Air Fryer Sugar Cookies

Air fryer sugar cookies are soft, crisp, sweet, and delicious. Learn how to make this air fryer cookie recipe from scratch - it's so easy!

Table of Contents

If you want sugar cookies in a hurry, these Air Fryer Sugar Cookies are for you! One batch takes just 30 minutes to make - no dough chilling is necessary!

While I love baking in my oven, the air fryer really is awesome. It evenly bakes these cookies in just 9 minutes and you won't have to turn on your oven and heat up the kitchen. This recipe is perfect for making on a hot day!

These really are the best air fryer sugar cookies, with crispy edges and soft chewy centers. Top with your favorite icings and sprinkles for any holiday or occasion!

stack of 4 air fryer sugar cookies on the counter with a glass of milk

Why You'll Love This Recipe

Easy: Air fryer desserts are so easy to make. Air fryers are becoming a great option for quick bakes.
No chilling necessary. Many recipes suggest chilling cookie dough to prevent it from spreading. While you certainly can chill it, you don't have to.
Freezer friendly. Save time by making a double (or triple!) batch of cookie dough at one time. It freezes well for up to 4 months!

If you love baking desserts in your air fryer, you should also make Air Fryer Brownies and Air Fryer Apple Crisp.

Ingredients

See ingredient substitutions in the next section. ⬇️

To make this eggless sugar cookie recipe, you'll need:

unsalted butter: If you can afford it, I recommend using European butter rather than American-made. The extra butterfat content in European butter adds more flavor.
white granulated sugar
vanilla extract
all-purpose flour
leaveners: You'll need both baking powder and baking soda. If you haven't used them in a while, it's best to test them for freshness. If your leaveners are too old, they won't produce the gas bubbles needed to cause cookies to rise in the oven.

Bowls and measuring cups with ingredients to make air fryer cookie recipe.

📖 Time-Saving Tip - Testing Baking Soda or Baking Powder for Freshness

This simple little test can save you time and money, because if your leavener is expired, whatever you're baking wont rise in the oven! This test works for baking soda and baking powder:

Add about ½ teaspoon of baking soda or powder to a small bowl. Stir in an equal amount of an acidic ingredient, like vinegar or citrus juice.
If the solution doesn't start to bubble immediately, it's time to replace your leavener.

Substitutions and Recipe Variations

unsalted butter: If using salted butter, omit the kosher salt from this recipe. This is an eggless sugar cookie recipe. If you also want them to be dairy free, you can substitute plant-based butter sticks for regular butter. I do not recommend using margarine.
white granulated sugar: To reduce the calories per serving, feel free to use any cup-for-cup granulated sugar substitute. Monkfruit sugar is a good option. Light brown sugar will work as a substitute, but the sugar cookies will have a molasses flavor.
leaveners: There is a distinct difference between baking soda and baking powder. Do not substitute one for the other. They are both important components in the success of this recipe.
all-purpose flour: If you'd like to make your air fryer cookies gluten-free, substitute the AP flour with a cup-for-cup brand of gluten-free all-purpose flour. Two popular brands are Bob's Red Mill and King Arthur Flour.

Sugar Cookie Pizzas: Decorate each cookie with cream cheese frosting and place thin slices of fruit on top. Mini fruit cookie pizzas!

How to Make Air Fryer Sugar Cookies

Summary only. The complete recipe instructions are in the card at the bottom of this post ⬇️

Sticks of butter and white sugar in a glass bowl.

Cream the butter and sugar together. Be sure to use a mixer set on high speed. It's important that the mixture be light and creamy, not grainy.

creamed together sugar and butter with vanilla

Mix in the vanilla and salt.

Unbaked sugar cookie dough in a clear mixing bowl.

Incorporate the dry ingredients, using milk, if necessary. If your dough appears too dry, add a dash of milk to moisten it until the dough is firm, but not crumbly.

4 cookie dough balls in an air fryer basket on foil

Bake sugar cookies in air fryer at 350°F. It will take about 8 minutes to air fry a batch of 4 or 5 cookies.

4 air fried cookies in the air fryer basket on foil

Liz's Tips for the Best Air Fryer Cookies

Avoid over mixing the cookie dough. All-purpose flour contains a protein called gluten. If you work it too much, it can cause your cookies to be dry and crumbly.
Be sure to preheat the air fryer. If the unit is too cool, the dough will spread too much before it starts to bake.
Avoid overcrowding the basket. Space the sugar cookie dough balls about an inch apart. Depending on the size of your fryer, you may only be able to air fry 3 to 4 cookies at a time. If you place too many in at one time, you may end up with one very large cookie.

Decorating Sugar Cookies

While decorating cookies isn't necessary, it does add an extra layer of flavor, and they're prettier, too!

When they are completely cool, spread your treats with royal icing, store-bought frosting, or buttercream frosting.

Hand holding an air fried sugar cookie decorated with frosting and sprinkles.

Storage and Freezing

Storing: These treats are best when eaten right away, but leftover cookies can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for 4 or 5 days.

Freezing: Air fried cookies can be stored in a freezer bag or an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Freezing unbaked cookie dough: You can freeze this sugar cookie dough. Scoop into balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet, or use these cookie dough freezing trays.

Check out this post for How to Freeze Cookie Dough for tips on saving cookie dough for later.

stack of frosted cookies with colored sprinkles next to a glass of milk.

Sugar Cookie Air Fryer Recipe FAQs

Can I air fry store bought cookie dough?

Yes you can! How many store bought cookies you can make does depend on the size air fryer you have. Place parchment paper in the bottom of your air fryer basket, place the cookie dough on top of that. Air fry at 350°F. for 5-9 minutes. The cook time depends on your air fryer and the size and type of cookies, so be sure to keep an eye on them.

Do you have to use parchment paper for cookies in air fryer?

You don't have to use parchment paper in the air fryer. It helps for an easy clean-up and to be certain that your cookies won't stick to the basket. If you happen to out of parchment paper, nonstick aluminum foil works just as well.

Why can’t I bake more than three cookies at a time?

Depending on the size of your air fryer basket and the size of cookie you want, you may be able to cook up to four or five cookies at a time; however, it is important to avoid crowding the air fryer basket to ensure that the cookies cook properly. Additionally, giving the cookies as much space as possible will help prevent them from merging.

How will I know when my air fryer cookies are done?

When they are baked, the appearance of cookies made in an air fryer is very similar to cookies baked in the oven. The sugar cookies will have slightly crispy edges and be slightly firm on top.

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