You know those nights when you’re craving something sweet but don’t want to turn on the oven? That was me last week – standing in my kitchen at 9 PM, staring at a bag of Reese’s peanut butter cups and wondering how fast I could turn them into warm, gooey cookies. That’s when I remembered my trusty air fryer sitting on the counter!
These Air Fryer Reese’s Sugar Cookies have become my secret weapon for quick dessert fixes. They come together so fast, I can go from craving to cookie in under 20 minutes flat. No waiting for the oven to preheat, no messy cookie sheets, and best of all – the peanut butter cups get perfectly melty while the edges turn golden and crisp.
What I love most is how these little cookies capture that magical Reese’s flavor combination in every bite. The sugar cookie base stays soft and buttery, while those chopped peanut butter cups create little pockets of chocolatey goodness. And because we’re using the air fryer, each cookie comes out with that perfect bakery-style texture – crisp on the outside, chewy in the middle. Trust me, once you try this method, you’ll never want to bake cookies in the oven again!
Why You’ll Love These Air Fryer Reese’s Sugar Cookies
These cookies are basically dessert magic – here’s why:
- Crazy fast: From bowl to belly in under 20 minutes (no oven preheating!)
- Peanut butter cup perfection: Melty Reese’s pockets in every bite
- Almost no cleanup: One bowl, no cookie sheets to scrub
- Small batch ready: Perfect when you just need a few warm cookies (but good luck stopping at one!)
- Better texture: The air fryer gives that dreamy crisp edge with a soft center
Ingredients for Air Fryer Reese’s Sugar Cookies
Here’s everything you’ll need for cookies that taste like pure peanut butter cup magic:
- 1 cup all-purpose flour (spoon and level it – don’t pack it down!)
- 1/2 tsp baking soda (makes them puff up just right)
- 1/4 tsp salt (trust me, it makes the sweetness pop)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (leave it out for 30 minutes – it should dent when pressed)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar (for that classic cookie crunch)
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar (pack it firmly in the measuring cup for extra chewiness)
- 1 large egg (room temperature blends better)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract (the good stuff makes all the difference)
- 1/2 cup Reese’s peanut butter cups, chopped (I like the minis – less chopping!)
Pro tip: Measure your flour right or your cookies might spread too much. I just scoop and sweep with a knife – no fancy scale needed!
How to Make Air Fryer Reese’s Sugar Cookies
Making these cookies is so simple, you’ll wonder why you ever bothered with the oven! The air fryer gives them that perfect golden edge while keeping the centers soft and gooey – just follow these easy steps.
Mixing the Dough
First, grab that softened butter – it should dent easily when you poke it. Toss it in a big bowl with both sugars and go to town with a wooden spoon or hand mixer. You want it light and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes of serious mixing. This step makes all the difference for texture!
Next, beat in the egg and vanilla until everything looks smooth. Now slowly add your flour mixture – I do it in three parts so it doesn’t fly everywhere. Mix just until you don’t see dry spots. Overmixing = tough cookies, and nobody wants that!
Finally, fold in those chopped Reese’s cups gently. I leave some bigger chunks because melty peanut butter pockets are the best surprise. The dough will be thick and a bit sticky – that’s perfect!
Air Frying the Cookies
While you were mixing, your air fryer should’ve been preheating to 350°F (175°C). Now scoop tablespoon-sized balls of dough – I use a small cookie scoop because sticky fingers are no fun. Leave about 1 inch between each cookie in the basket; they need room to puff up!
Cook for 6 minutes first, then peek. You want golden edges but soft centers – they’ll firm up as they cool. My air fryer usually needs 7 minutes for perfect cookies. Transfer them to a rack immediately (they’ll be fragile!) and try not to eat them all straight from the basket.
Pro tip: Work in batches and let the air fryer basket cool slightly between batches for even cooking. And definitely sneak a warm cookie – that melty Reese’s center is life-changing!
Tips for Perfect Air Fryer Reese’s Sugar Cookies
After making dozens of batches (purely for research, of course!), I’ve picked up some foolproof tricks:
- Chill sticky dough: If your dough feels too soft after mixing, pop it in the fridge for 15 minutes. This prevents cookie spread and makes scooping easier.
