These Air Fryer Caramel Hot Cocoa Cookies are rich, chocolatey, and bursting with gooey caramel in every bite. Soft, chewy, and easy to make, they’re the ultimate cozy treat for cold days or holiday snacking.
If you love chocolate and caramel, these Air Fryer Caramel Hot Cocoa Cookies are about to become your new favorite cozy treat.
Soft, chewy, and loaded with rich chocolate flavor, each bite hides a gooey caramel center that melts in your mouth.
Quick to make in the air fryer, they’re perfect for warming up chilly days, holiday baking, or anytime you need a little indulgent sweetness.
Why You Will Love This Recipe!
- Gooey caramel centers – Each bite has a melty, irresistible surprise.
- Soft and chewy – Perfect texture that melts in your mouth.
- Rich chocolate flavor – Deep cocoa taste for chocolate lovers.
- Quick and easy – Air fryer makes baking faster and simpler.
- Perfect for winter or holidays – Cozy, festive treat everyone will enjoy.
Ingredients Needed
- Light Brown Sugar – Adds sweetness and subtle molasses flavor to cookies.
- Unsalted Butter – Provides richness, moisture, and tender cookie texture.
- Vanilla Extract – Enhances overall flavor with warm, sweet aroma.
- Egg – Binds ingredients and adds structure to the dough.
- Milk – Helps create a soft, chewy cookie consistency.
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – Adds deep, rich chocolate flavor to cookies.
- All Purpose Flour – Forms the base and structure for cookie dough.
- Baking Soda – Helps cookies rise and spread evenly.
- Baking Powder – Provides lightness and fluffiness to the cookies.
- Salt – Enhances sweetness and balances chocolate flavor.
- Mini Chocolate Chips – Adds pockets of melty chocolate in every bite.
- Mini Marshmallows – Creates gooey, soft texture throughout the cookies.
- Caramel Sauce – Adds rich, sweet, gooey caramel flavor pockets.
How To Make Air Fryer Caramel Hot Cocoa Cookies
Step One: In a large bowl, cream together the brown sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Stir in the vanilla extract, egg, and milk, mixing until fully combined.
Step Two: In a separate bowl, whisk together the cocoa powder, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Gradually fold the dry ingredients into the sugar and butter mixture until smooth and lump-free.
Step Three: Cover the dough and refrigerate for at least two hours. Preheat the air fryer temperature to 300 degrees F, after preheating, line the basket with parchment paper.
Step Four: Portion the dough into small, slightly thick balls and roll each one in chocolate chips. Place the cookie balls on the parchment, leaving space between them. Set cook time for 8 minutes.
Step Five: Top each cookie with a few mini marshmallows and air fry for an additional 2 minutes. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack and let cool for 10–15 minutes. Finally, drizzle caramel sauce over the cookies before serving.
Air Fryer Caramel Hot Cocoa Cookies Recipe Tips
- Chill the dough – Refrigerating for at least 2 hours prevents spreading and keeps cookies thick.
- Don’t overcrowd the basket – Give each cookie space to bake evenly and maintain shape.
- Use parchment paper – Prevents sticking and makes cleanup faster.
- Adjust air fryer time for size – Larger cookies may need an extra minute or two; smaller cookies cook faster.
- Add extra chocolate chips or marshmallows – For even gooier, richer cookies, add a few more toppings before baking.
- Drizzle caramel at the end – Keeps caramel from burning in the air fryer.
Storing Instructions
- Room Temperature: Store cooled cookies in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerator: Keep in a sealed container for up to 1 week; allow cookies to come to room temperature before serving.
- Freezing: Freeze baked cookies in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months. Thaw at room temperature or warm in the air fryer for a few minutes.
- Reheating: Refresh cookies in the air fryer at 325°F for 2–3 minutes to restore softness and gooey caramel centers.
Air Fryer Caramel Hot Cocoa Cookies Recipe Faqs
Can I make these cookies without an air fryer? Yes! Bake them in a preheated oven at 350°F for 10–12 minutes, or until edges are lightly golden.
Can I use regular chocolate chips instead of mini chocolate chips? Absolutely! Larger chocolate chips work too, though mini chips distribute more evenly throughout the cookie.
Do I need to chill the dough? Chilling for at least 2 hours is recommended to prevent the cookies from spreading too much and helps keep them thick and soft.
Can I use different toppings instead of marshmallows and caramel? Yes! Nut pieces, white chocolate chunks, or caramel bits can be substituted for variety.
Can I make the cookies larger or smaller? Yes, just adjust the air fryer cooking time slightly—larger cookies may need 1–2 extra minutes, smaller cookies cook faster.
More Easy Air Fryer Desserts
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Air Fryer Caramel Hot Cocoa Cookies
Description
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Light Brown Sugar
- 1 stick Unsalted Butter, 8 Tbsp room temperature
- 2 Tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1 large Egg
- 3 Tbsp milk
- 4 Tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1 ¼ Cup All Purpose Flour
- ½ Tsp Baking soda
- ¼ Tsp Baking Powder
- ¼ Tsp Salt
- 1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips
- ½ Cup Mini Marshmallows
- 3 Tbsp Caramel Sauce
Instructions
- In a large bowl combine the 1 Cup Light Brown Sugar and 1 stick Unsalted Butter until fluffy. Next, add the 2 Tsp Vanilla Extract, 1 large Egg, and 3 Tbsp milk. Mix well.
- In another bowl combine the 4 Tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, 1 ¼ Cup All Purpose Flour, ½ Tsp Baking soda, ¼ Tsp Baking Powder, and ¼ Tsp Salt.
- Slowly, mix in the sugar/butter mixture until it’s all fully blended and there are no lumps.
- Cover the cookie dough and place it in the fridge for at least two hours.
- Preheat air fryer to 300 degrees F, after preheating line air fryer basket with a piece of parchment paper.
- Portion cookie dough into small balls, a few inches thick. Roll each ball in 1 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips
- Place on parchment paper, being careful to make sure they don’t touch.
- Set cook time for 8-10 minutes.
- Then place a few ½ Cup Mini Marshmallows on top of each cookie and cook for an additional two minutes.
- Remove from air fryer and transfer to cookie rack, allowing to cool for 10-15 minutes .
- Finally, drizzle the 3 Tbsp Caramel Sauce over the top of the cookies.
Equipment
- Cooking Spray
- Parchment Paper
Nutrition
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