Air Fryer Peanut Butter Blossoms: The Ultimate Guide to Easy, Chewy Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Prepare to fall in love with a classic cookie, reimagined for modern convenience! These Air Fryer Peanut Butter Blossoms are the quintessential blend of creamy peanut butter and rich chocolate, boasting a delightful soft and chewy interior perfectly complemented by a sparkling sugar coating. Baking these beloved treats in your air fryer means you can enjoy fresh-baked goodness with minimal effort and impressive speed, making them an instant family favorite and a perfect addition to any dessert spread, especially during the festive holiday season.
This timeless cookie recipe offers that perfect harmony of flavors and textures, making it an ideal choice for any occasion. Whether you’re whipping up a batch for a holiday party, a casual get-together, or simply to satisfy a sweet craving, these cookies are incredibly easy to make and will be ready to enjoy in just minutes thanks to the magic of the air fryer. The soft, sweet cookie base cradles a rich chocolate kiss, creating a delightful surprise in every bite.
Why Bake Peanut Butter Blossoms in Your Air Fryer?
Using an air fryer for baking cookies might sound unconventional, but it’s a fantastic method that offers several advantages over a traditional oven. Air fryers circulate hot air rapidly, which cooks food faster and often more evenly, resulting in beautifully golden and perfectly cooked cookies every time. This means less preheating time, a cooler kitchen, and quick batches of warm cookies whenever the craving strikes.
For many, including myself, the classic peanut butter blossom cookie brings a wave of nostalgia. I have fond memories of baking these very cookies with my grandmother, who meticulously prepared beautiful annual holiday cookie platters for her special parties. These cookies, with their charming chocolate kiss center, were always a centerpiece. Recreating that tradition with the efficiency of an air fryer means more time for making new memories and less time waiting by the oven.
These delightful cookies are incredibly versatile and perfect for various occasions. They are a wonderful addition to any bake sale, a delicious and easy dessert for weeknight treats, or an impressive contribution to a cookie gift exchange with friends and family. Pair them with other air fryer favorites like our Air Fryer Christmas Brownie Mix Cookies Recipe and Air Fryer Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies for an unbeatable holiday cookie assortment.
Gather Your Ingredients for Air Fryer Peanut Butter Blossoms
Making these classic peanut butter cookies requires a few simple, common pantry staples. The quality and temperature of your ingredients can make a big difference in the final outcome, so pay close attention to the details for the best chewy texture and rich flavor.
- All-Purpose Flour: The structural backbone of our cookie, ensuring a consistent texture.
- Baking Powder: A leavening agent that helps the cookies rise slightly, contributing to their soft and airy internal structure.
- Salt: Essential for balancing the sweetness and enhancing the rich, nutty flavor of the peanut butter.
- Unsalted Butter (Room Temperature): Crucial for achieving a smooth, creamy dough. Using unsalted butter gives you control over the overall saltiness of the cookie. Remember, room temperature butter creams better, leading to a more tender cookie.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: For that classic peanut butter blossom taste and texture, opt for a creamy, stabilized peanut butter like Jif or Peter Pan Peanut Butter. Natural peanut butter (the kind that separates) can be used, but you may need to adjust the flour slightly to compensate for its runnier consistency.
- Granulated Sugar: Used in the dough for sweetness and for rolling the cookie balls, which creates that delightful sparkly, slightly crisp exterior.
- Large Egg: Acts as a binder, adding moisture and richness, which contributes to the cookies’ chewy texture.
- Milk Chocolate Kisses: The signature topping! Hershey’s Kisses are traditional, but feel free to experiment with other small, meltable chocolate candies for variety.
- White Sugar (for coating): Provides the iconic shimmering finish and an extra layer of sweetness and texture.
Optional Candy Toppings & Creative Ideas: Don’t feel limited to just milk chocolate kisses! These cookies are fantastic canvases for creativity. Consider using mini peanut butter cups, unwrapped mini marshmallows, small candy-coated chocolates (like M&M’s), or even seasonal candies such as candy corn or pumpkin-shaped chocolates for holiday themes. For the sugar coating, you can also roll the dough balls in colored granulated sugar, finely chopped nuts, or even a mix of cinnamon and sugar for a different flavor profile.
How to Make Air Fryer Peanut Butter Blossoms: A Simple Guide
Get ready to create perfectly baked, irresistible Air Fryer Peanut Butter Blossoms with these easy-to-follow steps. The air fryer streamlines the process, ensuring a delicious result every time.
Follow this simple guide to bake classic peanut butter blossoms in your air fryer, achieving soft, chewy cookies with a melted chocolate kiss on top in record time!
