Oh my goodness, you have to try these air fryer cinnamon sugar cookies! I stumbled upon this recipe one lazy Sunday afternoon when I was craving something sweet but didn’t want to turn on the big oven. What came out of my air fryer was pure magic – cookies with that perfect crispy edge giving way to a soft, buttery center that melts in your mouth.
What I love most is how ridiculously easy they are to make. Just mix, roll, and air fry – you’re literally minutes away from warm, cinnamon-kissed goodness. The smell alone will have your family gathering in the kitchen before the first batch is done. Trust me, these disappear faster than you can say “second helping!”
These cookies remind me of those classic snickerdoodles, but with that special air fryer crispness that makes them irresistible. Perfect for when you need a quick dessert fix or want to impress unexpected guests without any fuss. Let me show you how simple it is to make cookie magic happen in your air fryer!
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Let me count the ways these cookies will become your new favorite treat:
- Speed demon: From mixing bowl to mouth in under 20 minutes – no waiting for the oven to preheat!
- Pantry staples: Uses simple ingredients you probably already have on hand (no fancy shopping trips needed).
- Texture magic: That perfect combo of crispy edges and soft centers that’ll make you swoon.
- Small batch perfection: Makes just enough for a quick craving fix without tempting leftovers.
- No-mess clean-up: Your air fryer basket is way easier to wash than cookie sheets.
- Kid-approved: Little hands love rolling the dough balls in cinnamon sugar (and eating them warm!).
Seriously, once you try these, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without them!
Ingredients for Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Here’s everything you’ll need to make these irresistible cookies – and I promise, it’s nothing fancy! Just good, simple ingredients that work magic together:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (spooned and leveled – no packing!)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder (fresh is best – check that expiration date)
- 1/4 tsp salt (I use kosher for that perfect balance)
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened (leave it out for 30 minutes – trust me, it matters)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar (for that classic sweetness)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed (dark brown gives extra flavor if you’ve got it)
- 1 large egg (room temp blends better)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (the real stuff – no imitation here)
- 2 tbsp cinnamon sugar mix (I do 1.5 tbsp sugar + 1/2 tbsp cinnamon)
See? Told you it was simple! Now let’s turn these into cookie magic.
How to Make Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Okay, let’s get baking! These cookies come together so fast you’ll be amazed. Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll have warm, cinnamony goodness in no time.
Step 1: Mix Dry Ingredients
Grab a medium mixing bowl (I use my trusty 2-quart Pyrex) and whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Don’t skip the whisking – we want those dry ingredients to be best friends before they meet the wet stuff. A few quick whisks should do it – you’ll see everything turn into one uniform, pale mixture.
Step 2: Cream Butter and Sugars
Now for the fun part! In a larger bowl, beat the softened butter with both sugars until it’s light and fluffy. This takes about 2 minutes with a hand mixer (or 3-4 minutes if you’re going old-school with a wooden spoon). You’ll know it’s ready when the mixture looks like pale, creamy clouds and leaves little trails when you lift the beaters.
Step 3: Combine Wet and Dry Mixtures
Beat in the egg and vanilla until just combined – don’t go crazy here. Now gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until the dough just comes together. It should look slightly shaggy – stop mixing the moment you don’t see dry flour patches. Overmixing makes tough cookies, and we want tender!
Step 4: Coat and Cook in Air Fryer
Roll tablespoon-sized dough balls between your palms, then roll them generously in the cinnamon sugar mix. Place them in your preheated air fryer basket with about an inch between each cookie – they’ll spread! Cook at 350°F for 6-8 minutes until the edges turn golden. Pro tip: Check at 5 minutes – air fryers vary wildly. They’ll firm up as they cool, so don’t overbake!
See? Told you it was easy! Now try not to eat them all before they cool… though warm cookies straight from the basket are pretty heavenly.
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
After making dozens (okay, maybe hundreds) of these cookies, I’ve picked up some tricks that’ll guarantee bakery-quality results every time:
- Space is key: Only cook 4-5 cookies at once – overcrowding leads to uneven baking and sad, flat cookies.
- Peek often: Check at 5 minutes since air fryers run hot. My Ninja cooks them in 6 minutes flat, but my mom’s older model needs 8.
- Parchment magic: Cut a round of parchment to fit your basket – prevents sticking without any messy sprays.
