These air fryer Christmas cookies are the perfect festive bake when you want something homemade, comforting and quick, without the faff of preheating the oven or washing up endless trays. Soft and chewy in the centre with lightly golden edges, they’re packed with melty chocolate chips and colourful M&M’s for a fun, festive finish that feels properly Christmassy. Made entirely in the air fryer, they’re ideal for the busy holiday season when oven space is precious and time is short.
With just a few minutes of prep and a short cooking time, these cookies are brilliant for last-minute baking. Whether you’re rustling up something sweet for unexpected guests, adding a homemade touch to Christmas Eve, or looking for an easy activity to do with kids during the holidays, this recipe fits the bill perfectly. The dough comes together quickly using simple cupboard staples, so there’s no need for a special shopping trip, and it’s easy to adapt with festive sprinkles, chocolate stars or whatever treats you have to hand.
One of the best things about making cookies in the air-fryer is how consistent they are. The circulating heat gives you beautifully even results, helping the cookies cook through while keeping that all-important soft centre. You can bake in small batches, which means warm cookies on demand, always a win at Christmas.
These cookies are delicious served warm with a mug of tea or hot chocolate, but they also firm up nicely as they cool. That makes them ideal for sharing with friends and family, packing into lunchboxes, or wrapping up as edible gifts. Simple, festive and utterly moreish, they’re a Christmas baking staple you’ll come back to year after year.
PREP 5 minutes
COOK 9 minutes
SERVES 12 cookies
KIT you will need an air-fryer, mixing bowls and baking paper
Ingredients for Air Fryer Christmas Cookies
200g plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
120g unsalted butter, softened but still cool
100g caster sugar
75g light brown sugar, softly packed
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
50g Chocolate chip
50g M&M’s or a mix of M&M’s
Optional 40g festive sprinkles or chocolate stars
Method
Preheat your air fryer to 170°C for 3 minutes. This step is important, as starting with a hot air fryer helps the cookies cook evenly and begin setting as soon as they go in, giving you soft centres with lightly golden edges.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the plain flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt until well combined. Mixing the dry ingredients first ensures the raising agents are evenly distributed, which helps the cookies bake evenly and prevents any bitter pockets of bicarbonate of soda.
In a separate bowl, add the butter, caster sugar and light brown sugar. Using a wooden spoon or electric whisk, cream them together until pale, light and fluffy. This step incorporates air into the mixture, which gives the cookies a softer texture. Beat in the egg and vanilla extract until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, folding gently with a spatula until just combined. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make the cookies dense rather than soft and chewy. Once the dough has come together, stir through the chocolate chips, making sure they are evenly distributed throughout the mixture.
Line the air fryer basket with baking paper, then scoop tablespoon-sized portions of dough. Roll them lightly into balls and gently flatten them before placing them into the basket, leaving space between each to allow for spreading.
Air fry at 170°C for 8–9 minutes, until the cookies are lightly golden around the edges but still soft in the centre. For a crisper cookie, air-fry for another 1–2 minutes. While the cookies are still warm, press the remaining M&M’s on top.
Leave the cookies to cool in the basket for 5 minutes before transferring, as they will firm up as they cool.
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Christmas Cookies
Air frying cookies is quick, easy and wonderfully festive, but a few simple tips will help you get bakery-style results every time.
Don’t overcrowd the basket. Cookies need space for the hot air to circulate properly. Always cook in batches and leave a little room between each cookie so they bake evenly and don’t spread into one another.
Use baking paper wisely. Line the basket with a small piece of perforated baking paper or one trimmed to size. This prevents sticking while still allowing airflow. Avoid loose paper that could lift and touch the heating element.
Flatten slightly before cooking. Unlike oven baking, air fryers don’t give cookies as much time to spread. Gently flattening the dough balls helps ensure an even shape and consistent bake.
Watch the timing closely. Air fryer cookies cook fast — often in 6–8 minutes. Start checking early, as overcooking can lead to dry cookies. They should look lightly golden but still feel soft in the centre; they’ll firm up as they cool.
Adjust for your air fryer model. All air fryers vary slightly in power and airflow. If it’s your first batch, treat it as a test run and tweak the time or temperature if needed for the next round.
Let them cool before moving. Freshly cooked cookies are delicate. Leave them in the basket for a minute or two before transferring to a cooling rack so they set properly.
Get festive with mix-ins. This recipe is perfect for customising — try swapping chocolate chips for white chocolate, adding dried cranberries, chopped nuts, or festive sprinkles to make them extra Christmassy.
With these simple tips, you’ll have perfectly soft, golden air fryer Christmas cookies ready in minutes — ideal for festive baking without the fuss.
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