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Combine Dry Ingredients
In a medium-sized bowl, thoroughly whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt until well combined. This ensures even distribution of the leavening and seasoning throughout the cookies. Set this bowl aside for later.
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Cream Wet Ingredients
In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed to combine the softened unsalted butter, creamy peanut butter, and 1 cup of granulated sugar. Beat these ingredients together until the mixture is light, airy, and beautifully creamy. This step creates the foundation for a tender cookie.
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Add the Egg
Crack the large egg into the creamed mixture. Continue mixing with the electric mixer until the egg is fully incorporated into the dough, ensuring a smooth and cohesive consistency.
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Form Dough and Chill
Slowly incorporate the reserved flour mixture into the wet ingredients, mixing on medium speed until a soft, pliable dough forms. Be careful not to overmix, as this can make cookies tough. Once the dough is ready, cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill it in your refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. This chilling step is vital for preventing the cookies from spreading too much during baking and helps them hold their shape and develop a wonderfully chewy texture.
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Roll and Coat Dough Balls
After the dough has chilled sufficiently, use a portion scoop or a medium cookie scoop to create uniform 1-inch sized dough balls. Uniformity is key for even cooking. Next, roll each dough ball generously in white sugar, ensuring it’s fully coated on all sides. This sugar coating will give the blossoms their signature sparkle and a pleasant slight crunch after baking.
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Air Fry the Cookies in Batches
Preheat your air fryer to 380°F (195°C). Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper, ensuring it’s specifically sized for air fryers or cut to fit without blocking air circulation. Place the sugar-coated dough balls in a single layer in the basket, making sure to leave ample space between each cookie for even cooking. Do not overcrowd the basket; you’ll likely need to work in batches depending on the size of your air fryer.
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Add Chocolate Kisses Immediately
Air fry the cookies at 380°F (195°C) for 5-7 minutes, or until they are lightly golden brown around the edges and set. Air fryer cooking times can vary, so keep a close eye on them. As soon as they are finished cooking and still warm, quickly press a milk chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie. The residual heat from the cookie will slightly melt the chocolate, ensuring it adheres perfectly and creates that signature “blossom” look.
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Cool Completely
Allow the cookies to cool in the air fryer basket for an additional 1-2 minutes before gently transferring them. This helps them set and prevents breakage. Once slightly cooled, carefully move the baked cookies to a wire rack to cool completely. Cooling thoroughly ensures the chocolate sets properly and the cookies achieve their optimal chewy texture.
Pro Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Peanut Butter Blossoms
To ensure your Air Fryer Peanut Butter Blossoms turn out flawlessly every time, keep these expert tips in mind:
- Understand Your Air Fryer: Not all air fryers are created equal. Models vary in size, wattage, and heating efficiency. For example, I achieve great results with my Cosori 5.8 qt. air fryer. It’s always wise to monitor your first batch closely and be prepared to adjust the cooking time by a minute or two, whether adding or subtracting, until you learn your specific appliance’s nuances.
- The Importance of Room Temperature Butter: This is a non-negotiable step for achieving that signature soft, chewy cookie texture. Cold butter won’t cream properly with the peanut butter and sugar, leading to a denser, less incorporated dough. Plan ahead and let your butter sit out for at least 30-60 minutes before baking.
- Don’t Skip Chilling the Dough: Chilling the dough is crucial. It helps prevent the cookies from spreading excessively in the warm air fryer, maintaining their shape and contributing significantly to their chewy texture. A minimum of 30 minutes in the refrigerator is recommended.
- Parchment Paper for Easy Cleanup: Lining your air fryer basket with parchment paper is a game-changer. It prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze. Just ensure the parchment paper is specifically designed for air fryers or cut it so that it doesn’t block the air circulation, which is vital for even cooking.
- Avoid Overcrowding the Basket: For consistent results, always cook cookies in a single layer and leave a little space between each one. Overcrowding inhibits the hot air circulation, leading to unevenly baked cookies. Work in small batches if necessary, and resist the urge to cram more cookies in.
- Press Kisses While Warm: The timing for adding the chocolate kisses is critical. They need the residual heat from the freshly baked cookies to soften and adhere properly. If you wait too long, the cookies will cool, and the chocolate won’t melt as effectively, making it harder for the kisses to stay in place.