- Cool completely: I know it’s hard, but letting them sit 5 minutes on a rack gives that perfect crisp-chewy texture.
- Fresh batches: Always preheat again between batches for consistent results.
Follow these, and you’ll be the air fryer cookie hero of your household!
Variations for Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Oh, the fun you can have with this basic recipe! Here are my favorite ways to mix things up when I’m feeling adventurous:
- Spice it up: Add 1/4 tsp nutmeg or cardamom to the dry ingredients for extra warmth
- Citrus twist: Swap vanilla for orange or lemon extract – pairs beautifully with cinnamon!
- Glaze drizzle: Mix powdered sugar with milk and vanilla for a simple icing ribbon
- Nutty crunch: Fold in 1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts for texture. If you love pecans, check out this recipe for air fryer pecan pie bars!
- Chocolate fix: Press a few chocolate chips into each dough ball before cooking
My kids love when I make “confetti cookies” by rolling them in rainbow sprinkles with the cinnamon sugar. The possibilities are endless!
Serving and Storing Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Here’s the best part – enjoying your cookies! Let them cool for about 5 minutes on a wire rack (if you can resist that heavenly cinnamon smell). They’re perfect warm with a glass of cold milk or crumbled over vanilla ice cream for an easy dessert hack.
For storage, pop any leftovers (ha!) in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. Want that fresh-from-the-air-fryer warmth? Just zap them for 20 seconds in the microwave or 1 minute in the air fryer at 300°F. They’ll taste like you just baked them!
Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Cookies Nutritional Information
Here’s the scoop on what’s in these tasty treats – but remember, these are just estimates! Your exact numbers might vary depending on your specific ingredients and how big you make those cookie balls. Each delicious cookie (based on making 12 from this recipe) contains roughly:
- 90 calories – perfect for a little indulgence
- 8g sugar – that sweet cinnamon kiss
- 4g fat – mostly from that glorious butter
- 12g carbs – worth every bite
Not bad for something that tastes this good, right? Just keep in mind these numbers can change if you tweak the recipe – more butter here, less sugar there, you know how it goes!
FAQs About Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
I get asked about these cookies all the time! Here are answers to the most common questions that pop up:
Can I use melted butter instead of softened?
Oh honey, don’t do it! Melted butter makes the cookies spread too thin in the air fryer. The softened butter creates that perfect thick-and-chewy texture we love. If you forgot to take your butter out early, try this trick: microwave it for 5-second bursts at 50% power until it’s soft but not melted. Understanding the science behind how butter temperature affects baking is key!
Why do my cookies stick to the basket?
A few culprits here – either you overcrowded them (give those cookies space to breathe!) or skipped the parchment. A quick spritz of cooking spray on the basket helps too. My foolproof method? That little round of parchment paper I mentioned earlier.
Can I make the dough ahead?
Absolutely! Roll your dough balls and keep them in the fridge for up to 2 days or freeze for a month. Just add an extra minute of cooking time if they’re going in cold. Perfect for last-minute cookie emergencies! For more quick air fryer desserts, check out these air fryer dessert recipes.
How do I know when they’re done?
Look for golden edges and tops that look “set” but still slightly soft in the center. They’ll firm up as they cool. Remember – air fryers bake fast, so peek early and often!
Share Your Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
I’d love to hear how your cookies turned out! Did you add any fun twists? Snap a photo of your golden-brown beauties and tag me – nothing makes me happier than seeing your kitchen successes. Leave a comment below with your air fryer model and perfect cook time to help other bakers too. Happy air frying!
Print
Irresistible Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Cookies in 20 Minutes
- Total Time: 18 mins
- Yield: 12 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Easy air fryer cinnamon sugar cookies that are crispy on the outside and soft inside.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp cinnamon sugar mix
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Mix flour, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
- Cream butter and sugars until fluffy.
- Beat in egg and vanilla.
- Gradually add dry ingredients to wet mixture.
- Roll dough into balls, coat with cinnamon sugar.
- Place cookies in air fryer basket, leaving space between them.
- Cook for 6-8 minutes until edges are golden.
- Let cool before serving.
Notes
- Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Adjust cook time based on your air fryer model.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 8 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 90
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 50mg
- Fat: 4g
- Saturated Fat: 2.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 1g
- Cholesterol: 20mg
Keywords: air fryer cookies, cinnamon sugar cookies, easy dessert