Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies are soft, chewy, and packed with rich peanut butter flavor. A quick and easy dessert made right in your air fryer!
These Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies are soft and delicious with the best peanut butter flavor. You don’t even have to turn on your oven! They come together in minutes and cook quickly in the air fryer, making them the perfect dessert for when you want something sweet fast.
With a golden outside and tender, melt-in-your-mouth center, these cookies taste just like the classic version but with less effort and no preheating required. Whether youโre baking for a crowd or just craving something homemade, this simple recipe will be your new go-to treat.
Try more Peanut Butter Desserts and Air fryer cookies.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy. No need to heat up the oven. These cookies bake perfectly in just minutes.
- Soft and chewy texture. Golden on the outside, tender and melt-in-your-mouth inside.
- Simple ingredients. Made with pantry staples you probably already have.
- Perfect small-batch dessert. Ideal for when you want fresh cookies without making a full batch.
- Kid-friendly and fun. This easy cookie recipe is simple enough for kids to help make.
Ingredients
- Creamy Peanut Butter. Provides a smooth, rich texture for tender cookies.
- Egg. Use a large egg to help bind the ingredients and give structure.
- Sugar. Adds sweetness and helps create a slight crisp on the cookie edges.
Get the entire ingredients for 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies at the bottom of the page.
Variations and Additions
- Chocolate Chips: Fold ⅓ cup of chocolate chips into the cookie dough for a classic twist.
- Melted Chocolate: Dip the baked cookies into melted chocolate or drizzle chocolate over the top for an extra treat.
- Hershey Kiss: Press a Hershey Kiss (or Hugs) into the center of each cookie immediately after baking for a festive touch.
Step By Step Instructions
Step 1. Stir the ingredients together in a mixing bowl. The peanut butter sugar should be well combined.
Step 2. Line the bottom of the air fryer basket with parchment paper and preheat to 400 degrees.ย Use a cookie scoop to drop the cookie dough into the air fryer basket. You may need to do this in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.ย
Step 3. Then dip a fork in sugar and flatten the dough balls in the air fryer basket. Create a criss-cross pattern.
Step 4. Let the cookies air fry for 4-5 minutes until they are just lightly golden brown. Let them cool for 3-4 minutes and then move to a wire rack.
Storage
Room Temperature: Store cookies in an airtight container for up to 5 days to keep them soft and chewy.
Refrigerate: Keep in the fridge for up to 1 week, especially if topped with chocolate.
Freeze: Place cookies in a freezer-safe container or bag for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before serving.
FAQs
We prefer to freeze the dough prior to baking. Go ahead and scoop the cookies into balls.
Place on a cookie sheet and flash freeze for 1 to 2 hours. This process will prevent the cookies from sticking once in the freezer.
Transfer the frozen cookie dough balls into a freezer bag or freezer container. Freeze up to 3 months.
You can bake whenever the craving strikes for homemade cookies. You may need to add a couple of minutes to the cooking time if frozen. This method is perfect if you want to enjoy just a couple of cookies or several.
Find even more information and learnย how to freeze cookie dough.
The cookies should be golden brown around the edges. The center should be mostly set.
Air fryer temperatures can vary so keep a close eye on the cookies while cooking. You do not want to overcook the cookies, or they will not be soft and chewy.
It helps the cookies to bake evenly when you make the crosshatch pattern. The edges will be perfectly crispy and the inside soft and chewy.
Not only does it help in the cooking process, but it looks pretty too.
Expert Tips
- Air Fryer Cooking Time: Air fryers vary, so start checking your cookies a few minutes before the recommended time. Remove them when the edges are set but the centers are still slightly soft.
- Allow to Cool: Let the cookies rest in the air fryer or on the pan for a few minutes before transferring to a cooling rack. Moving them too soon can cause them to break apart.
- Peanut Butter: Use creamy peanut butter for the best texture. Brands like Jif or Skippy work well. Avoid natural peanut butter, as it can affect the consistency and baking results.
- Spacing: Leave enough space between cookies in the air fryer basket so they have room to expand without sticking together.
- Flatten Gently: Press the tops lightly with a fork or spatula for even cooking and that classic crisscross pattern.
- Check Doneness Early: Because air fryers cook quickly, start checking your cookies 1โ2 minutes before the minimum suggested time to prevent overcooking.
- Add-Ins: Consider mixing in chocolate chips, mini M&Ms, or chopped nuts for a fun variation.
More Air Fryer Desserts
- Air Fryer Churro Chips
- Air Fryer Sโmores
- Easy Air Fryer Oreos
- Air Fryer Donuts
- Air Fryer Banana Bread
- Air Fryer Apple Chips
I can’t wait for you to try these easy air fryer cookies with simple ingredients. Once you try it, please leave a comment.
Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
- 1 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 Large Egg
Instructions
- Mix the ingredients together in a mixing bowl.
- Add a piece of parchment paper to the bottom of your air fryer basket and preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees F.ย If your air fryer does not have a preheat option, then run the air fryer at 400 degrees F for 5 minutes.
- Use a cookie scoop to drop the cookie dough into the air fryer basket on top of the parchment paper.ย Dip a fork in granulated sugar and gently use the fork to flatten the dough balls in the air fryer basket and create a criss-cross shape into each cookie.
- Then air fry the cookies at 400 degrees F for 4-5 minutes until they are lightly golden brown.
- Let the cookies sit for 3-4 minutes in the air fryer basket and then carefully move them to a cooling rack to cool completely.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
