You only need three ingredients to make these delicious Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies. A classic cookie recipe, 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 for your family can be.
Want to Save This Recipe?
Enter your email & I'll send it to your inbox. Plus, get great new recipes from me every week!
By submitting this form, you consent to receive emails from Walking on Sunshine Recipes.
The best part about these cookies? 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
- Can you cook cookies in the air fryer?
- Do I have to use parchment paper for these easy air fryer cookies?
- Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Air Frying Instructions
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
- Recipe FAQ's
- How to Store, Freeze and Reheat
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
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.
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 PrintReynolds Kitchens Cookie Baking SheetsClick HERE to PrintDigital Air FryerClick HERE to Print2 Pack - Zilpoo Plastic Food Storage Containers with Lid .Click HERE to PrintCookie Container with Handle and Lid 4 TraysClick HERE to Print
Main Ingredients Needed
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. I think air fryer peanut butter chocolate chip cookies would be delicious!
- 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
This section includes step-by-step photos and instructions to guide you through the recipe. For the complete printable version, scroll down to the recipe card below.
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 parchment to fit the air fryer, then scoop dough onto it with a cookie scoop. Flatten each cookie with a fork in a crosshatch pattern, place the parchment in the air fryer (trimming any excess so it doesn’t fold over), and arrange up to 6 cookies, leaving space for spreading.
Air Frying Instructions
Step 4: Set the air fryer to 370°F and cook the cookies for 4 minutes. Leave them in the air fryer to rest for another 4 minutes, then carefully transfer to a cooling rack. Repeat with the remaining dough.
LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
❤️Tap the heart icon in the lower right corner to add the recipe to your recipe box for easy access anytime.
If you made it, leaving a star rating or quick review is always appreciated and helps other readers too.
Want to save this printed recipe? The Ultimate Meal Planner & Recipe Binder helps you keep recipes organized in one easy place.
Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
- Don’t skip chilling the dough—this step prevents the cookies from spreading too much and turning crumbly in the air fryer.
- Trim any excess parchment so it doesn’t rise up the sides of the air fryer—otherwise, the airflow can catch it and fold it over the cookies while they bake.
- 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.
Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
No, wax paper will melt. You should use parchment paper when baking in an air fryer.
Cookies baked in an air fryer become slightly crispy while having the inside chewier than a traditional oven baked cookie.
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.
How to Store, Freeze and Reheat
Refrigerate: Keep leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Freezer: Unbaked dough can be frozen for up to a month. Shape into a disc, wrap in plastic wrap, then place in a freezer-safe bag labeled with the date. Baked cookies can also be frozen—flash freeze on a baking sheet for 30 minutes, then transfer to a freezer bag.
Thaw and Reheat: Allow frozen cookies to thaw in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
📖 Recipe Card
Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies
Video
Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 large eggd
Method
- Combine all three ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.
- Mix until fully combined.
- Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
- Line the bottom of the air fryer with parchment paper making sure it fits to just the bottom and not too far up the sides.
- Remove the parchment paper and scoop the cookie dough out onto the parchment paper. Add only a few cookies at a time while giving each cookie a half inch space. I was able to do 6 cookies at one time.
- Using a fork, press the cookie flat, first one direction, then again from the opposite direction to make a crosshatch pattern on top.
- Gently lift the parchment paper and place inside the air fryer.
- Set the air fryer to 370°F and cook the cookies for 4 minutes.
- Let the cookies rest in the air fryer for 4 minutes.
- Remove the cookies and place on a cooling rack to finish cooling while you continue with the rest of the batter.
Nutrition
Notes
- Chill the Dough: Helps prevent cookies from spreading too much or turning crumbly.
- Trim Parchment: Cut off excess so it doesn’t fold over the cookies during baking.
- Let Cookies Rest: Allow at least 4 minutes before touching so they set and don’t fall apart.
- Air Fryer Size Matters: Mine fit 4–6 cookies at once, but yours may differ. Just leave space for spreading.
- Batch Size: Whether baking more or fewer cookies, cook time and rest time stay the same.
- Use a Scoop: Dough is sticky—avoid handling with your hands.
- Temperature Setting: If 370°F isn’t an option, select the closest lower setting, not higher.
Eveline Vann says
Look forward to trying the cookies. Do you cook them on air fryer or bake setting?
Lois says
My air fryer only has one setting! At least I think it does.
Donna @ Modern on Monticello says
My kids gave me an Air Fryer for Christmas and I am enjoying trying out so many new recipes. I have made these cookies before in the oven but I am looking forward to trying out the Air Fryer version. Thanks as always for sharing such sweet recipes. #HomeMattersParty
Lois says
Thank you!
Laurie says
So many things you can do with an air fryer! I don't have one, but I keep reading about the wonderful ideas!
Thank you for sharing this at the Sunday Sunshine BH
Laurie
Joanne says
These sound so easy and so delicious! I love that they have so few ingredients too. Pinned.