Air Fryer Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies are amazing! If you have been looking for the perfect holiday dessert this is the recipe for you!
If you love the warm, comforting flavors of gingerbread, these Air Fryer Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies are a must-try.
Soft and chewy with a perfectly spiced dough and a crackled powdered sugar topping, they capture the essence of holiday baking in just a few minutes.
Quick to make in the air fryer, these cookies are perfect for sharing, gifting, or enjoying with a cozy cup of cocoa.
If you love easy Air Fryer Cookie Recipes, try my recipe for homemade thin mints, air fryer chocolate chip pillsbury cookies, or air fryer three ingredient nutella cookies.
Ingredients Needed
- Unsalted butter: Adds richness flavor and tender texture to cookies
- Light brown sugar: Provides sweetness moisture and subtle caramel flavor
- Vanilla extract: Enhances overall flavor with warm aromatic sweetness
- Large egg yolk: Binds ingredients and adds structure to dough
- Molasses: Gives deep flavor sweetness and moist chewy texture
- All-purpose flour: Forms the base and structure for cookie dough
- Baking soda: Helps cookies rise and spread evenly while baking
- Ground cinnamon: Adds warm spice and aromatic depth to dough
- Ground ginger: Provides signature gingerbread flavor and subtle warmth
- Ground nutmeg: Adds earthy sweet spice enhancing overall flavor profile
- Kosher salt: Balances sweetness and enhances flavors in dough
- Confectioners sugar: Creates smooth coating and adds extra sweetness topping
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens dough and contributes to browning and texture
How To Make Air Fryer Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies
Step 1: In a large bowl using a hand mixer or mixing stand beat together butter and brown sugar. Slowly add the vanilla extract and egg yolk. Then add in the molasses. Mixing well.
Step 2: Next, carefully and one at a time: add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, ground nutmeg, and salt. Beat until everything is completely mixed. Be sure to scrape the sides and avoid any lumps.
Step 3: Cover dough and refrigerate for at least an hour. After an hour remove the dough from the fridge. Preheat air fryer to 300 degrees F, for 3-5 minutes.
Step 4: Line air fryer basket with parchment paper. Portion dough into smaller round balls. Add confectioners sugar to a small bowl and granulated sugar to a separate small bowl. Dip each cookie ball lightly in to granulated sugar and then completely in to confectioner’s sugar making sure to roll it around and cover it.
Step 5: Place on parchment paper a few inches apart, and cook in the air fryer for about ten minutes. The outside should start to crinkle but be puffy. The outside should also be slightly crisp while the inside remains soft!
Air Fryer Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies Recipe Tips
- Room Temperature Ingredients: Ensure your butter and egg yolk are at room temperature before mixing.
- Chill the Dough: After mixing the dough, chill it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.
- Roll Generously: Roll the dough balls generously in granulated sugar first, then in confectioners sugar.
- Don’t Overbake: Keep an eye on the baking time. The cookies should be set around the edges but still soft in the center when you remove them from the air fryer.
- Preheat the Air Fryer: Make sure to preheat your air fryer before placing the cookie dough balls inside.
- Space the Cookies: Place the dough balls in the air fryer basket or tray with enough space between them.
- Cool Completely: Allow the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack before storing.
Air Fryer Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies Recipe Faqs
Can I make the dough ahead of time? Yes, you can prepare the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it for up to 3 days. Just make sure to wrap it tightly in plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container.
Can I freeze the dough? Absolutely! You can freeze the dough balls on a baking sheet until firm, then transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container. When ready to bake, roll them in sugar and bake directly from frozen, adding a couple of extra minutes to the baking time.
What if I don’t have an air fryer? No problem! You can bake these cookies in a conventional oven. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and bake the cookies on a parchment-lined baking sheet for 10-12 minutes.
Why do my cookies not have the crinkle effect? The crinkle effect depends on the dough spreading and cracking as it bakes. Ensure your dough is properly chilled and that you roll the balls generously in granulated sugar first, then in confectioners sugar.
How do I store the baked cookies? Store the baked cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. To keep them soft, you can add a slice of bread to the container; the bread will help maintain moisture.
Can I add other spices to the dough? Certainly! Feel free to experiment by adding spices like cloves or allspice for a more complex flavor. Just be mindful of the quantities to avoid overpowering the gingerbread taste.
Can I make these cookies gluten-free? Yes, you can substitute the all-purpose flour with a gluten-free flour blend that measures 1:1. Make sure your other ingredients are gluten-free as well.
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Air Fryer Gingerbread Crinkle Cookies
Description
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups butter, unsalted
- 2/3 cup light brown sugar
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 large egg yolk
- ½ cup molasses
- 2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking soda
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 ½ tablespoon ground ginger
- 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
- ½ tablespoon Kosher salt
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
- ½ cup granulated sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl using a hand mixer or mixing stand beat together butter and brown sugar.
- Slowly add the vanilla extract and egg yolk. Then add in the molasses. Mixing well.
- Next, carefully and one at a time: add the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, ground nutmeg, and salt. Beat until everything is completely mixed. Be sure to scrape the sides and avoid any lumps.
- Cover dough and refrigerate for at least an hour.
- After an hour remove the dough from the fridge.
- Preheat the air fryer to 300 degrees F.
- Line air fryer basket with parchment paper.
- Portion dough into smaller round balls. Add confectioners sugar to a small bowl and granulated sugar to a separate small bowl.
- Dip each cookie ball lightly in to granulated sugar and then completely in to confectioner’s sugar making sure to roll it around and cover it.
- Place on parchment paper a few inches apart, and cook in the air fryer for about ten minutes.
- The outside should start to crinkle but be puffy. The outside should also be slightly crisp while the inside remains soft!
- Allow to cool before serving!
Equipment
- Cooking Spray
- Parchment Paper, optional
Nutrition
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Barbara
I would love to make these, but don’t have an air fryer only a normal oven. So would I just bake in the oven at 300° for 10 minutes?
Laurie
Prepare as directed, and then place onto a baking sheet, at 350 degrees F for 12-15 minutes, or until the center is set.