These Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies Are Perfect for When A Craving Hits — Ready in 15 Minutes

We love the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies wafting through the kitchen (who doesn’t?). But let’s be honest, sometimes that comforting smell comes with a side of preheating the oven and waiting longer than you want for those warm, gooey centers to set. And who has the time for a full-blown baking production when a cookie craving hits? So when we found a recipe for air fryer chocolate chip cookies, we had to learn more. You get the same bite of gooey chocolate, chewy crumb and crispy edges but in a fraction of the time and minimal mess. Seriously, it takes 15 minutes for a smaller batch on demand, no stand mixer needed. Plus, we include your ultimate guide to making perfect chocolate chip cookies, from ingredients to techniques. Here’s how to make air fryer chocolate chip cookies.

The benefits of baking in an air fryer

Who said an air fryer can only be used for savory foods? In fact, an air fryer closely resembles a small convection oven. Convection ovens have a fan and exhaust system that help circulate hot air, helping to evenly cook a dish. You would normally use convection for multi-rack baking, such as trays of cookies, or savory sheet pan meals that don’t take long.

Baking in an air fryer offers numerous benefits for home cooks. Firstly, its smaller size means a faster preheat and cook time than a full-sized oven. So, if you only want a small batch of something, this does just the trick. Plus, you don’t have to worry about your kitchen feeling, well, like an oven.

You can bake a lot in an air fryer, including cookies, cake, bread and muffins. Just be sure to leave delicate goods, like meringues, for a full-sized oven. Looking for some inspiration? Try our recipes for Air Fryer Cinnamon Rolls and Air Fryer Donuts.

The ultimate guide to perfect chocolate chip cookies

When it comes to chocolate chip cookies, there’s often debate about what makes the perfect recipe. But don’t worry, we put together a cheat sheet with some expert tips to making the batch that you want.

1. Choose high-quality chocolate

You can’t have chocolate chip cookies without chocolate. We recommend high-quality bar varieties that you can chop yourself. While it may be an extra step than throwing in chocolate chips, the dynamic texture is worth it. A higher cocoa content, like semi-sweet or dark, will also result in a richer, more intense chocolate flavor.

2. Ingredient ratios

The ratio of ingredients in your dough plays a big role in how your cookies will turn out. For a chewier cookie, increase the ratio of brown sugar to white sugar. This also adds a richer flavor due to the molasses content in the brown sugar. Browning your butter also adds a deep, caramel-like flavor to the cookies. However, if you prefer a crispier cookie, use more white sugar. This will yield a lighter color as well as a slightly sweeter taste.

The structure and density of chocolate chip cookies comes from flour. Adding more results in a thicker or cakey cookie, while less creates a thinly spread cookie. Similarly, you may see recipes that call for melted or softened butter. Melted butter combines more easily with the sugar, resulting in a dense, chewy cookie dough. Additionally, the cookies will spread more during baking and have crispier edges. However, softened butter creates more air pockets during mixing, resulting in softer, tender cookies.

Do you like your chocolate chip cookies risen or flat? This all depends on the amounts of leavening agents. “Using baking soda (aka bicarbonate of soda) will give you flatter, crispier cookies as [it] encourages spreading,” says Sonia Khosla, baker and founder of Love Incredible Recipes. “Baking powder, on the other hand, brings a fluffier texture to the cookies.”

3. Mixing techniques

The creaming method stands as the most popular mixing technique for chocolate chip cookies. It involves mixing softened butter and sugar together first before adding any other ingredients. Creaming allows the ingredients to aerate until smooth, making for light and leavened cookies. Alternatively, you can combine the sugar with melted butter until a wet sand-like texture forms for a denser outcome.

4. Chill the dough

Khosla adds that “another trick is to freeze the cookie dough for a chewier texture in your cookies.” After prepping, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking. “This also makes the cookies softer and spread less,” explains Khosla.

Related: This Is the Secret To Baking Perfect Cookies Every Time.

Tips for baking air fryer chocolate chip cookies

If you never baked desserts in an air fryer before, you might be wondering about some best practices. Air frying comes with some small differences than using a full-sized oven. Below, you’ll find a few important things to remember when baking your cookies.

