When the cookie urge hits and you don't have the inclination to turn on your oven or to bake a big batch of cookies, turn to your air fryer. It's great for making small batches of cookies in a reasonably short period of time--like during dinner, so you can have warm, chewy, chocolatey cookies with your coffee or tea for dessert. Even better, because you've baked only a small batch, you're controlling the temptation to eat too many cookies. When they're gone, they're gone (okay, you could bake more, but maybe on a different day?). The cookies I'm offering up to you today are quick to mix up and bake in about 10 minutes. The tops are crackled, and the interiors nice and chewy. The cookies will harden up a little as they cool, so keep that in mind and don't bake them too long if you prefer chewier cookies. If you like crispy cookies, just give them another minute or two in the air fryer. I like to put a hazelnut in the center of each cookie, but the nuts are optional.
Air Fryer Chewy Chocolate Hazelnut Cookies -- Makes about 10
3/4 cup of chocolate hazelnut spread (like Nutella, although Aldi's version is
cheaper and works fine)
1 egg
1/2 cup of flour
1/2 teaspoon of baking powder
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of baking soda
Hazelnuts (optional)
In a medium bowl, beat the hazelnut spread and egg until thoroughly combined. Stir in the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda until a soft dough comes together. Preheat the air fryer to 320 degrees and cut three or four 4-inch squares of parchment paper. Drop 2-3 cookies on each square, using about 1 1/2 tablespoons of dough for each cookie. Keep in mind that the cookies will spread, so I recommend baking only 2 cookies at once. Place a hazelnut in the center of each cookie. Bake the cookies for 8-11 minutes or until puffed and barely firm to the touch. Let the cookies cool on their parchment squares for a few minutes before trying to eat them. The cookies will firm up as they sit. Repeat the process with the remaining cookie dough, reusing the parchment squares as you need. Eat the cookies warm, with or without ice cream, although with is always better!
