Crisp-edged, buttery cookies in 10 minutes, with no OTG needed. Here are two easy eggless cookies for the air fryer: classic butter cookies and a healthier atta-jaggery version. They’re ideal for small batches and festive gift boxes.
| Prep | 15 min |
| Bake | 8–10 min per batch |
| Temperature | 160 °C (320 °F) |
| Makes | 14–16 cookies |
Eggless butter cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup (110 g) soft unsalted butter
- ⅓ cup (65 g) powdered sugar
- 1 cup (125 g) maida
- 2 tbsp milk powder or cornflour
- ½ tsp vanilla, a pinch of salt, 1–2 tbsp milk if needed
Method
- Beat butter and sugar until pale and fluffy, 3–4 minutes.
- Add vanilla, then fold in maida, milk powder and salt to make a soft dough. Add a spoon of milk only if it’s crumbly.
- Roll into small balls and flatten slightly, or pipe rosettes.
- Place on parchment in the basket with 2–3 cm gaps.
- Bake at 160 °C for 8–10 minutes until the edges are just golden. The centres will look soft.
- Cool on the parchment for 10 minutes. They firm up as they cool.
Atta jaggery cookies
Use 1 cup whole wheat flour, ½ cup powdered jaggery, ⅓ cup ghee, ½ tsp cardamom, ¼ tsp baking soda and 2–3 tbsp milk. Shape, top with a chopped almond, and bake at 160 °C for 10–12 minutes.
Flavours
- Choco chip: add ¼ cup chocolate chips to the butter dough
- Nankhatai: see our Diwali recipes
- Coconut: add 3 tbsp desiccated coconut
Air fryer baking tips
- Check your tin fits with at least 1–2 cm of space around it for airflow. A 15 cm (6 inch) tin fits most 4 L+ baskets.
- Bake low: 150–160 °C. The element is close to the top, so higher temperatures brown the top before the middle cooks.
- Cover loosely with foil if the top browns too early, and tuck the edges in so the fan can’t lift it.
- Preheat for 3 minutes for a more even rise.
Frequently asked questions
How long do cookies take in an air fryer?
8–10 minutes at 160 °C (320 °F) for small butter cookies; 10–12 minutes for atta cookies.
Why are my air fryer cookies soft?
They firm up as they cool. Don’t judge them hot. If they’re still soft once cool, bake 1–2 minutes longer.