Name: Air Fryer Cookies
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8 min
Total time: 23 min
Ingredients: ½ cup butter (softened); ⅓ cup brown sugar; ⅓ cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; 1 ½ cup flour; 1 teaspoon baking soda; ½ teaspoon salt; 1 cup chocolate chips

Air fryer cookies are as soft and comforting as the oven-baked classics! Soft dough dotted with melty chocolate chips never fails. This recipe will satisfy your cravings in no time!

Overhead view of chocolate chip cookies prepared in an air fryer on an off white plate.

Making a small batch of cookies in just 20 minutes is like a superpower in a busy household! Whether you have kids, are expecting guests, or are on the fence about what to bring to that party this afternoon, this air fryer cookies recipe is here to the rescue.

The air fryer has a bit of a reputation for “crisping” things up, but these air fryer chocolate chip cookies are dreamily soft. The pockets of melted chocolate are nestled perfectly in the sweet dough, just like the cookies we all grew up making in the oven. Now we can just make them quicker!

Once you master how to bake cookies in the air fryer, you can experiment with air fryer brownies, peanut butter cookies, white chocolate raspberry cookies, butterscotch cookies… all of your favorites!

Air Fryer I recommend: Large, easy to clean, square basket, burner on top and bottom. Click to see it.

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies.

How to Make Air Fryer Cookies

A full printable version of this recipe with ingredient measurements is available at the bottom of this post.

Overhead view of ingredients for air fryer cookies mixed together in a silver mixing bowl.

STEP ONE: Combine the butter and sugar with a whisk or hand mixer until fluffy. Add the eggs and vanilla to the mixture and continue to beat until totally combined.

STEP TWO: Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl and combine. Add these dry ingredients to the egg and butter mixture, then beat until the soft dough forms.

STEP THREE: Drop the chocolate chips into the mixture and fold until they’re evenly dispersed.

STEP FOUR: Preheat the fryer to 300F. Once heated, add the air fryer parchment paper (learn how to use parchment paper in the air fryer here).

Overhead view of four scoops of cookie dough in a black air fryer basket lined with parchment paper.

STEP FIVE: Scoop out golf ball-sized dough balls, flatten them slightly with your hand, and place them in the basket.

Place as many as you can, leaving at least 1 ½ to 2 inches of space between them, and bake for 6 to 8 minutes until golden brown on the top.

Overhead view of four cookies that have baked in an air fryer, resting on parchment paper in a black air fryer basket.

STEP SIX: Let sit in the basket for 5 minutes before lifting the paper and transferring them to a cooling rack.

Stack of four air fryer chocolate chip cookies. The top cookie has a bite taken out, a glass of milk is in the background.

Why Make Cookies In The Air Fryer?

Taking the time to learn how to make cookies in the air fryer will save you time in the long run. Making air fryer cookies is so much faster than baking them in the oven, and you don’t need to wait as long for the fryer to preheat, too.

Air fryer chocolate chip cookies are also great for making in small batches. It always feels like I’m wasting electricity baking just a few in the oven. With this recipe, you can even bake just two or three at a time without feeling wasteful.

And it’s just easier! The shorter time frame makes it less likely the dough will burn or undercook, and cleaning up is so easy.

Do You Have To Use Parchment Paper For Cookies In The Air Fryer?

It’s definitely easier to use parchment paper when making air fryer chocolate chip cookies. The melted chocolate can be lifted away and tossed in less time than it takes to scrub the basket!

They make specialized parchment paper with holes to be used in the air fryer, so I highly recommend using it instead of regular parchment paper which could affect the air movement in the fryer.

Of course, you can always buy regular parchment paper and cut some holes in it yourself!

A white plate of air fryer cookies. In the foreground is one cookie with a bite taken out.

How To Air Fry Nestle Tollhouse Cookies

Making air fryer chocolate chip cookies from refrigerated dough is just a tad different – you can’t just follow the instructions on the packaging because fryers don’t heat the same way as a traditional oven.

Allow for a bit more time when baking refrigerated air fryer cookies – closer to 8-10 minutes than 6-8. Refrigerated dough spreads less than room temperature, so that will be another difference.

Can You Bake Frozen Cookie Dough In An Air Fryer?

Similarly, it takes longer to bake cookies in the air fryer when the dough is frozen. It could take up to 15 minutes depending on the size of the cookie and model of the air fryer.

Like room temperature dough, look for that golden top as a sign that they’re ready to come out of the fryer.

And, of course, frozen dough spreads even less than refrigerated or room-temperature dough.

Close up view of 2 cookies on parchment paper resting in a black air fryer basket.

How Do I Know When My Cookies Are Done?

Cooked air fryer cookies will be golden brown on the surface and firm – the tops will be soft, but the edges will stay set with a light touch. You also shouldn’t be able to leave an indent on the surface of the cookie with your finger when they’re done baking.

Remember that air fryer cookies will be very soft when they come out of the fryer, so you won’t be able to lift them off the parchment paper right away. Let them cool for a while before plating.

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