Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies

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.

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!

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 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

Step-by-Step Instructions

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.

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.

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

Lois

Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies

4.36 from 14 votes

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.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 14 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 minutes mins

Chill Time 30 minutes mins

Total Time 48 minutes mins

Servings: 18 cookies

Course: Desserts

Cuisine: American

Calories: 117

Ingredients Equipment Method Nutrition Video Notes

Ingredients

  

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• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• ¾ cup sugar
• 1 large eggd

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Equipment

• Stainless Steel Wire Cooling Rack 
•  Parchment Paper Baking Sheets
• Stainless Steel Cookie Scoops, Set of 3

Video

Method

 

1. Combine all three ingredients in a medium mixing bowl.
2. Mix until fully combined.
3. Chill in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. Using a fork, press the cookie flat, first one direction, then again from the opposite direction to make a crosshatch pattern on top.
7. Gently lift the parchment paper and place inside the air fryer.
8. Set the air fryer to 370°F and cook the cookies for 4 minutes.
9. Let the cookies rest in the air fryer for 4 minutes.
10. Remove the cookies and place on a cooling rack to finish cooling while you continue with the rest of the batter.

Nutrition

Serving: 1ServingCalories: 117kcalCarbohydrates: 12gProtein: 3gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gSodium: 68mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9g

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.

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