The Easiest 3-Ingredient Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe
Indulge your sweet tooth with these incredibly delicious peanut butter cookies, made effortlessly in your Air Fryer! With just a handful of simple ingredients and minimal effort, you can whip up a batch of these soft, chewy, and perfectly golden treats in mere minutes. Forget waiting for your oven to preheat or dealing with large batches; the air fryer is your secret weapon for satisfying those sudden cookie cravings with a small, perfectly portioned batch. Get ready to discover your new favorite way to bake!
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
There’s something uniquely comforting about a warm, freshly baked peanut butter cookie, and this Air Fryer recipe takes that comfort to a whole new level of convenience. I absolutely adore the rich, nutty flavor of peanut butter perfectly baked into a cookie that boasts a delightfully soft, yet subtly crispy texture. The magic of using an air fryer for cookies isn’t just about speed; it’s about achieving that ideal chewiness and golden finish without heating up your entire kitchen, making it perfect for year-round baking.
Beyond their irresistible taste, these cookies are a fantastic treat because they are naturally portioned. Whether you’re enjoying a quiet evening alone and just need a little something sweet, or you’re sharing with family and friends, cookies offer that perfect bite-sized indulgence. Of course, on those extra challenging days, a ‘serving’ might just become a little more generous, and that’s perfectly okay! Everyone, from the youngest kids to the oldest adults, finds joy in a good cookie, making them a universally loved dessert.
If you’re already a fan of baking in your air fryer, you’ll be thrilled to add these to your repertoire. You might also enjoy exploring other air fryer cookie delights like our Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies, classic Gingerbread Cookies, and Monster Cookies! The versatility of the air fryer means you can enjoy a wide array of homemade treats with surprising ease and minimal fuss.
Table of Contents
- Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
- Simple Ingredients for Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
- How to Make Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies: Step-by-Step Guide
- Top Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Cookies
- Storage & Freezing Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
- Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies FAQs
- More Irresistible Air Fryer Dessert Recipes
- Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe Card
Cookies are not just a treat; they’re a delightful way to bring smiles to faces, whether you’re sharing them at a gathering or enjoying a quiet moment of indulgence. The beauty of these air fryer peanut butter cookies is that they don’t require a lot of fuss or fancy equipment, making them accessible for even beginner bakers. They’re an excellent choice for a last-minute dessert or when you simply want to enjoy the comforting aroma of fresh baking in your home without a long preparation process. Plus, the portion-controlled nature means it’s easy to enjoy just one (or two!) without overdoing it. So go ahead, treat yourself and your loved ones to these fantastic little delights.
If you want to elevate your air fryer peanut butter cookies into a more decadent dessert, consider serving them with a little something extra. Here are some of our favorite occasional additions:
- Warm the cookie and add a generous scoop of your favorite ice cream for a delightful à la mode experience.
- Drizzle with chocolate syrup and top with whipped cream and sprinkles to transform them into a mini cookie sundae.
- Serve alongside a tall, cold glass of milk for the ultimate classic pairing.
Simple Ingredients for Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
One of the most remarkable aspects of this recipe is its incredible simplicity, requiring only three common ingredients. You likely already have them in your pantry right now! I appreciate knowing exactly what goes into my baked goods, and with this recipe, there are no obscure or complicated items. It truly couldn’t be easier, promising you a delightful dessert in just minutes.
Here’s what you’ll need for these perfectly baked peanut butter cookies:
- Creamy Peanut Butter: The star of the show! We recommend using a well-known brand of creamy peanut butter for consistent results. Natural peanut butter, while healthy, often separates and can lead to a different texture in baked goods, so for these cookies, classic creamy is best for that iconic chew.
- Granulated Sugar: Provides the essential sweetness and helps with the cookie’s structure and golden-brown finish. It also contributes to the slightly crispy edges we all love.
- Large Egg: Acts as a crucial binder, helping to hold the cookies together and contributing to their tender, moist texture. It’s the secret to keeping these simple cookies from crumbling.
