Air Fryer Cookies: Baking Without Parchment Paper

Air fryers are a convenient alternative to traditional ovens for baking cookies, especially if you're short on time or only want to bake a few at a time. Air fryers can bake cookies in about half the time of a conventional oven, and you won't need to preheat the air fryer beforehand. The circulating air in the air fryer cooks food faster and at a lower temperature, similar to a convection oven. This results in cookies with a crispy exterior and a soft, chewy interior.

While baking cookies in an air fryer, it's important to use parchment paper or aluminium foil to line the basket and prevent the cookie dough from dripping through the holes. You can purchase pre-cut parchment paper sheets designed specifically for air fryers, or cut regular parchment paper to fit your air fryer basket with slits or holes for air circulation.

Additionally, it's recommended to reduce the heat in the air fryer by about 25°F compared to a conventional oven recipe to prevent overbrowning. For example, if a recipe calls for 350°F in a conventional oven, set your air fryer to around 325°F.

Overall, air fryers provide a quick and easy way to satisfy your cookie cravings without having to bake an entire batch at once!

Air fryer cookies are crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside

Air fryer cookies are a quick and easy way to make a small batch of cookies. They are also a great way to avoid overheating your kitchen, as air fryers don't raise the temperature of your kitchen as much as a conventional oven.

The key to getting that crispy-on-the-outside, soft-and-chewy-on-the-inside texture is a combination of the right ingredients and the air fryer's method of cooking.

Firstly, the ingredients. The ingredients for air fryer cookies are the same as for conventional cookies: butter, sugar, flour, baking soda, and so on. However, the type of sugar you use will affect the texture of your cookies. White sugar will help keep the edges of your cookies crisp and firm, while brown sugar will keep them soft and chewy in the middle.

Secondly, the method. Air fryers cook food by circulating hot air around it, drying out and crisping the surface of the food. This means that the entire exterior of the cookie will cook and crisp, while the middle stays soft and chewy.

To make air fryer cookies, start by whisking together your dry ingredients in a small bowl. In a separate, larger bowl, cream together the butter and sugars, then stir in the milk and vanilla extract. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, then stir through the chocolate chips.

Next, shape the dough into 12 balls and place them in the air fryer basket, making sure to leave enough room for the cookies to spread. Air fry at 170C/325F for 7-8 minutes, or until the edges are slightly firm.

Finally, remove the cookies from the air fryer basket and let them sit for five minutes. Then, transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

And that's it! You now have a batch of freshly baked, crispy-on-the-outside, soft-and-chewy-on-the-inside cookies. Enjoy!

They take around 5-10 minutes to bake

Air fryer cookies are speedy to bake, taking just 5-10 minutes depending on the recipe and your air fryer. This is about half the time of traditional cookies, which typically take 9-11 minutes in the oven.

Air fryer cookies benefit from a shorter baking time, reducing the risk of burning. They also have a crisp exterior and soft, gooey, chewy interior.

The circulating air in the air fryer cooks food faster and at a lower temperature, similar to a convection oven. The intensity of the hot air dries out and crisps the surface of the cookies. The close proximity of the air circulation and the dryness of the heat source cook and crisp the entire exterior of the cookie.

Air fryer cookies are baked à la minute, so there's no pressure to make a whole batch. You can make just a couple at a time.

You can use aluminium foil instead of parchment paper

Aluminium foil can be used instead of parchment paper when making cookies in an air fryer. However, it is important to note that foil does not have the same non-stick qualities as parchment paper, so you should grease the foil before placing the cookies on it. This will help to prevent the cookies from sticking to the foil and make cleanup easier.

Aluminium foil can also be used for insulation when baking cookies. For example, you can use it to line the inside of the oven to help with the mess, or to cover dishes to keep them warm. It can also be used to make funnels for transferring dry ingredients.

While aluminium foil can be a viable substitute for parchment paper when making cookies in an air fryer, it is important to be aware that it may not produce the same results. Cookies baked on foil may have a darker and crispier bottom compared to cookies baked on parchment paper. This is because aluminium is an excellent heat conductor and will pass more heat to the bottoms of the cookies. As a result, you may need to adjust the baking time and temperature when using foil.

Overall, while aluminium foil can be used instead of parchment paper when making cookies in an air fryer, it is important to consider the potential impact on the baking process and the final product.

Air fryers are basically countertop convection ovens

Air fryers typically feature a large fan located on top of the appliance, and cook from the top down. They rarely have any heating elements on the bottom, unless the air fryer also offers additional functionality, like true toasting or baking. The heat comes from the top in an air fryer, while it comes from the top and bottom in a convection oven. The top-down method style makes it more concentrated and cooks food faster.

The fan is located on the top of an air fryer, directly below the heating element. In a convection oven, it's located in the back of the oven, either in the centre or on the side. Air fryer fans are large and operate faster than convection fans. One manufacturer confirmed that the fan on their air fryer setting is 30% faster than their fan on convection.

Air fryers are paired with many perforated accessories that allow for quick and even cooking with little flipping or tossing. They include air fryer baskets, trays, racks, spits for rotisseries and skewers for kebabs. Small baking pans or tin cans can also be placed on racks, if desired.

Air fryers are relatively easy to clean — most are dishwasher-safe, but their parts can be bulky and they require cleaning every time you use them. Convection ovens don't need to be cleaned every time you use them, but the accessories you use do.

The downside of air fryers is they can't cook as much food at one time as you can in an oven. Food cooks better in an air fryer when it's in a single layer. Some foods, like French fries, can be stacked, but should be tossed at least once. Air fryers can also be loud, although many manufacturers consider this in development.

You can make any type of cookie in an air fryer

Air fryers are basically small convection ovens, so you can make any type of cookie in them. The high-powered fans in an air fryer circulate heat around a small chamber, allowing food to cook faster. This means that you can make any type of cookie in half the time it would take in a traditional oven.

However, there are some things to keep in mind when making cookies in an air fryer. Firstly, the cookies will brown more quickly on top due to the intense circulation of hot air, so be sure to let the centres cook fully. Secondly, the limited space in an air fryer means you can only make small batches of cookies at a time. Finally, the intense heat of an air fryer may cause the bottoms of your cookies to burn before the tops are done, so it is recommended to use a solid tray, aluminium foil, or parchment paper to prevent this.

Frequently asked questions