A few years ago, everyone started talking about air fryers. My friends were posting every day about why everyone needs an air fryer, why they had the best air fryer, and what they wanted to make in their air fryer. I finally picked one up and had NO idea where to start- but once I got going with it I realized what all the fuss was about!
If you are getting started with an air fryer and looking for air fryer recipes for beginners- OR if you just really like peanut butter cookies you can make FAST, you need to try this recipe! They taste like classic peanut butter cookies, but are even easier to make- and you can eat them a lot faster, too! They are rich, decadent, and oh so sweet, just like a peanut butter cookie recipe should be.
While I’ve been making lots of foods in my air fryer- including these air fryer avocado fries– I haven’t made a whole lot of desserts yet and can’t wait to try more! {The exception of course is these famous air fryer biscuit donuts!} It’s so easy to make cookies in the air fryer and since my cookie monster drive is HIGH, I appreciate how quickly they’re ready- this might just be my new favorite way to bake cookies!
It’s not hard to make air fryer peanut butter cookies, but if you want them to come out crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle, it takes a little more know-how. Follow along below for the step by step directions but I promise you, it’s super simple!
These cookies come out of the air fryer perfect every time- crispy on the outside and soft and chewy in the middle like good peanut butter cookies should be. All while taking about 20% less time than baking and without having to heat up the oven!
What happens if you put a cookie in an air fryer?
I’m the first to admit that baking can be difficult. Unlike cooking, which has a lot of room for error {and correcting those errors!}, baking is literally science and has much less wiggle room. So I was definitely curious how it would work out putting cookies in the air fryer!
The impact that the air fryer had on this recipe was a good one- 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 recipe. In general, this is what happens to most cookie recipes made in the air fryer- and personally, that’s the perfect cookie if you ask me!
The one downside to using the air fryer is that you’ll need to either use a smaller batch or make it in several batches- the latter of which of course doesn’t cut down on your baking time like using the air fryer is intended to do. But if you’re just making a few cookies- or if you need some NOW for some hungry kiddos- the air fryer is still the way to go. That’s also true if you just love the crispy outside/soft inside combo as much as I do!
Should peanut butter cookie dough be refrigerated before air frying?
This might not be as important as other cookie recipes {I’ll let you know once I’ve tried!} but with these cookies at least, the Peanut Butter Cookie Dough should be refrigerated before baking. The dough needs to be firm enough to not expand too much when baking with an air fryer.
You’ll want to place the cookie dough in the fridge for at least 30 minutes before placing it on top of parchment paper and into your air fryer.
How long will peanut butter cookies made in the air fryer last?
Peanut butter cookies in the air fryer will stay fresh for up to a week when stored in an airtight container. That said, these are DELICIOUS so unless you’re giving them as a gift or something, I don’t see them lasting more than a few minutes anyway.
Can you freeze peanut butter cookies in an air fryer?
These Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies can be frozen for up to a month so you always have delicious cookies when you’re ready for them! Store in a freezer-safe food storage bag or container and to defrost just leave out on the counter or in the fridge for a little while.
Want to freeze the Peanut Butter Cookie Dough to use in the air fryer later? Just place individual cookies on a baking sheet and freeze for 30 minutes before transferring to a freezer bag- then when you’re ready bake in the air fryer! {Allow extra time to bake from frozen, or just allow the cookies to thaw overnight in your refrigerator before enjoying.}
Do I have to use parchment paper for these easy air fryer cookies?
Definitely use parchment paper when baking cookies in your air fryer! Air fryer baskets have holes in the bottom and the cookies could seep through as the baking process starts- which would be MESSY. Foil isn’t a good choice either because it heats the cookies way too fast, leaving them overbaked on the outside and raw on the inside. Parchment paper is the best and only choice for this one!
Step by Step Directions
Print out the recipe at the bottom of this page and come back to these step by step photos to bake along with me! This is exactly how you make Peanut Butter Cookies in the air fryer!
Can the Kids Help?
Kids can ALWAYS help in the kitchen! For this recipe, I’d suggest letting them help with:
- Combining ingredients in a bowl
- Using the cookie scoop
- Setting the time and temp on the air fryer {double check it!}
I’d also suggest that you help a little extra with removing the cookies from the air fryer- the air fryer itself will get hot, as will the cookies!
What Supplies Do You Need to Make Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies?
To make Peanut Butter Cookies in the air fryer, you’ll need:
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Hungry for More?
Want more delicious cookie recipes? Try these:
- Cranberry Pistachio Cookies
- Cake Mix Christmas Cookies
- Nutella Monster Cookies
- Crinkle Coffee Cookies
- Pokeball Cookies
- Hot Cocoa Cookies
- Mint Chocolate M&M’s Cookies
- Red Velvet Cookies
Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
Skip the oven and have homemade peanut butter cookies in 8 minutes. Lightly crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. A sweet and decadently rich peanut butter treat.
Ingredients
- 1 Cup Creamy Peanut Butter
- 3/4 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 1/2 inch cookie scoop, or heaping tablespoon, scoop dough onto parchment paper.
- Use a fork to press the cookie flat- first in one direction and then again from the opposite direction to make a crosshatch pattern on top.
- Line the bottom of the air fryer with parchment paper. Make sure there's not any paper going up the sides or it'll flop down over your cookies and obscure the air from baking them.
- Place as many cookies in your air fryer as you can fit while giving each cookie about a half inch of space. I was able to fit 4-6 cookies in mine depending on the size of the dough ball and the placement.
- Set your air fryer to 370 degrees and bake for 4 minutes. Let rest in air fryer for an additional 4 minutes.
- Repeat until all cookies are baked. Enjoy!
Notes
Do NOT skip chilling the dough in the fridge. The air fryer can cause the cookies to spread but chilling them first helps to prevent that.
Also make sure you give them the full time to rest so they set properly and don't fall apart on the way out of the air fryer.
Hack: If you prep your parchment paper to the size of the air fryer first, you can then just use that for your prep station instead of making a second sheet.
Making more or less cookies {due to spacing/capacity} does not affect the time or temperature for this recipe.
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