- Cool Completely on a Wire Rack: Although incredibly tempting to devour them straight out of the air fryer, allowing the cookies to cool completely on a wire rack is essential. This step allows them to fully set, preventing breakage and ensuring the chocolate firm up for perfect presentation and enjoyment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Fryer Peanut Butter Blossoms
The classic chocolate kiss is wonderful, but these cookies are a fantastic canvas for creativity! You can customize them in many ways:
- Chocolate Drizzles: Once the cookies are completely cooled, drizzle them with melted milk, dark, or white chocolate for an elegant touch.
- Colored Sugars and Sprinkles: Before air frying, roll the dough balls in colored granulated sugar or festive sprinkles to match any holiday or event. Think red and green for Christmas, pastels for Easter, or school colors for a graduation party.
- Alternative Candies: Instead of Kisses, press in mini peanut butter cups, unwrapped Rolo candies (for a caramel surprise!), mini M&M’s, or even seasonal candy corns or small pumpkin candies for fall.
- Icing Decorations: For a more intricate design, use colored icing to draw small shapes like pumpkins, snowmen, or Christmas trees directly onto the center of the cooled cookies.
Proper storage is key to keeping your peanut butter blossoms fresh and delicious. Always allow the cookies to cool completely before storing them.
- Room Temperature: If you plan to enjoy them within 3-5 days, store them in an airtight container or a resealable storage bag at room temperature. This will keep them soft and chewy.
- Refrigeration: While not typically necessary for short-term storage, if your kitchen is very warm or you prefer a firmer cookie, you can refrigerate them in an airtight container for up to a week.
- Freezing: These cookies freeze beautifully for longer storage! To prevent freezer burn and maintain their texture, wrap individual cookies tightly in wax paper or plastic wrap. Then, place the wrapped cookies in an airtight freezer-safe storage container or a heavy-duty freezer bag. They can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw them at room temperature for an hour or two, or gently warm them in the microwave for a fresh-baked taste.
For those with peanut allergies, you absolutely don’t have to miss out on “blossom” style cookies! Several excellent peanut butter alternatives can be used successfully in this recipe:
- Almond Butter: Offers a slightly different, mild nutty flavor.
- Cashew Butter: Known for its creamy texture and subtle sweetness.
- Sunflower Seed Butter (SunButter): A popular and safe choice for many nut allergies, providing a distinct, earthy flavor.
More Air Fryer Cookie Recipes to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth!
If you’ve discovered the joy and efficiency of baking cookies in your air fryer with these delightful Peanut Butter Blossoms, you’re in for a treat! The air fryer is an incredibly versatile appliance that consistently turns out perfectly baked cookies with minimal fuss. Don’t stop here; expand your repertoire of air-fried sweet treats with these other fantastic cookie recipes:
- Air Fryer Gingersnap Cookies: Experience the perfect balance of spicy, sweet, and chewy in a fraction of the time.
- Air Fryer Thumbprint Cookies: Customize these soft, buttery cookies with your favorite jams, jellies, or chocolate fillings.
- Air Fryer Oatmeal Raisin Cookies: A comforting classic, these cookies are perfectly chewy and packed with wholesome goodness.
- Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies: The ultimate crowd-pleaser, now made even easier and quicker in your air fryer.
- Air Fryer Brownie Mix Cookies: For a quick and decadent treat, these cookies utilize a simple boxed brownie mix for a rich, fudgy result.
Embrace the simplicity and delicious outcomes of air fryer baking – you might just find it’s your new favorite way to make cookies!
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Air Fryer Peanut Butter Blossoms
Equipment
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1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 bag Chocolate Kisses
Coating
- 1/2 cup sugar
Instructions
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In a medium sized bowl, combine the dry ingredients flour, baking powder, and salt. Set bowl aside.
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In a large mixing bowl, use an electric mixer on medium speed and combine the butter, peanut butter, and 1 cup of sugar. Beat together until creamy.
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Add the egg to the dough and continue mixing until well combined into the dough.
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Slowly add the flour mixture to the bowl and continue mixing on medium speed until a soft dough forms. Cover bowl of dough and allow to chill for 30 minutes in your refrigerator.
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Once dough has chilled, use a portion scoop or a medium cookie scoop and scoop dough into ball shapes (approximately 1-inch sized balls).
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Roll each ball of dough in sugar, fully coating the outside, then place coated dough balls in a single layer into the basket of your air fryer, lined with parchment paper.
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Air fry at 380 degrees F for 5-7 minutes until they begin to turn golden brown. When finished cooking quickly press a chocolate kiss into the center of each cookie before they fully cool.
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Let cookies continue to cool for an additional 1-2 minutes before removing them from the air fryer. Place baked cookies on a wire rack so cookies cool completely.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.