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If you’re like me then you want to air fry just about everything. This post will show you exactly how to make homemade, refrigerated, and frozen cookie dough in the air fryer. Air frying cookie dough results in a beautiful golden brown exterior, with a thin crispy shell and a doughy, melted, soft interior.
They’re absolutely to die for and will be your new favorite cookie recipe and method for making chocolate chip cookies!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Super fast cook time: air fryers preheat faster than conventional ovens and they take less time to bake because of their small size
- Crispy edges with a soft interior: air frying creates the perfect cookie texture
- The best way to make small batch cookies: have cookies on-demand with a fast cook time
Countertop air fryers have a small size which leads to better air circulation and a fast preheat time. They use a fan to blow hot air through the cavity resulting in even cooking.
Fun fact: in a past life, I used to design countertop air fry ovens and I use the air fryer I designed everyday in my kitchen! I’m definitely an air fryer aficionado.
But, even if this is your first time air frying, this recipe is super simple. You’ll be an air frying pro in no time.
Ingredients for Homemade Cookies
This post will walk you through how to make homemade air fryer cookies, as well as how to make cookies with refrigerated pre-made cookie dough or frozen cookie dough.
To make homemade air fryer chocolate chip cookies, you’ll need the following simple ingredients:
- Granulated White Sugar and Brown Sugar
- Butter of choice, I’m using Country Crock Plant Butter to make these vegan
- Vanilla Extract
- All-purpose Flour
- Baking Soda
- Salt
- Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
The best store-bought vegan cookie dough
If you’re looking for some store bought vegan cookie dough brands, below are a few of my favorites:
- Sweet Lorens
- Cappellos
- Kroger’s Simple Truth Plant Based Cookie Dough
Helpful Equipment
- Air Fryer or Air Fry Toaster Oven
- Air Fryer Parchment Paper: to keep the dough from sticking to the basket
- Cookie Scoop: to create uniform cookies
Step-by-step instructions
STEP 1: Preheat the air fryer.
STEP 2: Line the air fryer basket with a piece of parchment paper designed for the air fryer. You can also use normal parchment paper.
STEP 3: Make the chocolate chip cookie dough, or remove the frozen/refrigerated cookie dough from the refrigerator.
- For homemade dough: Cream the butter and sugars together, then add the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Mix until it forms a moist dough, then add the chocolate chips. Use a cookie scoop (or scoop 2-3 tbsp of dough) to create 5-6 dough balls.
STEP 4: Scoop the cookie dough balls onto the parchment, leaving about 1-2 inches between the balls of dough.
STEP 5: Air fry the cookies! See the notes below for specific times:
- For Homemade Fresh Dough: Air fry for 6-7 minutes
- For Frozen Dough: Air fry for 9-11 minutes
- For Refrigerated Dough: Air Fry 8-9 minutes
STEP 6: Let cool for 2-3 minutes on the air fry basket, then transfer to a wire rack.
Storage
To store the air fry cookies, place them in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 days.
To Freeze the Cookie Dough for later:
Scoop the cookie dough onto a baking sheet. Then, place the cookie sheet in the freezer for 5-10 minutes to firm up.
Once firm, transfer the balls of cookie dough to a large freezer-proof zip lock baggie, or wrap the dough balls with plastic wrap. Freeze the dough for up to 2-3 months.
Pro Tips
- Preheat the Air Fryer: this helps ensure even heat in the cavity.
- Use Air Fryer Parchment: parchment with perforations helps air circulation and even baking.
- Let Frozen Dough come to room temperature for 10 minutes before air frying: this helps the frozen dough spread a bit more. This is optional, but if air frying straight out of the freezer, the cookies will be tall and round.
- Do a test with one cookie before the whole batch: the strength of air fryers can vary quite a bit. I recommend doing a test with 1 cookie before air frying the entire batch. If the cookie looks like it cooked too quickly, decrease the temperature by 20-25 degrees F (so 300F instead of 320F). If it looks like it isn’t done baking, increase the time by 1-2 minutes.
FAQ and Troubleshooting
The amount of cookies you can make at a time depends on the size of your air fryer. I’m able to air fry 5-6 medium-large chocolate chip cookies at a time in my air fry toaster oven.
Yes! You can bake homemade cookie dough, frozen cookie dough or refrigerated cookie dough in a countertop air fryer.
Baking time for cookies in the air fryer will vary from 6-11 minutes depending on the size of the cookie and whether the dough is frozen or fresh.
Yes, parchment paper can be used in the air fryer. You can purchase parchment paper with perforations specifically made for air frying. When using parchment paper, it’s important that the paper is weighted dough, otherwise, the air circulation will lift the paper up into the heating elements.
Yes, you can use normal parchment paper, however parchment with holes provides better airflow which results in more even baking. If you don’t have parchment paper, you could use aluminum foil sprayed with baking spray. However, you may need to decrease the baking time if using foil.
More Air Fryer Recipes:
Did you make this air fryer chocolate chip cookie recipe?
I’d love to know! Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ star rating and comment below!
Homemade or Frozen Air Fryer Cookies
This recipe will show you exactly how to make homemade, frozen, and refrigerated cookie dough in the air fryer. Air frying cookie dough results in a beautiful golden brown exterior, with a thin crispy shell and a doughy, melted, soft interior.
They’re absolutely to die for and will be your new favorite cookie recipe and method for making chocolate chip cookies!
Ingredients
Homemade Cookie Dough (or use store bought dough):
- ¼ cup melted (but not hot) salted butter of choice, I used Country Crock Plant Butter to make these vegan
- ¼ cup granulated white cane sugar
- ¼ cup light brown sugar
- 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- ¾ cup (100g) all-purpose flour, scooped from bag & leveled off (don’t pack the flour down)
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ⅓ cup semi sweet chocolate chips
Helpful Equipment:
Instructions
1. Preheat the air fryer to 320 degrees F (160 C).
2. Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper.
To Make the Homemade Dough:
3. Whisk the melted (but not hot) butter with the white sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract. Cream together until the mixture becomes lighter in color.
4. Add the sea salt, flour, and baking soda on top. Sift the dry ingredients together with a fork, then mix the wet and dry together to form a moist dough. Mix in the chocolate chips until just combined.
To Air Fry the Chocolate Chip Cookies:
5. With a 1.5” cookie scoop (or scoop 2-3 tablespoons of dough), make 5-6 balls of dough.
6. Place the homemade dough balls (or the pre-made dough) on the parchment paper, leaving 2 inches between them. Don’t press down on the homemade dough balls- this will make them spread too much.
7. Air fry Instructions (See Notes):
- For Homemade Fresh Dough: Air fry for 6-7 minutes
- For Frozen Dough: Air fry for 9-11 minutes
- For Refrigerated Dough: Air Fry 8-9 minutes
8. Remove from the air fryer, and tap the basket on the counter to help deflate the cookies. This helps create a chewier edge.
9. Let the cookies cool on the basket for 2-3 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to finish cooling.
Notes
Do a test with one cookie before the whole batch:
The strength of air fryers can vary. I recommend doing a test with 1 cookie before air frying the entire batch.
- If the cookie looks like it cooked too quickly, decrease the temperature by 20-25 degrees F (so 300F instead of 320F).
- If it looks like it isn't done baking, increase the time by 1-2 minutes.
Let frozen dough come to room temperature for 10 minutes before air frying:
This helps the frozen dough spread more. This is optional, but if air frying straight out of the freezer, the cookies will be tall and round in appearance.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 209Total Fat: 13gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 4gSodium: 101mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 0gSugar: 21gProtein: 1g
Nutritional info is an estimate.
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