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How to Make Air Fryer Cookies

5 from 2 votes

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If you love an ooey, gooey chocolate chip cookie, I’m about to change your life.

Air fryer cookies are super crispy on the outside with a chewy, soft center. Using an air fryer also eliminates the need to preheat your oven. That means you’re never more than 10 minutes away from the most delicious homemade cookies you’ve ever tasted.

3 stacked air fryer cookies on a plate with a glass of milk.

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Ingredients
Method
FAQs
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The best chocolate chip cookie you’ll ever eat

Eating chocolate chip cookies is one of life’s simple pleasures and I’ve been searching for the perfect cookie for years.

I’ve tried every recipe, every method, and almost every ingredient you can think of to create the ultimate chocolate chip cookie. I finally found it!

These cookies have crispy edges but are super soft and chewy in the center. And they take minutes to make, so they’re perfect when you want a little something sweet. It’s a great way to put a smile on your face after a long day!

What you’ll love about this recipe:


  • FRESH COOKIES IN MINUTES – If you have cookie dough prepped and ready to go in your fridge or freezer, these are ready in 10 minutes, with no pre-heat time.
  • SOFT AND GOOEY – I can’t overstate how chewy and gooey these cookies are.
  • SMALL BATCH – It doesn’t feel wasteful to make just enough cookies for one night so you can enjoy them while they’re still warm.
  • EFFICIENT – Baking cookies in your air fryer also uses less energy and won’t heat up your house in the hot summer months.

Overhead view of a bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough.

Ingredients needed for air fryer chocolate chip cookies

All you need is cookie dough!

These cookies come out great using store-bought dough. There’s no need to overcomplicate things! Pillsbury and Tollhouse are both excellent options, go ahead and use your favorite brand.

Of course, if you want to make your own homemade cookie dough you can’t go wrong with the original tollhouse chocolate chip cookie recipe from the back of the bag. It’s a classic for a reason!

If you’re going that route, you’ll need:

  • All-purpose flour
  • Baking soda
  • Salt
  • Room temperature butter
  • Granulated white sugar
  • Dark brown sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Room temperature eggs
  • Chocolate chips

Ingredient Tips

  • Room temperature butter and eggs blend together best. If these ingredients are too cold, they can curdle and become grainy instead of fluffy.
  • For the best results, really beat your butter and eggs until they’re light and fluffy, this will take about 10 minutes in a stand mixer.
  • For an extra special flavor, try using Mexican vanilla extract.
Chocolate chip cookie dough in a Ninja foodi air fryer.
Overhead vie of chocolate chip cookies cooling in a Ninja foodi air fryer basket.

Air Fryer Cookie Method:

  1. Line your air fryer basket with a piece of parchment paper. This step is important – if you skip it, the cookie dough will melt through the vents and make a big mess. No one wants that! You can buy air fryer parchment paper that’s specifically designed to fit in various air fryer baskets, or just cut a piece of regular parchment paper to size.
  2. Place the balls of dough on the parchment, being sure to give them room to spread out. Depending on the size of your air fryer and how large your cookies are, you should be able to make 4-6 cookies per batch.
  3. Air fry until golden brown and just set. This will take about 8 minutes if you’re using refrigerated dough or 9-10 minutes if using frozen dough.
  4. Let cool. Let the cookies cool in the basket for 2-3 minutes. This will help them firm up a little so they don’t fall apart when you pick them up!

Overhead view of three goey chocolate chip cookies, with one broken to show the texture.

FAQs

What makes air fryer cookies so special?

Making cookies in an air fryer might seem like an odd thing to do, but it’s a total game changer.

If you’ve ever had fried dough, you know it tastes so much different than pizza dough that’s baked in a regular oven.

The same goes for cookie dough! The intense heat and air flow inside the air fryer crisps up the outside of the cookie and gives it that fantastic fried taste and texture. These are by far my favorite chocolate chip cookies.

Do air fried cookies store well?

Yes! When stored in an airtight container or ziplock bag, these cookies stay soft and gooey for a full week (if you can go that long without eating them all!)

How do bloggers make those cookies that look like they have melted chocolate?

My favorite cookies have puddles of chocolate throughout them. If you like yours this way too, try using chocolate disks or chopped up chocolate bars instead of the chocolate chips.

Unlike chocolate chips, which have stabilizers to help them keep their shape, these types of chocolate melt beautifully in the oven. Note that the chocolate will stay soft even after it cools, so cookies made this way can be messy! #worthit

Can I air fry frozen cookie dough?

The best part about making chocolate chip air fryer cookies is that you can make just a few at a time. That way, I don’t have to worry that I’ll eat the entire batch of cookies in one night! I always love a good small batch recipe.

Mix up a full recipe for your favorite dough, then flash freeze individually portioned balls of dough on a baking sheet. Once they’re frozen solid, you can transfer the frozen cookie dough to a freezer bag for longer storage.

When you’re in the mood for a few cookies, you can pull out exactly the number that you want and bake them right from frozen.

Do I really have to use parchment?

As noted above, placing the cookie dough on parchment keeps the dough from melting through the grates. If you don’t have any, you can also use aluminum foil. Just be sure to leave a little room around the edges so it doesn’t obstruct the air flow.

Can I air fry other kind of cookies?

Yes! I love chocolate chip cookies, but the sky is the limit. To adapt your favorite cookie recipe for the air fryer, cut the cooking time by 20% and air fry at 325F. Most standard cookie recipes will take 7-9 minutes. Give my 4-ingredient sugar cookies a try!

Air fried cookies and milk
Air fried chocolate chip cookies on a white marble board.

Air Fryer Cookie Recipe

Say hello to the best chocolate chip cookies ever! This air fryer cookie method works with the recipe below, with your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe, or with store-bough cookie dough.
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Chill Time 30 minutes
Total Time 53 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 48 cookies
Calories 108 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 ¼ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup salted butter, softened (2 sticks)
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • ¾ cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 large eggs room temperature
  • 2 cups chocolate chips chocolate discs, or chopped chocolate bars

Instructions
 

To make the dough:

  • In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  • Using a stand mixer or handheld mixer, beat together the butter and sugars until light and fluffy, about 8 minutes. Beat in the eggs and vanilla.
  • Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix to form a soft dough. Stir in the chocolate chips.
  • Refrigerate for up to 1 week of freeze for up to 3 months.

To air fry the cookies:

  • Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper or a silicone air fry mat.
  • Use a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon to form the dough into rounds. Place the dough balls in a single layer on the parchment, leaving room for them to spread. (Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may need to work in batches if making more than 4-6 cookies)
  • Air fry at 325F for 8 minutes for refrigerated dough or 9-10 minutes for frozen dough. The outside of the cookies will be golden brown and crisp, but the insides will still be incredibly soft at the point. Let cool for 2-3 minutes to firm up; otherwise they fall apart very easily.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 108kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 1gFat: 5gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 18mgSodium: 110mgPotassium: 15mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 128IUCalcium: 6mgIron: 1mg
Love this recipe?Mention @TheBusyFoodieLauren or tag #busyfoodie!
By on November 22nd, 2021
lauren

Hi, I'm Lauren!

I love to cook -- but even more importantly, I really like to eat! I have a demanding day job that keeps me busy, so time is precious. I'm a culinary school graduate and five-time cookbook author who's all about finding ways to make delicious, restaurant-quality meals at home on a tight schedule. Read more...

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