There’s something magical about the aroma of freshly baked chocolate chip cookies wafting through your home. But what if I told you that you could achieve that perfect balance of crispy edges and gooey centers without even turning on your oven? Enter: Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies.
These delightful treats take everything you love about traditional chocolate chip cookies and transform the experience with the quick, efficient heat of an air fryer. The result is nothing short of spectacular—cookies with that classic golden exterior and an irresistibly soft middle, ready in a fraction of the time.
Why You’ll Love This
- Quick satisfaction – No need to preheat an oven; these cookies are ready in minutes when the craving strikes
- Perfect texture – The air fryer creates cookies with crispy edges and soft, melty centers
- Small batch friendly – Ideal for when you need just a few cookies instead of dozens
- Energy efficient – Uses less electricity than heating up your entire oven
- Year-round friendly – Won’t heat up your kitchen during summer months
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 egg, at room temperature if possible
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Instructions
- Melt butter in a microwave-safe bowl for 10-20 seconds or just until it begins to melt. Add brown and white sugars and beat until fully combined. Beat in the egg and vanilla for another 30 seconds. Stir in the flour, baking soda, salt, and chocolate chips until fully combined.
- Place the dough in the refrigerator to chill for 30 minutes to overnight. This step is optional but helps prevent spreading.
- Line the air fryer racks with parchment paper. Scoop 2-tablespoon balls of dough onto the air fryer basket, spacing them about 1.5 inches apart. Depending on your air fryer size, you should be able to fit 2-4 cookies at a time.
- Cook at 325°F for 5-7 minutes or until the cookies are golden and cooked through. Allow cookies to rest in the air fryer for 2-3 minutes before removing.
- Repeat with remaining dough until all cookies are baked.
Tips & Variations
- Don’t overcrowd – Depending on your air fryer size, cook only 3-4 cookies at a time for even cooking
- Check early – All air fryers cook differently, so check at the 4-minute mark your first time making these
- Mix-in options – Try white chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, or butterscotch chips instead of (or alongside) the chocolate chips
- Make it chunky – Add dried cranberries, chopped dried cherries, or crushed pretzels for extra texture
- Chill the dough – For thicker cookies, refrigerate the dough for 30 minutes before air frying
- Gluten-free option – Substitute a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend for traditional all-purpose flour
Serving Suggestions
Serve these cookies warm from the air fryer with a cold glass of milk for the ultimate comfort food experience. For an elevated dessert, sandwich a small scoop of vanilla ice cream between two cooled cookies for an instant ice cream sandwich that will impress everyone at your table.
These cookies also pair beautifully with a hot cup of coffee or tea as an afternoon pick-me-up, or alongside a fruit platter for a casual dessert spread.
Notes
- Store cooled cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days.
- Cookie dough can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- For perfectly round cookies, gently roll the dough into balls before placing in the air fryer.
- Cookies will continue to set as they cool, so don’t worry if they seem slightly underdone when you remove them.
FAQs
Can I use refrigerated cookie dough from the store?
Yes! Store-bought cookie dough works great in the air fryer. Reduce cooking time by about 1 minute and watch closely.
Why did my cookies spread too much?
If your cookies spread too much, your butter may have been too warm. Try chilling the dough for 15-30 minutes before air frying.
Can I double this recipe?
Absolutely! The recipe doubles easily, though you’ll still need to cook in batches in the air fryer.
Do I need to preheat my air fryer?
Most air fryers don’t require preheating, but if yours does, a 2-minute preheat at cooking temperature is sufficient.
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