Crunchy Homemade Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

Warm, gooey cookies fresh from the air fryer peanut butter cookies deliver pure comfort in every bite.

Crisp edges and soft centers make these treats irresistible for sweet lovers everywhere.

No complicated mixing or lengthy baking required for this simple dessert.

Crunchy and rich, these cookies pack serious flavor with minimal effort.

The air fryer works magic, creating perfectly golden rounds in minutes.

You’ll love how quickly these cookies come together with just a few pantry staples.

Chocolate chips or a sprinkle of sea salt can elevate this classic recipe from good to unforgettable.

Air Fryer Tools For Peanut Butter Cookies

• Mixing Bowls: Medium-sized bowls for combining wet and dry ingredients smoothly.
• Whisk: Essential for blending dry ingredients evenly and creating a uniform mixture.
• Spatula or Wooden Spoon: Perfect for stirring and mixing the cookie dough thoroughly.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Accurate measurements ensure delicious, consistent cookies.
• Air Fryer: Key appliance for baking these crispy, golden peanut butter cookies quickly.
• Cookie Scoop or Spoon: Helps create uniform-sized cookies for even cooking.
• Parchment Paper or Air Fryer Liner: Prevents sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.

How To Make Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies

• Cookie Mixture

Grab a mixing bowl and blend peanut butter with sugars until they create a silky, dreamy texture. The mixture should look glossy and feel light when you stir.

• Liquid Ingredients

Crack an egg into the bowl and splash in some vanilla extract. Swirl everything together until the liquid disappears smoothly into the creamy base.

• Dry Component

Whisk flour, baking soda, and a pinch of salt in another container. Slowly fold these powdery ingredients into your wet mixture, creating a soft cookie dough that’s ready to become delicious.

• Cookie Shaping

Roll small balls of dough and place them in your air fryer basket. Press down gently with a fork to create those classic crisscross marks that make peanut butter cookies instantly recognizable.

• Air Fryer Magic

Set your air fryer to 350°F and cook the cookies for about 5-6 minutes. Watch carefully – they’ll turn golden brown and develop crispy edges that crumble perfectly in your mouth.

• Cooling Time

Carefully remove the cookies and let them rest on a cooling rack. They’ll firm up and become wonderfully chewy, perfect for enjoying with a cold glass of milk or sharing with friends.

Helpful Notes For Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies

• Texture Perfection: Ensure your peanut butter is at room temperature for smoother mixing and easier cookie formation. Cold peanut butter can create lumpy, uneven dough that impacts the final cookie texture.
• No-Crumble Trick: Chill the dough for 30 minutes before shaping to help cookies maintain their structure during air frying. This simple step prevents excessive spreading and keeps cookies compact.
• Gluten-Free Swap: Replace all-purpose flour with a certified gluten-free flour blend to make these cookies suitable for those with gluten sensitivities. Almond flour or a 1:1 gluten-free baking mix works wonderfully.
• Protein Power Boost: For a more nutritious version, add a scoop of vanilla or unflavored protein powder to increase protein content without compromising the classic peanut butter cookie taste. Start with 2 tablespoons and adjust as needed.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Use a flax egg (1 tablespoon ground flaxseed mixed with 3 tablespoons water) instead of a regular egg to make the cookies completely dairy-free and vegan-friendly. Let the flax mixture sit for 5 minutes before adding to create the perfect binding effect.

Ways To Serve Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies

• Cozy Cookie Companions: Serve these warm, gooey cookies with a cold glass of milk for the ultimate comfort treat.
• Dessert Platter Perfection: Arrange the cookies on a beautiful ceramic plate, sprinkled with a light dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant touch.
• Ice Cream Sandwich Delight: Sandwich a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream between two cookies for a decadent summer dessert that melts in your mouth.
• Gifting Goodness: Package the cookies in a cute mason jar or decorative tin, tied with a ribbon for a homemade gift that shows you care.

