Baking Cookies in Air Fryer: The Ultimate Guide for Home Bakers

Cookies are a family favorite, and if you have an air fryer, you can make small batches anytime—crispy, warm, and fresh by the minute. This guide covers everything you need to know about baking cookies in air fryer, including why it works, how to do it right, timing, techniques, and expert Morgan Tips to ensure perfect results every time.

Can You Bake Cookies in an Air Fryer?

Absolutely! Baking cookies in air fryer is an easy and efficient way to get fresh cookies without heating a large oven. The air fryer acts like a mini convection oven, circulating hot air around the cookies to create even browning and a satisfyingly crisp edge while keeping the center soft.

Benefits include:

• Fast preheating
• Efficient small batches
• Energy and time savings

Don’t be surprised if you find yourself baking cookies at odd hours—your air fryer makes it simple and mess-free.

How to Make Cookies in Air Fryer

Here’s a step-by-step process for baking cookies in air fryer:

Preheat the Air Fryer

• Set temperature: 300–325 °F (150–165 °C).
• Preheat time: 3–4 minutes.

Morgan Tip: Preheating ensures the cookies start baking immediately, preventing dough spread and maintaining shape.

Prepare Your Cookie Dough

• Use your favorite recipe or store-bought dough
• Roll into ~2″ balls
• Slightly flatten if using homemade dough
• Chill in freezer for 10 minutes if dough is warm

Use Parchment Paper or Small Pan

Place these in the basket to avoid dough slipping through holes and ensure even baking.

👩‍🍳 Morgan Tip: Chilled dough spreads less, creating chewier centers and crisp edges.

👩‍🍳 Morgan Tip: Cut parchment to fit the basket perfectly to avoid curling edges.

Arrange the Dough

• Spacing: Keep at least 1″ between cookies and basket edge.
• Batch size: 3–4 cookies per round for a 5–6 qt air fryer.

👩‍🍳 Morgan Tip: Do not overcrowd—cookies bake best when air flows around them.

Set Temperature & Baking Time

• Bake at 300–325 °F for 7–14 minutes.
• Small cookies: 7–8 minutes
• Large cookies: 12–14 minutes

Check early; each machine behaves differently.

👩‍🍳 Morgan Tip: Rotate the basket halfway through for even browning.

Cool Properly

Let cookies rest in basket for 4–5 minutes after baking before transferring to wire rack. This finishes cooking and sets the texture.

👩‍🍳 Morgan Tip: This brief cooling completes the bake without over-crisping edges.

How Long to Bake Cookies in Air Fryer?

Here’s a detailed timing chart for baking cookies in air fryer:

• Small (2″) cookies: 7–8 min
• Large (3″) cookies: 12–14 min
• Thicker dough or mix-ins: +1–2 min
• Frozen dough: Preheat temp ↓ by 15 °F, time +1 min

👩‍🍳 Morgan Tip: Test one cookie first to adjust time and temp.

Can You Cook Cookies in an Air Fryer?

Yes! The air fryer cooks cookies fast due to its compact size and convection-like airflow. It crisps edges while keeping the inside soft and gooey—perfect with chocolate chips, nuts, or sprinkles.

👩‍🍳 Morgan Tip: Add delicate mix-ins like white chocolate or candy halfway through to keep them intact.

Can I Bake Cookies in an Air Fryer at Any Time?

Yes! Because baking cookies in air fryer doesn’t heat your kitchen or require a large oven, you can easily bake small batches late at night or early in the morning with zero disturbance.

👩‍🍳 Morgan Tip: Prep and freeze dough balls so you can bake fresh cookies whenever the mood strikes.

Why Baking Cookies in Air Fryer Is So Effective

• Time saver: Quick preheat and bake
• Energy-efficient: Lower power use than ovens
• Small batches: Less temptation, more control
• Perfect texture: Crispy outside, soft inside

👩‍🍳 Morgan Tip: Keep a silicone mat in your basket—it’s reusable and makes cleanup easy.

Recipe & Quick Guide: Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup softened butter
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat to 320 °F.
2. Mix flour, soda, salt.
3. Cream butter and sugars, add egg and vanilla.
4. Fold in chocolate chips.
5. Roll dough into 2″ balls, chill 10 min.
6. Bake 7–9 min in air fryer.
7. Cool in basket 4 min, transfer to rack.

Yield: ~10 cookies in two batches.

👩‍🍳 Morgan Tip: Use a 1 Tbsp cookie scoop for uniform cookies.

Want more? Check out our air fryer cookies collection—another fast, flavorful option

Troubleshooting & FAQs

Why aren’t my cookies browning?

• Temp too low; increase by 15 °F.
• Try rotating basket after 5 minutes.
• Dust top lightly with sugar before baking.

Cookies are too chewy or doughy inside?

• Time too short or temp too low.
• Add 1–2 minutes; check again.
• Chill dough more before baking.

Bottom browns too fast?

• Parchment too close to heating coil.
• Lower rack or add foil below.

Tips for even baking?

• Don’t overcrowd the basket.
• Rotate halfway to avoid hot spots.
• Preheat well to stabilize temperature.

Advanced Tips for Pro-Level Results

• Morgan Tip: Add sea salt atop baked cookies when cooling for gourmet texture.
• Freeze dough balls on tray, store airtight, bake from frozen—just add 2 min.
• For gluten-free, use 1:1 GF flour; reduce bake time by 1 min to avoid dryness.
• Need bigger batches? Use two baskets or bake in intervals.

Serving Suggestions

• Stack cookies between parchment and freeze for grab-and-go snacks.
• Warm with ice cream or drizzle with melted chocolate.
• Store cooled cookies in airtight container at room temp for 4 days or freeze for one month.

Final Thoughts and Summary

Baking cookies in air fryer is quick, smart, and ideal for making small batches with perfect outcomes. With precise temperature control, timed baking, rotating baskets, and expert Morgan Tips, you’ll enjoy cookies anytime—crispy outside, soft inside, and without turning on a big oven.

Remember to:

• Preheat
• Use parchment
• Space cookies
• Rotate mid-bake
• Cool in basket

Whether you’re a baking novice or cookie pro, this guide ensures you’re ready to make delicious air fryer cookies anytime. Happy baking—and enjoy those warm, gooey goodies! 🍪

Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Make delicious, fresh chocolate chip cookies in your air fryer anytime—crispy edges, gooey centers, and ready in minutes!

• Total Time: 19 minutes
• Yield: 10 cookies 1x

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup softened butter
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup chocolate chips

Instructions

1. Preheat the air fryer to 320 °F for 3–4 minutes.
2. In a bowl, mix flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. Cream butter with brown and granulated sugar.
4. Beat in egg and vanilla.
5. Fold in chocolate chips.
6. Roll dough into 2″ balls, slightly flatten, and chill for 10 minutes.
7. Place 3–4 cookies spaced apart on parchment in the air fryer basket.
8. Bake for 7–9 minutes.
9. Let cookies cool in the basket for 4 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.

Notes

For uniform cookies, use a 1 Tbsp cookie scoop. Rotate the basket halfway through baking for even browning.

• Author: Jake
• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 9 minutes
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Air Fryer
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 cookie
• Calories: 160
• Sugar: 12g
• Sodium: 95mg
• Fat: 8g
• Saturated Fat: 5g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 20g
• Fiber: 1g
• Protein: 2g
• Cholesterol: 20mg

Keywords: cookies, air fryer, chocolate chip, dessert