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Last updated on September 15th, 2022 at 11:20 pm
Skip the oven, with these amazing homemade peanut butter cookies. They’re easy to make in the air fryer and come out lightly crispy on the outside but soft on the inside. You must try this classic peanut butter treat made better!
If you’re looking for an easy air fryer dessert recipe, look no further. These Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies are the best! They’re the classic peanut butter cookies you love, only easier. They’re amazingly rich, decadent, and oh so sweet–just the thing to satisfy that peanut butter craving.
These cookies turned out so well that I can’t wait to experiment with some other cookie recipes in the air fryer. In fact, I think this will officially be my new favorite way to make cookies.
It’s not difficult to make peanut butter cookies in the air fryer, but you want them to come out just right–a little crispy on the outside and chewy in the center. That took a little experimenting, but with this recipe, we’ve got it down.
I also love that cookies “bake” up fast in the air fyer, about 20% faster, and they’ve come out perfect every time.
The best part? They taste just like traditional peanut butter cookies with a simple three-ingredient recipe and fast cooking time!
Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe & Tips
Equipment needed:
- Air Fryer
- Parchment Paper
- Fork
Why make cookies in the air fryer?
You’ll notice that the outside of these air fryer peanut butter cookies will become slightly crispy, while leaving the inside chewier than a traditional oven-baked peanut butter cookie. In general, this is what happens to most cookie recipes made in the air fryer.
You might not be able to cook them in bigger batches like you can in the oven, but you save so much cooking time, oven heating time, etc. that it’s still faster. It’s also nice not to have to heat up the oven when the weather’s warm too.
Should peanut butter cookie dough be refrigerated before air frying?
Yes, peanut butter cookie dough should be refrigerated before baking. Place it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes before putting it on the parchment paper and into your air fryer.
How long will these peanut butter cookies keep?
Peanut butter cookies in the air fryer will stay fresh for up to a week when stored in an airtight container. These cookies can also be frozen, but just as with most desserts, these yummy cookies are the best warm from the oven.
Do I have to use parchment paper when making these cookies?
Yes. Because of the holes in the bottom of your air fryer insert, the cookie dough could seep through. No one wants to clean up that mess! I don’t suggest substituting aluminum foil as it will cause the cookies to bake too quickly and unevenly. Parchment paper is your best, and really only, choice.
Can you freeze air fryer peanut butter cookies or freeze the dough?
Yes! Our peanut butter cookie dough can be frozen for up to a month. Simply place individual cookies on a baking sheet, and then freeze for 30 minutes before transferring to a Ziploc freezer bag.
You can also freeze any leftover peanut butter cookies to serve later. To defrost, simply allow the cookies to thaw overnight in your refrigerator.
If you’re looking for an easier and faster way to make delicious peanut butter cookies, an air fryer is the way to go!
You only need three ingredients to make these easy air fryer cookies!
Start by combining all three ingredients in a medium-sized mixing bowl until well-combined.
Be suure to chill the cookie dough for 30 minutes.
Scoop the chilled dough onto parchment paper.
After using a fork to make a crosshatch pattern on the cookie dough balls, place them (on parchment paper) into your air fryer. Cook for four minutes, and let them rest for four minutes.
Enjoy these easy air fryer cookies!
Recipe Tips:
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It’s important that you do not skip the chilling step. The air fryer will make the cookies spread and crumble. The chilling step keeps them from spreading too much and keeps them from being a crumbly mess when leaving the air fryer.
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It’s also very important to not touch the cookies until they’ve set for a minimum of 4 minutes. This allows them to set up and not fall apart when removed from the air fryer.
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I like to shape the parchment paper to the bottom of my air fryer, then pull it out and prepare my cookies on it. This way, I can just set the parchment paper back inside without having to set one cookie at a time inside the air fryer.
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Each air fryer is a different shape. Mine allowed for 4-6 cookies at a time, but your shape might not allow that many, and it may allow for more. Just be sure to give enough space for the cookies to spread a bit, and you’ll be fine.
-
Putting in more or fewer cookies doesn’t require you to adjust the cook time or rest time.
-
This cookie dough is very sticky, so it’s best to not get your hands involved in the scooping process. Stick to a scoop or spoon.
-
Each air fryer has various cooking settings. If your air fryer doesn’t have a 370 degree setting, choose the closest temperature under 370 it as opposed to over it.
Easy Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Parchment Paper
- Fork
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
- ¾ Cup Sugar
- 1 Large Egg
Instructions
- Combine all three ingredients in a medium mixing bowl. Mix until fully combined.
- Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.
- Using a 1 ½-inch cookie scoop, or heaping tablespoon, scoop the dough onto parchment paper.
- Using a fork, press the cookie flat, first one direction, then again from the opposite direction to make a crosshatch pattern on top.
- Line the bottom of your air fryer with parchment paper. Be sure to not have extra parchment paper running up the side of the air fryer, or it will get caught by the air and fold over the cookies.
- Place as many cookies in your air fryer as will fit, while giving each cookie a half-inch space. I was able to do about 4-6 at a time.
- Set your air fryer to 370 degrees, and cook the cookies for 4 minutes before letting them rest in the air fryer for 4 minutes.
- Repeat until you’ve used up your batter. Enjoy!
Notes
- It’s important that you do not skip the chilling step. The air fryer will make the cookies spread and crumble. The chilling step keeps them from spreading too much and keeps them from being a crumbly mess when leaving the air fryer.
- It’s also very important to not touch the cookies until they’ve set for a minimum of 4 minutes. This allows them to set up and not fall apart when removed from the air fryer.
- I like to shape the parchment paper to the bottom of my air fryer, then pull it out and prepare my cookies on it. This way, I can just set the parchment paper back inside without having to set one cookie at a time inside the air fryer.
- Each air fryer is a different shape. Mine allowed for 4-6 cookies at a time, but your shape might not allow that many, and it may allow for more. Just be sure to give enough space for the cookies to spread a bit, and you’ll be fine.
- Putting in more or fewer cookies doesn’t require you to adjust the cook time or rest time.
- This cookie dough is very sticky, so it’s best to not get your hands involved in the scooping process. Stick to a scoop or spoon.
- Each air fryer has various cooking settings. If your air fryer doesn’t have a 370 degree setting, choose the closest temperature under 370 it as opposed to over it.
Try these air fryer recipes too —
Toaster Strudel Air Fryer Recipe
Air Fryer Baked Apples With Pecan Filling
Air Fryer Biscuits from Scratch
K
These look so good! What a great, easy recipe!
Lauryn R
I love my air fryer but I have definitely never made cookies in it before! I can’t believe how quick and easy it is, I can’t wait to try now! Thank you so much for sharing.