How To Keep Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies

• Quick Refrigeration Method: Store cookies in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 5 days, maintaining their soft texture and preventing moisture loss.
• Smart Freezing Technique: Layer cookies between parchment paper sheets in a freezer-safe container, allowing them to stay fresh for 3 months without compromising taste or quality.
• Room Temperature Storage Hack: Keep cookies in a sealed container at room temperature for 3-4 days, ensuring they remain crisp and delectable with minimal effort.
• Make-Ahead Magic: Prepare cookie dough in advance and refrigerate for 24 hours before baking, which helps develop deeper flavors and creates a more consistent texture when air frying.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Total Time: 18 minutes

Calories: 134 kcal

Servings: 11

All You Need For Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies

• Granulated Sugar, Brown Sugar: Caramelizes edges and provides deep, rich sweetness that transforms ordinary cookies into irresistible treats with subtle molasses undertones.

• Peanut Butter: Creamy base that delivers intense nutty richness and smooth texture, selecting natural or traditional style ensures perfect cookie consistency.
• Egg: Crucial binding agent that helps cookies hold shape and creates soft, tender crumb with golden structure.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor profile, adding sophisticated depth and complementing peanut butter's robust character.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates cookie's fundamental framework, ensuring proper crumbly yet tender bite with balanced tenderness.
• Baking Soda: Helps cookies rise slightly and develop beautiful golden-brown exterior with delicate crackled surface.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies all other ingredient flavors, bringing out subtle nuanced tastes in the cookie.

Crispy Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies Recipe

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4.8 from 36 reviews

• Total Time: 18 minutes
• Yield: 11 1x

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Description

Irresistible air fryer peanut butter cookies combine classic comfort with modern convenience. Crisp edges and chewy centers promise quick delight for cookie enthusiasts seeking effortless baking satisfaction.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• ½ cup (120 g/4.2 oz) creamy peanut butter
• 1 lg egg
• ½ cup (65 g/2.3 oz) all-purpose flour
• ¼ cup (50 g/1.8 oz) granulated sugar
• ¼ cup (50 g/1.8 oz) brown sugar, packed
• ½ tsp vanilla extract
• ¼ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp salt

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Instructions

1. Creaming: Thoroughly blend peanut butter with granulated and brown sugars in a mixing bowl until achieving a smooth, uniform consistency.
2. Wet Ingredients Incorporation: Whisk egg and vanilla extract into the sugar-peanut butter mixture, creating a glossy and well-integrated base.
3. Dry Ingredient Preparation: Sift flour, baking soda, and salt together, eliminating any potential lumps for a uniform texture.
4. Dough Formation: Gently fold dry ingredients into wet mixture using circular motions, carefully avoiding overmixing to maintain a tender cookie structure.
5. Shaping and Marking: Roll dough into uniform 1-inch balls, then press a fork’s tines across each cookie to create the traditional crisscross pattern and slightly flatten.
6. Air Frying Process: Arrange cookies in the air fryer basket without touching, ensuring even cooking and golden-brown edges while maintaining a soft, chewy interior.
7. Cooling and Finishing: Transfer cookies to a wire rack immediately after air frying, allowing them to cool and develop a perfect crisp exterior while maintaining their delicate texture.

Notes

• Prevent Overmixing: Gently fold dry ingredients to maintain a light, tender cookie texture without developing tough gluten strands.
• Consistent Cookie Size: Use a small cookie scoop or tablespoon to create uniform 1-inch balls, ensuring even cooking and consistent baking time.
• Temperature Control: Keep air fryer temperature between 300-320°F to prevent burning while achieving a golden-brown exterior and soft center.
• Cooling Technique: Allow cookies to rest on a wire rack for 5-10 minutes after air frying, which helps them firm up and develop a perfect crisp edge.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 8 minutes
• Category: Desserts, Snacks
• Method: Mixing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 11
• Calories: 134
• Sugar: 7 g
• Sodium: 50 mg
• Fat: 8 g
• Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 14 g
• Fiber: 0.5 g
• Protein: 3.5 g
• Cholesterol: 20 mg