Ice cream maker? Who needs an ice cream maker when you make these awesome air-fried peanut butter cookies? This Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookie is an easy recipe that is a high in flavor cookie—each bite is packed with flavor! They take only three ingredients — when you need an easy dessert (or afternoon treat), they are your go-to. And the air fryer means they will cook evenly, with a slightly crispy exterior and a chewy interior. And trust me, you’re going to be so glad with how these turn out!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Fast and Simple: With just three ingredients, this recipe is ideal for those sudden sweet cravings.
Best for Small Batches: The air fryer can bake just a handful of cookies at a time, which is great if you live in a smaller household or prefer walking the line between fresh and sugary.
Each cookie delivers the rich, creamy delight of peanut butter, so these babies are perfect for any peanut butter lover.
No Oven Required: Perfect for when those warm days hit and you’d rather not heat the whole kitchen or when you’re pressed for time.

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Key Ingredients

1 cup creamy peanut butter: Any brand will do for taste (makes 8). Natural peanut butter is also acceptable, though the texture may be slightly different.
¾ cup granulated sugar: This gives them just the right level of sweetness, as well as helping the cookies form a slightly crusty skin.
1 large egg: The egg is the glue that holds everything together and keeps the cookies from crumbling apart.

Ingredient Tips

Peanut Butter: Creamy peanut butter produces a smoother, more uniform texture. With natural peanut butter, be sure to stir it well before incorporating it — you don’t want any oil separation here hiyoo!
Sugar Varieties: You may replace granulated sugar with brown sugar for a richer, caramel flavor. If you’d like to lighten these cookies up a bit, you can use a sugar substitute that measures like sugar.
Pinch of Salt: If you’re using unsalted peanut butter, add a pinch of salt to the dough to balance the sweetness and enhance the flavor as a whole.

Instructions

Mix: In a large mixing bowl, mix together the peanut butter, sugar, and egg until smooth and creamy. This should take around 2-3 minutes of the time during which you will be stirring with the wooden spoon or a spatula.
Shape the Cookies: Using a spoon, scoop about 1 tablespoon of the dough, and roll into a ball. Repeat with remaining dough. You should wind up with approximately 12-15 balls.
Preheat the Air Fryer: Beast the air fryer basket with parchment paper or use a silicon liner to avoid sticking. Drop a few balls of cookie dough on the liner, spacing them at least 1 inch apart. Very lightly press down on each ball to form a crisscrossed pattern with fork tines.
Preheat the air fryer to your air fryer’s 300°F setting, air fry the cookies for 7-8 minutes or until golden brown. Bear in mind that each air fryer model varies, so check in on the cookies during the last minute to avoid burning.
Let Cookies Rest: Carefully pull out the air fryer basket and allow the cookies to sit for 2 to 3 minutes in there to firm up. Lift with a spatula and transfer to a wire rack; cool completely before serving. Repeat with the rest of the dough.

Serving Suggestions

Classic with a Glass of Milk: To geek out and serve the ultimate comfort snack, present these warm, chewiest of cookies with a glass of milk ice cold.
Ice Cream Sandwiches: Place a scoop of vanilla or chocolate ice cream between two of these cookies for a rich ice cream sandwich.
It could be drizzled with chocolate: Melt a little dark or milk chocolate and drizzle it over the cooled cookies for a bit more sweetness and a pretty presentation.
Best With Coffee: These cookies feel at home beside coffee or hot cocoa as an afternoon snack to warm you up.

Storage and Meal Prep Tips

Storing Cookies: Keep leftover cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days. And they’re also soft and delicious, perfect for grab-and-go snacks.
Freezing the Dough: To prepare these cookies ahead of time, roll the dough into balls and place them on a sheet pan, then freeze them until firm, about 1 hour. Once frozen, transfer the balls to a freezer-safe bag. When it’s time to bake, you just stick them in your air fryer and add 1-2 minutes to the cooking time.
Reheating Cookies: Craving warm cookies later? Stick a few in the air fryer for 1 to 2 minutes at 300°F, or microwave them for about 10 seconds.

Variations

Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies: Stir in ½ cup of mini chocolate chips into the dough for a chocolatey twist.
Crunchy Peanut Butter: For a little extra crunch, go for crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy so that you find tasty bits of peanuts in every bite.
Keto: Make with erythritol or monk fruit sweetener instead of sugar, and with sugar-free peanut butter.
Almond Butter Alternative: Replace the peanut butter with almond butter if you’re allergic to peanuts or simply want to mix up the flavor profile.

Final Note

These Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cookies are just what the doctor ordered to cure your sweet tooth with minimum fuss! They’re quick to prepare, full of flavor, and have that melt-in-your-mouth quality that makes you want to grab another. And if you use plain peanut butter, they’re a tasty gluten-free treat. Happy baking!