Make these 5 Ingredient Cookies in the Air Fryer

Easy Sugar Cookies! 5 Ingredient Cookies in the Air Fryer

You can never go wrong with a quick and simple chewy cookie recipe like these 5 Ingredient Sugar Cookies made in the air fryer. They’re sweet, buttery, and ridiculously easy—no cookie sheet, no oven, and no complicated steps.

And because there are no eggs in the mix, if you love to sneak a little cookie dough from the bowl like I do, this egg-free cookie dough is safer to nibble while you roll and top your cookies. (Still use standard kitchen safety, of course—especially with flour and cross-contamination.) For more info on raw egg food safety, here’s a helpful resource from the FDA: Food Safety at Home (FDA).

This will be one of your easiest dessert wins: pantry staples, minimal cleanup, and cookies that come out with crisp edges and a soft, chewy center. Grab your air fryer and let’s go!

Are These Air Fryer Sugar Cookies?

Yes! These are classic air fryer sugar cookies—sweet, buttery, and simple—made with just 5 ingredients and no eggs. They’re perfect when you want a small-batch dessert without heating up the kitchen. The air fryer gives you that lightly crisp edge while keeping the center soft and chewy.

Pro tip: Air fryers can run a little hot depending on the model. If your cookies brown too fast the first time, reduce the temperature by 10–15 degrees and/or shorten the cook time by a minute.

Ingredients and Supplies You’ll Need to Make These 5 Ingredient Cookies

Ingredients

• Unsalted butter, room temperature
• Sugar (granulated, not light brown sugar)
• All-purpose flour (Protein powder can also be added to up the protein! Sub for 1/3–1/2 cup of the flour.)
• Vanilla extract
• Rainbow sprinkles (or jimmies)

Quick note on texture: Using granulated sugar keeps the cookie crisp on the edges and tender in the center. If you swap sugars, the texture will change (still tasty—just different!).

Supplies:

• Hand electric mixer or stand mixer
• Large bowl
• Measuring cups
• Air fryer parchment paper
• Air fryer (Cosori Pro II)

Any Add-Ins? Why not?!

This recipe is for a simple sugar cookie with sprinkles. However, you can easily turn these into a chocolate chip-style cookie by leaving off the sprinkles and mixing in chocolate chips. You can also keep the base dough and change the topping depending on the holiday or occasion—think red and pink sprinkles for Valentine’s Day, pastel sprinkles for Easter, or red/white/blue for summer parties.

Other fun options:

• Chopped nuts
• Rice Krispies
• M&M’s
• Oats
• Peanut butter chips
• White chocolate chips
• Top with sea salt flakes
• Mix in almond butter or another nut butter

Tip for mix-ins: If you add chunky mix-ins (like M&Ms or nuts), press the dough balls down a bit more so the cookies cook evenly and don’t stay too thick in the middle.

How to Store Cookies

Place the cookies in an airtight container and store them at room temperature for up to 5 days. If you want that “fresh baked” feel again, pop one in the air fryer for 30–60 seconds to warm it up.

To freeze: let cookies cool completely, then freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 2–3 months. Thaw at room temperature or warm briefly in the air fryer.

How to Make These 5 Ingredient Cookies in the Air Fryer

Step 1: Make cookie dough

Begin by beating together butter and 2/3 cup sugar until combined. Then add in flour and blend well. Once that is all combined, stir in the vanilla until just mixed.

Optional (but helpful): If your dough feels very soft or sticky, chill it for 10–15 minutes. This can help the cookies hold their shape and reduce spreading.

Step 2: Shape cookie dough balls

Roll into cookies into 2-inch balls (about 2 tablespoons of dough) per cookie. Then, place the cookie dough on air fryer parchment paper outside of the air fryer.

Next, press down on the balls to flatten with the bottom of a cup and add the rainbow sprinkles.

Then press down with the bottom of the cup and lightly press down again just so they stick.

Note: Just sprinkling the rainbow sprinkles on the cookies would not make them stick very well. So I added some sprinkles on a plate and gently pressed the tops of the cookies into the sprinkles. Then flatten the cookies more with the bottom of the cup.

