Air Fryer Crumbl Cinnamon Swirl Cookies
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I make Air Fryer Crumbl Cinnamon Swirl Cookies when I’m craving that bakery-style treat, thick with soft, gooey cinnamon layers. The air fryer gives them slightly crispy edges while the centers stay so tender they practically melt. The cream cheese frosting on top makes them taste exactly like Crumbl but homemade.
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I make them for birthday parties, Christmas, Thanksgiving, cookie swaps, and bake sales because they’re trendy and crowd-pleasing. Kids and adults both love the sweetness and bakery-style softness, so they’re always the first ones gone. They stay fresh at room temp for up to 3 days or in the fridge for 5 days if you want them to last longer.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll need all the ingredients shown in the photograph below.
How to Make Air Fryer Crumbl Cinnamon Swirl Cookies with Step-By-Step Instructions
Scroll down for the full recipe card containing a full detailed ingredient measurements in both US customary and metric units.
Here’s how to make this soft, bakery-style cinnamon swirl cookie recipe in your air fryer, along with the full detailed instructions.
Prep Your Air Fryer Basket
Line your air fryer basket with parchment paper so the cookies don’t stick. You can use parchment rounds or just trim a sheet to fit your basket size.
I always use pre-cut parchment baking sheets because they fit perfectly in my air fryer and keep the cookies from sticking, making cleanup effortless.
Make the Cookie Dough
In a large mixing bowl, beat together the softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy, which usually takes about 2 minutes with a hand mixer. Add the egg and vanilla extract, then mix until the batter looks smooth and creamy, boosting the overall richness and giving the cookies extra depth.
In a separate bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt, and a little corn starch if you want extra-tender cookies. The leavening helps the cookies rise just enough for a little extra height.
Then slowly fold the dry mixture into the butter mixture until a soft dough forms. Don’t overmix, as this can develop too much gluten and make the cookies dense or tough instead of soft and tender.
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I like using my sturdy wooden spoon for this part because it lets me gently fold the dry ingredients into the dough without overmixing, so the cookies stay soft and tender
Prepare the Cinnamon Sugar Filling
In a small bowl, combine the main ingredients: softened butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Stir with a spoon until it’s smooth and spreadable, creating a thick paste that sits neatly on top of the cookie instead of running off.
Shape and Fill the Cookies
Use a cookie scoop to portion out equally sized cookie dough balls and place the little balls on a baking sheet. Gently press each ball down with your palm to flatten it slightly, then spread about a spoonful of the cinnamon sugar mixture on top.
Start the freezing process by placing the dough in the freezer for 10 minutes. This helps the butter firm up so the cookies hold their shape better as they bake.
Air Fry the Cookies
Place the chilled cookies in your air fryer basket or in a preheated oven, leaving space between each one so they don’t touch as they spread. Bake at 320°F (160°C) for 6 minutes.
They’ll look slightly underdone in the center when you take them out, but they’ll firm up as they cool. Transfer them to a cooling rack right away so the bottoms don’t get soggy.
Make the Cream Cheese Frosting
While the cookies cool, beat together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl until it’s smooth and creamy.
Spoon the frosting into a piping bag fitted with a round tip so you can swirl it on top of each cookie, giving them the signature swirl look.
Frost and Finish
Once the cookies are completely cool, pipe a generous swirl of cream cheese frosting on top of each one. Sprinkle a little extra cinnamon over the frosting for the final Crumbl touch.
Ingredients
Cookies base:
- ½ cup butter softened
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking powder
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Cinnamon sugar mixture:
- 3 tablespoons butter softened
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
Cream cheese frosting:
- ½ cup cream cheese softened
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Cinnamon to sprinkle
Instructions
- Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, mix together the softened butter, sugar, and brown sugar until light and creamy. Add in the egg and vanilla extract, mixing until the batter is smooth.½ cup butter, ½ cup sugar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 large egg, 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
- In another bowl, sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Slowly add the dry ingredients into the butter mixture, stirring by hand until everything is well combined and a dough forms.1 ½ cup all-purpose flour, ½ teaspoon baking powder, ¼ teaspoon baking soda, ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon salt
- To make the cinnamon sugar mixture, combine the softened butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon in a small bowl and stir until smooth.3 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- Scoop even portions of dough, roll them into balls, and place on the prepared baking sheet. Gently press each ball down and spread a spoonful of the cinnamon sugar mixture on top. Chill the dough in the fridge for 10 minutes.
- Bake in the air fryer at 320°F (160°C) for 6 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- While the cookies cool, mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract in a bowl until smooth. Spoon the frosting into a piping bag.½ cup cream cheese softened, ½ cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Once the cookies are fully cooled, pipe a swirl of frosting on top of each and sprinkle with cinnamon for the final touch.Cinnamon
Notes
- Soften your butter properly: Let the butter sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes. It should be soft enough to press your finger into, but not melted. If it’s too cold, the cinnamon sugar topping won’t spread smoothly.
- Chill the dough before baking: Don’t skip the 10-minute chill. Cold dough holds its shape better in the air fryer and keeps the cookies from spreading too thin or developing crispy edges.
- Adjust for your air fryer: Air fryers vary, so check your cookies at the 5-minute mark the first time. If the tops brown too quickly, reduce the temperature to 310°F and bake for an extra minute or two.
- Don’t overbake them: Pull the cookies out at 6 minutes, even if the centers look a little underdone. They’ll finish cooking and firm up on the cooling rack. If you leave them in too long, they’ll turn dry and crumbly instead of soft and chewy.
- Let them cool completely before frosting: If you pipe the cream cheese frosting on warm cookies, it’ll melt and slide right off. Wait until they’re totally cool to the touch, which usually takes about 15-20 minutes on the cooling rack.
- Flash freeze for storage: If you’re freezing a big batch, place the unfrosted cookies on a baking sheet and freeze for 1 hour before transferring them to a container. This prevents them from sticking together and makes it easier to grab just one or two at a time.
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.
∙ Cheesy Egg Bites
∙ Broccoli Cheddar Soup
∙ Asparagus Casserole
∙ Crack Chicken Casserole
∙ Coffee Cake
...and much more!
Includes ad-free recipes like:
How to Store Leftovers
Keep the cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. I usually stack them in a single layer with parchment paper so the frosting doesn’t smush.
If you need extra storage time, tuck the cookies in the fridge for up to 5 days. Just let them warm back to room temperature before digging in so the texture softens again.
I don’t recommend freezing them, since the cream cheese frosting tends to separate and lose its smooth consistency once thawed.
What to Serve With Air Fryer Crumbl Cinnamon Swirl Cookies
These cookies are rich and sweet, so they pair perfectly with a cold glass of milk or hot coffee to balance everything out. I also love serving them with a scoop of vanilla ice cream while they’re still warm from the air fryer for that cookie-sundae experience.
They work great as part of a brunch spread alongside scrambled eggs, bacon, or fresh fruit. They’re sweet enough for dessert but not so heavy that you can’t enjoy one with your morning coffee.
More Easy Recipes for You to Try at Home
If you love how fast these bake, check out my other air fryer recipes that are ready in minutes.