1. Keep your air fryer clean

No matter what you cook in your air fryer, always keep it clean before and after using. If not, old food remnants and germs can cross contaminate new foods you put in. We have a guide for cleaning your air fryer in 3 easy steps. 

2. Adjust temperature and timing

Air fryers can vary by brand, so adjusting the temperature and bake time can prevent over baked cookies. “When baking with your air fryer, it is important to note that it is a lot more powerful than the oven,” says Khosla. She adds that “you typically need to use a lower temperature to cook/bake foods.” For air fryer cookies, Khosla recommends preheating your air fryer to “25°F less than if you were to bake in the oven.” Additionally, you should cook for “20% less time, but this can vary on what you are baking and the ingredients used for the recipe.”

3. Use the right tools

To prevent your cookies from sticking to the air fryer basket, Khosla suggest “lining the basket with parchment paper.” And make sure the parchment paper you use is heat resistant. Perforating your paper also ensures sufficient air flow. But if you don’t have either, you can grease your basket with butter or neutral oil.

4. Space your cookies

Properly space the cookie dough balls on the air fryer tray to allow for even cooking and air flow. Avoid overcrowding, as this can result in unevenly baked cookies or mutant fused cookies to form. Leave enough room in between each cookie, usually 1-2 inches.

Khosla notes that “air fryers come in different sizes — you may need to cook in double (or triple) batches for smaller air fryers.”

Easy air fryer chocolate chip cookies recipe

We found the quickest recipe from Air Frying Foodie for a small batch of cookies on demand. If you don’t have perforated parchment paper, you can make your own by cutting small holes in regular parchment paper. Importantly, avoid placing the parchment paper in the air fryer without the cookie dough to hold it down, as this can be a fire hazard.

Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies

Ingredients:

• ¾ cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• ½ tsp. salt
• ½ tsp. baking soda
• 2 cups chocolate chips

Directions:

• Active Time: 5 minutes
• Total Time: 15 minutes
• Yield: 40 cookies

1. In a large bowl, combine the butter, sugar and brown sugar. Beat the butter with sugars until smooth and creamy. Then add eggs, vanilla, salt, baking soda and half of the flour. Mix until the dry ingredients have combined with the butter mixture.
2. Add in the remaining half of the flour and mix, until the cookie dough is thick and creamy. Once the dough is mixed, stir in the chocolate chips until they evenly distribute throughout the dough. 
3. Use a small cookie scoop or spoon to shape the dough into balls. Place the dough balls into the air fryer basket on top of perforated parchment paper. Leave about an inch in between each cookie.
4. Air fry at 300°F for 7 to 8 minutes with pre-made parchment paper. For gooey cookies, reduce the cook time by 1 to 2 minutes; for crispy, add 1 minute. When cookies are golden brown, let them cool for 1 to 2 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

Note: If you want less cookies, you can half the recipe, or freeze leftover cookie dough for up to 3 months.

Storage notes

Leftover air fryer chocolate chip cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to three days at room temperature and a week refrigerated. Use parchment paper between each layer so they don’t stick together. They can also be frozen for up to three months. We have a pro trick for reheating cookies so they taste fresh out of the oven.

How to elevate your air fryer chocolate chip cookies

We love a basic chocolate chip cookie, but sometimes, it can be fun to experiment. Whether you want to try a new flavor or impress a crowd, these easy mix-in ideas will surely upgrade your batch.

1. Flaky salt

Everyone loves a salty and sweet combo. For an elegant presentation, sprinkle flaky salt on top of your cookies just before baking (or after) to enhance their sweetness. Flaky salt sticks to food better than granulated salt.

2. Caramel pieces

Incorporate colorful and flavorful candies like M&M’s or Reese’s pieces into your cookie dough for an add textural element and indulgent sweetness.

3. Double chocolate chip cookies

Double the chocolatey goodness by adding cocoa powder to your cookie dough and mixing in plenty of chocolate chunks. You’ll have one ultra-rich and decadent cookie.

4. Candy-infused

You know that pull-apart gooey cookie break? We have another melted surprise. Fold caramel pieces into your cookie dough for gooey pockets of caramelized sweetness.

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