Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookie

Craving freshly baked chocolate chip cookies, but don’t want to heat up the whole kitchen? These Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies are the perfect solution! Crispy on the outside, soft and chewy on the inside, they can be made in under 10 minutes using your air fryer. Whether you’re looking for a quick snack or a treat to share, these cookies will satisfy your sweet tooth without the hassle of a traditional oven.

Why Make Chocolate Chip Cookies in an Air Fryer?

Baking cookies in an air fryer comes with several advantages:

Quick Cooking Time: The air fryer reduces the baking time to just 5-7 minutes, making it a speedy option when you’re in a hurry.
Crispy Outside, Chewy Inside: The rapid circulation of hot air ensures the cookies are perfectly crisp on the outside and tender in the middle.
Small Batch Friendly: If you don’t want to bake an entire batch, the air fryer allows you to bake just a few cookies at a time.
Energy Efficient: Using an air fryer consumes less energy compared to a full-sized oven, making it an eco-friendly option.

Gathering Your Ingredients

Before you get started, make sure you have all your ingredients ready:

Unsalted Butter: Provides richness and helps with the chewy texture.
Brown Sugar: Adds moisture and a deeper caramel-like flavor.
White Sugar: Helps create a slight crisp on the cookie’s edges.
Egg: Acts as a binder and adds richness.
Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor.
All-Purpose Flour: The base that holds everything together.
Baking Soda: Helps the cookies rise and gives them a light, fluffy texture.
Salt: Balances the sweetness and intensifies the flavors.
Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips: The star of the show – gooey, melty chocolate in every bite.

Step-by-Step: Making Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies

1. Mix Wet Ingredients

Start by melting your unsalted butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat it for 10-20 seconds, just until it starts to soften, but don’t let it completely liquefy. This allows the butter to blend better with the sugars.

Add in the brown sugar and white sugar. Whisk the mixture together until the sugars are well-combined with the butter. This step helps dissolve the sugars and creates a smooth base.

Once the sugars are mixed, beat in the egg and vanilla extract. You want to beat this for about 30 seconds, ensuring that the egg is fully incorporated, making your cookie dough smooth and creamy.

2. Combine Dry Ingredients

In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking soda, and salt. Slowly add this dry mixture to your wet ingredients, stirring just until the dough comes together.

The final step is to fold in the semi-sweet chocolate chips. Be generous here – the more chocolate chips, the more indulgent your cookies will be!

3. Refrigerate the Dough (Optional but Recommended)

At this point, you can choose to chill the dough. While this step is optional, it significantly improves the texture and flavor of the cookies. When the dough is chilled, the butter solidifies, which helps prevent the cookies from spreading too much during baking. Additionally, the resting time allows the flavors to meld together, making for a tastier cookie.

Refrigerate the dough for at least 30 minutes or up to 3 days. If you’re short on time, you can skip this step, but the cookies will spread more and have a slightly different texture.

4. Preparing the Air Fryer

Before baking, line the air fryer basket or racks with parchment paper. This prevents the cookies from sticking to the surface and makes cleanup a breeze. Cut the parchment paper to fit your air fryer.

Scoop out 2-tablespoon portions of dough and place them onto the parchment-lined basket. Leave about 1.5 inches between each cookie, as they will spread slightly during baking. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you can usually fit 2-4 cookies per batch.5. Baking the Cookies

Set your air fryer to 325°F (163°C). Bake the cookies for 5-7 minutes. The baking time may vary slightly depending on your air fryer model, so keep an eye on the cookies during the last minute. You want them to be golden brown on the edges but still soft in the center.

Once the cookies are done baking, let them rest in the air fryer basket for 2-3 minutes before transferring them to a cooling rack. This resting period allows the cookies to set, making them easier to handle.

How to Store and Freeze Cookie Dough

One of the best things about this recipe is that you can easily prepare the dough in advance and freeze it for later use.

To Store: If you have leftover dough, you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days.
To Freeze: If you’d like to keep the dough longer, scoop it into balls and freeze them. Place the dough balls in a ziplock bag and store them in the freezer for up to 3 months. This way, you can have fresh cookies anytime you want by simply popping the dough into the air fryer.

Pro Tip: When baking frozen cookie dough, add an extra 1-2 minutes to the baking time to ensure they cook through.

Pro Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Cookies

Don’t Overload the Air Fryer: Only bake a few cookies at a time to ensure they bake evenly.
Use Parchment Paper: This helps with even baking and prevents sticking.
Chill the Dough: For thicker, chewier cookies, chill the dough for at least 30 minutes before baking.
Adjust Time Based on Size: Larger cookies may need an extra minute or two, while smaller cookies will bake quicker.

Variations to Try

Add Nuts: Mix in chopped walnuts or pecans for an added crunch.
Use Different Chocolate: Swap out the semi-sweet chocolate chips for dark chocolate or milk chocolate for a different flavor profile.
Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies: Add ½ cup of oats to the dough for a heartier, chewier cookie.

Ready to make delicious chocolate chip cookies in your air fryer in just 10 minutes? Here’s a simple version of the recipe for those short on time!

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 5-7 minutes
Servings: 18 cookies

Ingredients:

½ cup unsalted butter
½ cup brown sugar
¼ cup white sugar
1 egg, at room temperature
1 tsp vanilla extract
1½ cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions:

Melt butter for 10-20 seconds until soft. Stir in both sugars and mix until combined.
Add the egg and vanilla extract, then mix until smooth.
Stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt, followed by the chocolate chips.
Chill dough for 30 minutes (optional).
Line air fryer with parchment paper and scoop 2-tablespoon balls of dough. Place 1.5 inches apart.
Air fry at 325°F for 5-7 minutes. Let cookies rest for 2-3 minutes before removing.

Nutritional Information (Per Cookie):

Calories: 179 kcal
Carbohydrates: 22g
Protein: 2g
Total Fat: 9g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 1g
Cholesterol: 23mg
Sodium: 100mg
Potassium: 81mg
Dietary Fiber: 1g
Sugars: 12g
Vitamin A: 176 IU
Calcium: 16mg
Iron: 1mg