Air Fryer Cookies: The Ultimate Guide to Crispy Edges and Chewy Centers

Lately, my air fryer has become my go-to appliance, especially for baking cookies. I’ve been experimenting with various air fryer cookie recipes, and I must say, it’s a fantastic way to achieve that perfect cookie texture. The air fryer’s warm, dry air circulating around the dough creates cookies with delightfully thick, crisp edges and irresistibly chewy centers. Let me share a photo of my latest batch, baked in the Instant Pot Vortex Slim air fryer.

Here’s a closer look at the texture. These air fryer cookies are incredibly soft and chewy, but not doughy in the slightest. They’re perfectly baked through, not raw or undercooked. The texture reminds me of those bakery-style cookies you find at gourmet shops, or even the amazing cookies I enjoyed during my holiday trip to Chip City Cookies in Chicago. Getting that bakery-style texture at home is easier than you think!

Now, here’s the thing about air frying cookies: achieving the perfect temperature and time for your specific air fryer requires a bit of trial and error. Several factors come into play, including the size and shape of the dough. Flatter, puck-shaped cookies will cook faster than thick, rounded balls of dough. Similarly, cold cookie dough will take longer to bake than dough that’s closer to room temperature. Then, there’s the question of lining the air fryer basket. Without a liner, the cookie dough might seep through the cracks. And, of course, different cookie doughs have varying compositions. What works perfectly for peanut butter dough might need slight adjustments for chocolate chip dough. But the biggest factor is the model of air fryer you’re using. Different air fryers have different heating capabilities, so it’s essential to experiment to find what works best.

Optimal Air Fryer Bake Times for Various Models

Having baked cookies in three or four different air fryers, I thought I could provide some general guidelines for bake times with each one. Below are my insights into air frying cookies in a Breville Smart Oven Pro, a Ninja Foodi, and an Instant Pot Vortex Slim. Keep in mind that these are just starting points, and you might need to adjust the times based on your specific preferences and the factors mentioned earlier.

Baking Cookies in the Breville Smart Oven Pro

The Breville Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro was my go-to air fryer for quite some time, although I’m currently on my third one because they seem prone to breaking. Despite that, I still adore how it bakes. With the Breville, I honestly don’t feel the need to use the dedicated air fryer setting for cookies because the convection settings work so well. The convection setting delivers even, consistent heat, resulting in perfectly baked cookies every time. However, if you’re determined to try air frying cookies in the Breville, here are my recommended times and temperatures for 2-ounce pieces of dough:

• Air Fry setting: 375°F (190°C) for approximately 8-10 minutes for 2-ounce dough pieces.
• To prevent sticking, place a small piece of parchment paper under each cookie.
• If you notice uneven browning, rotate the pan halfway through the cooking time.

Air Frying Cookies in the Ninja Foodi

I owned a Ninja Foodi at one point, but I eventually gave it away because it was rather large, bulky, and cleaning it was a hassle. That being said, the Ninja Foodi definitely works well for baking cookies. Cookies tend to brown quickly in this machine, so using slightly lower temperatures is generally best, especially for larger cookies. Monitor your cookies closely to prevent burning.

• Line the basket with perforated parchment paper or place a small piece of parchment under each cookie.
• Air fry at 320°F (160°C) for small to medium-sized (2-ounce) chunks of dough. Start checking at 8 minutes, but it will likely take longer, depending on your desired level of doneness.
• For extra-large cookies like the ones pictured, use 300°F (150°C) and air fry for about 16 minutes. The Ninja air fryer works particularly well for the Chick-Fil-A Copycat Cookies recipe. The lower temperature and longer cooking time ensure that the center is cooked through without burning the edges.

Baking Cookies in the Instant Pot Vortex Slim

The Instant Pot Vortex Slim is currently my favorite air fryer, and it’s absolutely perfect for creating those giant, bakery-style cookies with cracked tops and soft, gooey interiors. This air fryer tends to run a bit hotter than others, so the ideal baking temperature for cookies is even lower. The compact size also makes it convenient for smaller batches.

• For larger batches, you can use an air fryer liner. However, when baking just a few cookies, I typically place each dough ball on a small piece of parchment paper, leaving about a half-inch perimeter.
• Air fry at 325°F (163°C) for 7-8 minutes for 2-ounce pieces of dough. This temperature works well for flatter pieces of cookie dough and cookies that benefit from extra browning, such as peanut butter cookies. Reduce the temperature to 300°F (150°C) for 2-ounce rounder balls of dough (like chocolate chip cookies) and check for doneness at 8 to 10 minutes. For very large dough rounds (4 ounces or more), use 285°F (140°C) for 16 minutes, then let the cookies sit in the turned-off air fryer for about 5 minutes to continue baking internally.
• With this model, there’s generally no need to rotate the cookies, as it provides even heat distribution.

Air Frying Cookies: To Line or Not to Line?

When air frying cookies, consider using perforated parchment liners to prevent the cookie dough from seeping through the basket. These liners also create a nonstick surface that catches any drips or crumbs, while still allowing air to circulate freely around the dough. Alternatively, you can use regular parchment paper (but never preheat the air fryer with it!) for larger batches, or simply place small circles of parchment paper underneath each piece of dough. While the bottoms of the cookies might not crisp up as much with parchment paper, I personally enjoy how the softer bottom makes the cookies more bendable once they’ve set.

Recipe for Giant, Bakery-Style Air Fryer Cookies

Well, thanks for sticking around and reading all of that! I didn’t realize I had so much to say about air frying cookies. As a reward for your dedication (or for clicking the “jump to recipe” button), I’m sharing a new recipe for giant cookies! This recipe, as I mentioned earlier, is inspired by the texture of the cookies from Chip City. These cookies aren’t doughy; they’re almost candy-like in the center, with a delightful chewiness. The air fryer really helps achieve that unique quality, but if you prefer to bake them in the oven, I’ve included the necessary times and temperatures as well. Enjoy!

• Giant Peanut Butter Pretzel Chocolate Chunk Cookies
• Super Small Batch Levain Chocolate Chip Cookie Copycats
• Mini Loaf Pan Brownies
• Breville Toaster Oven Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Chocolate Swirl Bread

Recipe