Ready to fill your home with the sweet smell of gingerbread? These Air Fryer Gingerbread Cookies are easy to make and perfect for a festive treat. Whether it’s Christmas or just a cozy day indoors, these cookies promise to deliver a delicious burst of flavor and a touch of nostalgia in every bite.
I love making these air fryer gingerbread cookies every year, and let me tell you, they’re a hit! The aroma alone is enough to gather everyone in the kitchen. I find these easy gingerbread cookies are perfect for a cozy evening snack or as a delightful treat during holiday gatherings. Their spicy-sweet flavor and soft, chewy texture make them irresistible. And the best part? They come together so quickly in the air fryer, which means more time for sipping hot cocoa and less time waiting by the oven.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients in the photograph below.
How to Make Air Fryer Gingerbread Cookies
A complete printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.
I can’t get over how perfectly gingerbread cookies turn out in the air fryer! They’re quick, easy, and oh-so-tasty. Here’s how you can get these sweet treats ready in no time.
Prep the Dry Ingredients
Start by sifting together your dry ingredients—flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves—on parchment paper or in a bowl. This mix is what gives these cookies their signature holiday flavor.
Cream the Butter and Sugar
In a separate bowl, beat the softened unsalted butter with the brown sugar until smooth and creamy, about two minutes should do the trick. This step is crucial for getting that fluffy texture we all love in a cookie!
Add to the Wet Ingredients
Next, pour in the dark molasses to the butter and sugar mixture, beating until well combined. Crack in the egg and splash in the vanilla extract, then beat everything on high for another two minutes to get a smooth, well-incorporated batter.
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
Includes ad-free recipes like:
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
Combine the Mixes
Now for the fun part—gradually mix the flour mixture into your wet mixture. Use a spatula or a wooden spoon to fold everything together until just combined, making sure not to overmix.
Chill the Dough
Divide the dough in half, wrap each portion in plastic wrap, and press them into discs. Pop them in the fridge to chill for at least 2 hours, or up to a day if you’re not in a rush. This step helps the flavors meld together and makes the dough easier to handle.
Roll and Cut
Let the chilled dough sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes, then sprinkle a bit of flour on your surface and roll each piece on the floured surface to about 3 mm thick. Grab your favorite cookie cutters—gingerbread men are classic, but any shape will do—and start cutting out your cookies. Re-roll any scraps to make more cookies.
Bake to Perfection
Place the cookies about 1 inch apart in your air fryer basket lined with a small piece of parchment paper (to prevent sticking). Air fry at 320°F (160°C) for about 5 minutes, until the cookies are beautifully golden and slightly firm to the touch. Remember, they’ll continue to harden as they cool, so don’t overcook!
Decorate and Enjoy
Once cooled, whip up the icing by mixing powdered sugar with milk until smooth.
Decorate your gingerbread cookies with a piping bag and add sprinkles for that festive touch. Now, all that’s left is to enjoy your delicious, soft gingerbread cookies fresh from the air fryer!
Air Fryer Gingerbread Cookies
Add Preferred SourceIngredients
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ½ tablespoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ⅔ cup unsalted butter softened
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- ⅔ cup dark molasses
- 1 egg at room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the icing:
- 3 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ cup whole milk
- Sprinkles for decoration
Instructions
- Over parchment paper or in a bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, salt, ginger, cinnamon, and cloves. Set aside.3 ½ cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking soda, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, ½ tablespoon ground ginger, ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- In another bowl, beat the butter with the brown sugar in a mixer until smooth and creamy, for about 2 minutes. Add the molasses and beat again until it’s well combined. Add the egg and vanilla, and beat on high for 2 minutes.⅔ cup unsalted butter, ¾ cup brown sugar, ⅔ cup dark molasses, 1 egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing with a spatula or wooden spoon until combined.
- Divide it in half, wrap each portion in plastic wrap, shape it into discs, and chill for at least 2 hours to 1 day. Remove from the fridge around 10 minutes before use.
- Add a bit of flour to the surface and roll each piece to 3 mm thick. Use a ginger man (or other shapes) cookie cutter to cut the cookies – you can re-roll the remaining dough.
- Place the cookies 1 inch apart on the air fryer basket lined with parchment paper.
- Bake in the air fryer at 320°F (160°C) for 5 minutes. Work in batches to get all the cookies ready.
- Mix the icing ingredients and decorate the cookies with a piping bag and sprinkles.3 cups powdered sugar, ¼ cup whole milk, Sprinkles for decoration
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Chill the Dough: Don’t skip the chilling step. This helps the cookies keep their shape and enhances the flavors.
- Rolling the Dough: If the dough becomes sticky, sprinkle a bit more flour on your rolling surface or rolling pin. Keeping the dough cool helps a lot too.
- Timing is Key: Keep an eye on your air fryer! All air fryers are a bit different, so your cookies might need a minute less or a minute more.
- Decorating: Let the cookies cool completely before you start icing them. This will keep the icing from melting and creating a mess.
- Frosting Consistency: If your icing is too runny, add more powdered sugar. Too thick? A few drops of milk will do the trick.
Storage Instructions
- Room Temperature: Pop them into an airtight container and they’ll stay fresh and delicious. You can keep them at room temperature for up to a week, making sure they’re away from direct sunlight and heat.
- Freeze: If you want them to last even longer, you can also stash them in the freezer inside a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, let them thaw at room temperature for a few hours or give them a quick zap in the microwave for a warm treat. Just like that, it’s like you’ve baked them fresh all over again!
Nutrition
DO MORE WITH YOUR
AIR FRYER
This eBook is a collection of 86 recipes I make again and again in my own kitchen. If you love good food and easy instructions, this book was made for you.
Immediate eBook download. No physical book available.
Includes ad-free recipes like:
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
Recipe Notes and Tips
I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve to help you master these gingerbread cookies on the first try! Here’s what I’ve learned:
- Chill the Dough: Don’t skip the chilling step. This helps the cookies keep their shape and enhances the flavors.
- Rolling the Dough: If the dough becomes sticky, sprinkle a bit more flour on your rolling surface or rolling pin. Keeping the dough cool helps a lot too.
- Timing is Key: Keep an eye on your air fryer! All air fryers are a bit different, so your cookies might need a minute less or a minute more.
- Decorating: Let the cookies cool completely before you start icing them. This will keep the icing from melting and creating a mess.
- Frosting Consistency: If your icing is too runny, add more powdered sugar. Too thick? A few drops of milk will do the trick.
How to Store Leftover Gingerbread Cookies
Got leftovers cookies? Lucky you! Just pop them into an airtight container and they’ll stay fresh and delicious. You can keep them at room temperature for up to a week, making sure they’re away from direct sunlight and heat.
If you want them to last even longer, you can also stash them in the freezer inside a freezer bag or airtight container for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, let them thaw at room temperature for a few hours or give them a quick zap in the microwave for a warm treat. Just like that, it’s like you’ve baked them fresh all over again!
What to Serve With Air Fryer Gingerbread Man Cookies
For a cozy, festive treat, try serving them with a warm mug of milk, mulled cider, or your favorite hot chocolate. The spices in the cookies complement the richness of hot cocoa beautifully. If you’re feeling extra fancy, a dollop of whipped cream on top of your drink can take it to the next level. And if you’re hosting a holiday party, these cookies make the perfect sidekick to a holiday eggnog or a spicy chai tea.
More Cookie Recipes You Will Love
If you love cookies, then you need to try these recipes!
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Glazed Lemon Cookies
- Snowman Cookies
- Christmas Ornament Cookies
- Marshmallow Swirl Cookies