- Parchment is your friend: Cut a round of parchment to fit your air fryer basket – no sticking and easy cleanup!
- Rotate halfway: For super even browning, give the basket a gentle shake or rotate cookies at the 4-minute mark.
- Size matters: Keep cookies uniform (about 1 tbsp each) so they cook evenly. My cookie scoop is my MVP here!
Remember, all air fryers run a bit different – your perfect time might be 30 seconds more or less than mine!
Variations for Air Fryer Reese’s Sugar Cookies
These cookies are crazy versatile! Here are my favorite ways to mix things up when I’m feeling adventurous:
- Chocolate chip twist: Swap the Reese’s for 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips – they melt perfectly in the air fryer’s heat
- Peanut butter overload: Add 2 tbsp peanut butter to the dough along with chopped peanut butter cups
- Almond joy version: Use chopped almond butter cups and mix in 1/4 cup shredded coconut
- M&M madness: Replace Reese’s with 1/2 cup mini M&Ms for colorful, crunchy bites
Pro tip: Freeze any candy additions for 10 minutes before chopping – it prevents messy smearing in your dough!
Serving and Storing Air Fryer Reese’s Sugar Cookies
Okay, I know it’s tempting to eat these straight from the air fryer (that melty peanut butter center calls to me too!), but trust me – letting them cool for 5 minutes on a rack makes all the difference. That’s when they develop that perfect chewy texture. If you can resist, they’re even better the next day!
Store any leftovers (ha!) in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. For longer keeping, freeze the baked cookies between parchment layers – they’ll stay fresh for a month. Just pop frozen cookies in the air fryer at 300°F for 2 minutes to revive that freshly-baked magic.
Air Fryer Reese’s Sugar Cookies Nutrition
Here’s the scoop on what’s in these peanut buttery delights – but remember, nutrition can vary slightly depending on your exact ingredients. These are estimates per cookie (and let’s be real, who stops at just one?):
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 7g (4g saturated)
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
Pro tip: For slightly lighter cookies, you can reduce the Reese’s to 1/3 cup – but where’s the fun in that?
FAQs About Air Fryer Reese’s Sugar Cookies
I’ve gotten so many questions about these cookies from friends and family – here are the answers to the most common ones:
Can I use frozen Reese’s?
Yes! In fact, I often chop them straight from the freezer – the cold prevents the chocolate from melting into a messy blob when you mix it into the dough. Just whack the frozen cups with a knife (carefully!) into small chunks.
Why did my cookies turn out flat?
Usually this means your butter was too soft or you didn’t measure the flour correctly. The butter should be softened but still cool to the touch – if you can easily press all the way through it, it’s too warm. And always spoon and level your flour!
Can I double the batch?
Absolutely! Just cook them in separate batches – overcrowding the air fryer basket leads to uneven cooking. I usually make the full dough recipe but bake in 2-3 batches, keeping the extra dough in the fridge between batches.
Got more questions? Just ask – I’ve made these cookies more times than I can count!
Final Thoughts
There you have it – my foolproof way to satisfy cookie cravings in record time! I’d love to hear how your Air Fryer Reese’s Sugar Cookies turn out. Tag me if you share photos, because nothing makes me happier than seeing those melty peanut butter cup pockets in someone else’s kitchen!
Print
20-Minute Air Fryer Reese’s Sugar Cookies – Irresistible
- Total Time: 18 mins
- Yield: 12 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Easy air fryer cookies with Reese’s peanut butter cups for a sweet treat.
Ingredients
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup Reese’s peanut butter cups, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl.
- Cream butter and sugars until fluffy.
- Beat in egg and vanilla.
- Gradually mix in dry ingredients.
- Fold in Reese’s pieces.
- Scoop dough into balls and place in air fryer basket.
- Cook for 6-8 minutes until edges are golden.
- Let cool before serving.
Notes
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket.
- Adjust cook time based on cookie size.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 8 mins
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Air Fryer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 85mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 2g
- Cholesterol: 25mg
Keywords: air fryer cookies, Reese’s cookies, peanut butter cookies