Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies

You only need three ingredients to make these delicious Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies. A classic peanut butter cookie, but easier! Rich, decadent, and oh so sweet.

The perfect air fryer dessert to satisfy any sweet tooth craving. Let me show you how easy it is to bake cookies using your air fryer.

The best part? They taste just like traditional peanut butter cookies without all of the added ingredients!

There was a time in my early married life where we lived in one room while my husband attended Officer Basic Training Camp in Ft. Benning, Georgia. It was basically a hotel room with no kitchenette.

I had a tiny "dorm" style rented refrigerator, borrowed microwave and electric frying pan to do all our cooking for four months. An air fryer would have been AMAZING!

Looking for more Easy Cookie Recipes? Try my Cake Mix Peanut Butter Cookies, Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies and Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies...yummy!

Table of Contents

Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies
Can you cook cookies in the air fryer?
Do I have to use parchment paper for these easy air fryer cookies?
🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools
📋Ingredients
Substitutions and Variations
Step-by-Step Instructions
Baking Instructions
Before You Begin!
👩‍🍳Recipe Notes
🍶 Storage Tips
➡️ Top Recipe Tip
📖 Recipe Card
💬 Comments

Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookies

You could easily add chocolate chips to the dough for a different peanut butter flavored cookie. Why not bake air fryer chocolate chip cookies?

Use your favorite recipe and follow the baking directions listed below for another easy recipe. How about adding oatmeal and baking Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies? Those sound like something I would love!

Can you cook cookies in the air fryer?

Yes, and you can see that these air fryer cookies came out perfect. They're crispy on the outside and chewy in the middle! This recipe is very similar to my Sugar Free/Flour Free Peanut Butter Cookies which are baked in a traditional oven.

You won't be able to bake the cookies in a large batch like you would in an oven, but you will save on cooking time and heating an oven; which is better in the long run.

Thanks to the high fan speed and concentrated heat of the air fryer, you can bake cookies that are crispy on the outside and perfectly gooey on the inside like I did with these Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies.

This is the air fryer that I have and love. It's light enough to keep in a pantry closet so I don't have to keep it out on the counter taking up space.

Hamilton Beach Air Fryer Oven 3.7 Quarts, Digital with 6 Presets, Easy to Clean Nonstick BasketClick HERE to Print

Do I have to use parchment paper for these easy air fryer cookies?

When baking peanut butter cookies in an air fryer or any cookie, you need to use parchment paper or the cookie dough will fall through the breathing holes in the bottom of the air fryer; which will cause a huge mess.

You shouldn't use aluminum foil either. That will only cause the cookies to bake unevenly. Parchment paper is the best choice.

🛒Helpful Kitchen Tools

Cookie Scoop SetClick HERE to Print Reynolds Kitchens Cookie Baking SheetsClick HERE to Print Digital Air FryerClick HERE to Print 2 Pack - Zilpoo Plastic Food Storage Containers with Lid .Click HERE to Print Cookie Container with Handle and Lid 4 TraysClick HERE to Print

📋Ingredients

Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!

Substitutions and Variations

Mini Chocolate Chips - add mini chocolate chips to the batter.
Crushed Peanuts - press a few crushed peanuts to the tops of the cookies before baking.
Melted Chocolate - dip half the cookies in melted chocolate once they've cooled.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1: Combine all three ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.
Step 2: Mix the ingredients until they are fully combined. Chill the dough in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.

Step 3: Shape a piece of parchment paper to the bottom of the air fryer, once you are sure it fits and isn't too big or too little, remove it and add the cookie dough to the paper using a cookie scoop.
Step 4: Using a fork, press the cookie flat, first one direction, then again from the opposite direction to make a crosshatch pattern on top.
Step 5: Gently lift the parchment paper and add it to the bottom of the air fryer being careful NOT to have extra paper running up the sides of the air fryer. If you do, the excess paper will get "caught" by the air flow and fold over the cookies.
For my air fryer, I was able to fit 6 cookies at one time.

Baking Instructions

Set the air fryer to 370°F.
Cook the cookies for four minutes.
Allow them to rest in the air fryer for an additional four minutes.
Gently remove the cookies to cool completely on a cookie cooling rack.
Repeat until you have used up all the batter.

Before You Begin!

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👩‍🍳Recipe Notes

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.
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 good to go.
Putting more or less 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 and 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 step under it as opposed to over it.

Can wax paper go in the air fryer?

No, wax paper will melt. You should use parchment paper when baking in an air fryer.

What happens if you put a cookie in an air fryer?

Cookies baked in an air fryer become slightly crispy while having the inside chewier than a traditional oven baked cookie.

Should peanut butter cookie dough be refrigerated before air frying?

You should refrigerate peanut butter cookie dough before baking in an air fryer. That way you'll be sure the dough is firm enough that it will not expand or spread too much while baking. Chill the dough at least 30 minutes.

🍶 Storage Tips

Peanut butter cookie dough can be frozen for up to a month. Shape the dough into a round disc, wrap in plastic wrap and then store in a freezer safe plastic bag. Don't forget to label the cookie dough.
Store any leftover cookies in an airtight container for up to 7 to 10 days.
If you would like to freeze baked cookies, place them on a baking sheet to flash freeze for 30 minutes before transferring to a freezer bag.
To defrost, simply allow the cookies to thaw overnight in your refrigerator before enjoying.

➡️ Top Recipe Tip

It’s important that you do not skip the chilling step.
The air fryer will make the cookies spread and be crumbly more than the oven.
The chilling step keeps them from spreading too much and keeps them from being a crumbly mess when leaving the air fryer.

Promo for air fryer recipes digital cookbook 2024.

📖 Recipe Card

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