped nuts.

Once the dough is ready, it's time to shape the pizookie. Transfer the dough to a pan lined with parchment paper or lightly coated with non-stick cooking spray. Gently press the cookie dough into the pan, ensuring it is no more than half an inch in thickness. If you want a less gooey cookie, you can divide the dough in half and make two pizookies, reducing the cooking time by 3-5 minutes.

Now it's time to air fry the pizookie. Set the air fryer to 350° Fahrenheit and cook the pizookie for 16-20 minutes, or until it is golden brown and has crispy edges. Remove the pizookie from the air fryer and let it cool for a couple of minutes before serving.

If you want to make individual pizookies, you can use mini pie dishes or ramekins that fit in your air fryer. Simply divide the dough into four equal parts and press it into the dishes. Cook two pizookies at a time in the air fryer for 9 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

For a more gooey centre, remove the pizookie from the air fryer when the centre looks shiny and undercooked, even if the edges are starting to brown. Remember that the pizookie will continue to cook a little even after you remove it from the air fryer.

You can also use pre-made cookie dough for this method. Just be sure to let it sit on the counter for about an hour to soften before shaping and air frying.

Serving the pizookie

Pizookies are best served warm and gooey, topped with ice cream, chocolate or caramel sauce, and other treats like chopped peanut butter cups, chocolate-covered caramels, and sprinkles. You can also make a pizookie sandwich by adding icing or ice cream in between two pizookies.

If you want to serve the pizookie in slices, let it cool before removing it from the pan and slicing it. However, if you want to retain the gooey texture, serve the pizookie straight out of the pan.

Pizookies are best enjoyed fresh, but if you have leftovers, you can store them in an airtight container or wrapped tightly in plastic wrap at room temperature for a couple of days. If the pizookie has been topped with ice cream, store it in the fridge for up to two days.

To reheat a pizookie, place it in a skillet over medium heat and stir until warmed through, or preheat the oven to 300-325°F and heat the pizookie in a greased pan for about five minutes.

Now you know all about serving pizookies! Enjoy your delicious dessert!

Frequently asked questions