Air fryer spacing tip: Leave a little room between cookies (they can spread slightly). If your basket is smaller, cook in batches for the most even results.

Step 3: Air fry cookies

Place in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 320°F (or 160°C) for 6–8 minutes, or until the edges begin to brown (or cook to your taste).

Let the cookies cool slightly outside of the air fryer basket on a wire rack before enjoying (this helps them set). Air fryer cookies can look “soft” at first but firm up as they cool.

Dinner Before Dessert

These cookies work perfectly as a quick and easy dessert. Pair this simple recipe with one of these delicious sheet pan dinner recipes for an easy dinner the whole family will love—then dessert is basically effortless.

Baking sheet dinner recipes for the air fryer:

• Air Fyer Hawaiian Sheet Pan Dinner
• One Pan Honey Garlic Chicken and Veggies for the Air Fryer or Oven
• Chicken, Cabbage, and Apples Sheet Pan Dinner
• Simple Jamaican Jerk Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner in the Air Fryer

Final Thoughts

5 Ingredient Cookies are a great way to make dessert without over-complicated instructions and lots of ingredients. They air fry to perfection with a little crunch on the outside and a soft, chewy center. You can customize the time to get them to your liking!

If you’re new to baking in the air fryer, this is one of the best starter recipes because it’s forgiving, fast, and doesn’t require special pans. Once you try the base version, you can have fun with mix-ins and toppings to make them your own.

Delicious Air Fryer Desserts to Enjoy Too

• How to Make a Dessert Foldover in the Air Fryer (TikTok Inspired Recipe)
• Breakfast Cookies
• Gooey Mini S’mores Pies in the Air Fryer
• 2 Ingredient Lava Cakes
• Irish Lemon Pudding Recipe
• Cinnamon Buns TikTok Recipe in the Air Fryer

FAQ

Can you make sugar cookies in the air fryer?

Yes! Sugar cookies cook beautifully in the air fryer. You don’t have to preheat a big oven, and you can make a small batch quickly.

Do air fryer cookies need eggs?

Nope. This recipe is completely egg-free, which makes it a great option for egg allergies and also means the dough doesn’t contain raw eggs.

Why did my cookies brown too fast?

Air fryers vary by brand and basket size. If your cookies brown too quickly, reduce the temperature by 10–15°F and start checking at the 5–6 minute mark.

Can I use this dough without sprinkles?

Absolutely. Leave off the sprinkles for a simple, classic sugar cookie base—then try chocolate chips, nuts, or a pinch of flaky salt on top.

5 Ingredient Cookies in the Air Fryer

With only 5 ingredients needed to make this cookie recipe, you will be enjoying sweet and chewy cookies in no time!

4.50 / 5 ( 2 Reviews )

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes minutes

Total Time: 13 minutes minutes

Serves: 5

Adjust Servings: 5

Equipment

• Mixer
• Large bowl
• Measuring cups
• Air fryer parchment paper
• Air Fryer

Ingredients

• 1 cup Unsalted butter room temperature
• ⅔ cup Sugar
• 2 cups +1 tablespoon All-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• Rainbow sprinkles

Instructions

• Beat together butter and 2/3 cup sugar until combined.
• Add in flour and blend well.
• Add in the vanilla.
• Roll into cookie doughs - about 2 tbsp per cookie dough. Place cookie doughs on air fryer parchment paper.
• Press down on the balls to flatten with the bottom of a cup. Add rainbow sprinkles. Then press down with the bottom of the cup and lightly press down again just so they stick. (Note: just sprinkling on the rainbow sprinkles on the cookies would not make them stick very well. So I added some sprinkles on a plate and gently pressed the tops of the cookies into the sprinkles. Then flattened the cookies more with the top bottom of the cup.)
• Place in the air fryer basket. Air fry at 320 °F for 7-8 minutes, or until browned and cooked to your liking.
• Let the cookies cool slightly outside of the air fryer basket before enjoying (to help them set).

Nutrition

Serving: 2cookies | Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 0.4g | Fat: 37g | Sodium: 5mg | Fiber: 0.02g | Sugar: 27g

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