How to Make Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies: Step-by-Step Guide
Making these 3-ingredient peanut butter cookies in your air fryer is a breeze. Follow these simple steps for perfect results every time:
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the creamy peanut butter, granulated sugar, and the egg. Mix these ingredients thoroughly until you achieve a smooth, creamy, and well-incorporated dough. Be careful not to overmix, as this can sometimes lead to tougher cookies. Just mix until everything is evenly combined.
Step 2: Line the Air Fryer Basket
To ensure easy cleanup and prevent your delicious cookies from sticking, place a piece of air fryer-safe parchment paper at the bottom of your air fryer basket. This also helps with even cooking by preventing direct contact with the metal basket and makes transferring the cooked cookies much simpler.
Step 3: Scoop and Shape Your Cookies
Using a small cookie scoop (about 1 inch in diameter) or a rounded teaspoon, drop portions of the cookie dough onto the parchment paper. Leave about 1-2 inches of space between each cookie to allow for slight spreading during baking and to ensure proper air circulation. If you wish, you can use the tines of a fork to create the classic crosshatch pattern on top of each cookie. This isn’t just for aesthetics; it helps flatten the dense peanut butter dough slightly, promoting more even cooking.
Step 4: Air Fry to Golden Perfection
Carefully place the loaded air fryer basket into your air fryer. Set the temperature to 400°F (200°C) and cook for 4-7 minutes. The cooking time can vary slightly depending on your specific air fryer model and how crispy you like your cookies. Keep a close eye on them after 4 minutes; you’re looking for lightly golden-brown edges. The centers might still look soft, but they will set as they cool.
Step 5: Cool Before Enjoying
Once cooked, carefully remove the air fryer basket from the unit. Resist the urge to immediately transfer the cookies! Air fryer cookies are often quite soft when hot and can crumble easily. Allow them to cool in the basket for at least 1-2 minutes. This brief cooling period helps them firm up, making them much easier to transfer to a cooling rack without breaking. Once firm enough, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely before serving.
Enjoy your homemade air fryer peanut butter cookies!
Top Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Cookies
Here are some essential tips to ensure your air fryer peanut butter cookies turn out perfectly every time:
- No Preheating Needed: One of the great advantages of baking cookies in the air fryer is that you typically don’t need to preheat it. These cookies cook beautifully starting from a cold air fryer, saving you time and energy, and getting you to dessert faster!
- Monitor Closely: Air fryers can vary significantly in their cooking power and efficiency. Always check your cookies a minute or two before the minimum suggested cooking time (around 4 minutes). You want them to have lightly golden-brown edges; overcooking can make them dry and crumbly.
- Cool in the Basket is Key: This is a crucial step! As mentioned, air-fried cookies are very delicate when hot. Letting them rest in the air fryer basket for at least 1-2 minutes allows them to set and firm up enough to be safely transferred to a cooling rack without falling apart. Patience here pays off immensely.
- Parchment Paper is Your Friend: Always use air fryer-safe parchment paper. It’s not just for preventing sticking and making cleanup a breeze; it also helps protect the non-stick coating of your air fryer basket and ensures even heat distribution to the bottom of the cookies, preventing scorching.
- Don’t Crowd the Basket: For best results, cook cookies in a single layer, ensuring there’s enough space between them for air to circulate freely. This promotes even cooking and browning. Depending on the size of your air fryer, you might need to cook them in multiple batches to avoid overcrowding.
Storage & Freezing Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
Proper storage will keep your delicious air fryer peanut butter cookies fresh and tasty for longer, allowing you to enjoy them days after baking.
- Room Temperature: Leftover peanut butter cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-5 days. Ensure they are completely cooled before storing to prevent condensation from forming inside the container, which can make them soggy.
- Freezing: These cookies freeze beautifully! Once completely cooled, you can stack them in an airtight, freezer-safe container or a heavy-duty freezer bag, separated by parchment paper if desired to prevent sticking. They will keep well for up to a month. To enjoy them later, simply allow them to thaw at room temperature. For a fresh-from-the-oven experience, you can even warm them slightly in the air fryer for a few minutes (at a lower temperature, around 300°F/150°C) after thawing.
Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies FAQs
The key is to look for lightly golden-brown edges. The centers might still appear slightly soft, but they will firm up as they cool. Avoid overcooking, as this can make your cookies dry and crumbly, and they might even fall apart more easily when handled. A slight golden hue is perfect!
While not strictly necessary, creating fork marks (the classic crosshatch pattern) on peanut butter cookies is a traditional practice for a good reason. Peanut butter dough is denser than many other cookie doughs. Pressing it with a fork helps to flatten the dough slightly, ensuring that the cookies cook more evenly throughout. This prevents them from remaining raw in the center while the edges overcook. It’s also a signature aesthetic that many people associate with homemade peanut butter cookies!
You are welcome to use your preferred brand of peanut butter, but for optimal results and consistent texture in this recipe, I highly recommend using a standard creamy peanut butter from a well-known brand. Natural peanut butter, which often separates and requires stirring, tends to have a different consistency and fat content that can affect the cookie’s texture, sometimes making them drier or more crumbly. For that classic, soft, and chewy peanut butter cookie, stick with creamy, processed peanut butter.
Once your cookies are baked to perfection, it’s essential to let them cool in the air fryer basket for at least 1 to 2 minutes. This short cooling period allows them to firm up slightly. When cookies are fresh out of the air fryer, they are very soft and delicate due to the rapid cooking process. Attempting to remove them too soon will almost certainly cause them to crumble or break apart. After this initial cooling, you can carefully transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.
Absolutely! If you’re a fan of the irresistible peanut butter and chocolate combination, feel free to fold in about ½ cup of your favorite chocolate chips (mini or regular-sized work well) into the dough during Step 1. This will add another delightful layer of flavor and texture to your air fryer peanut butter cookies, making them even more indulgent.
I genuinely hope you and your family enjoy these quick and easy air fryer peanut butter cookies as much as we do. Their simplicity, irresistible flavor, and minimal cleanup make them a perfect treat for any occasion, proving that delicious homemade desserts don’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. Happy air frying!
We absolutely love baking desserts in the air fryer because it’s so efficient and delivers fantastic results. Check out some of our other favorite dessert recipes below to keep your sweet tooth satisfied!
MORE AIR FRYER DESSERT RECIPES:
Desserts
Air Fryer Cake Mix Cookies
Desserts
Air Fryer Sugar Cookies
Desserts
Air Fryer Cheesecake Recipe
Desserts
Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Pound Cake
Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
Rate
Equipment
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Air Fryer
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Mixing Bowl
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Cookie Scoop (optional)
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter, creamy
- 1 cup granulated white sugar
- 1 egg, large
Instructions
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In a medium-sized mixing bowl, combine the creamy peanut butter, large egg, and granulated sugar. Mix until well combined and smooth, taking care not to overmix the dough.
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Line the bottom of your air fryer basket with a piece of air fryer-safe parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
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Using a 1-inch cookie scoop or a rounded teaspoon, drop spoonfuls of cookie dough onto the parchment paper, ensuring there is enough space between them for air circulation. If desired, gently press the tines of a fork onto the top of each cookie to create the classic crosshatch pattern.
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Carefully place the basket into your air fryer. Cook at 400°F (200°C) for 4-7 minutes, or until the edges are lightly golden brown. Keep a close eye on them as cooking times can vary by air fryer model.
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Remove the air fryer basket from the unit. Allow the cookies to cool in the basket for 1-2 minutes to firm up before carefully transferring them to a wire cooling rack to cool completely.
Video
Notes
- It’s crucial to let the cookies cool in the air fryer basket for a minute or two before attempting to move them to a cooling rack. This prevents them from crumbling as they are very soft when hot.
- Store cooled peanut butter cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3-5 days for maximum freshness and enjoyment.
- These cookies are fantastic served warm, perhaps with a cold glass of milk, a scoop of vanilla ice cream, or even a drizzle of chocolate syrup for an extra decadent treat.
- If you prepare the dough in advance, you can refrigerate any leftover dough in an airtight container for up to 3 days, ready to be air-fried fresh whenever a craving hits.
- For a delightful chocolatey twist, feel free to fold in about ½ cup of mini chocolate chips into the dough in Step 1.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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