These Air Fryer Peanut Butter Lava Cookies are the ultimate quick dessert for peanut butter lovers. With a soft and chewy exterior and a molten peanut butter core, they’re perfect for satisfying your sweet cravings. The key to achieving the gooey peanut butter center is freezing the peanut butter mixture before encasing it in cookie dough. Once air-fried to golden perfection, the cookies are ready in just 8-10 minutes, making them an easy go-to treat for any occasion. Serve them warm and enjoy the delicious peanut butter lava oozing from the center with each bite!
These Air Fryer Peanut Butter Lava Cookies are the perfect indulgence for peanut butter lovers. The soft, chewy cookie dough is filled with a molten peanut butter center that oozes out with every bite. Freezing the peanut butter mixture before wrapping it in the cookie dough ensures that the center stays warm and gooey after baking. The air fryer makes these cookies incredibly quick and easy to prepare, baking them to golden perfection in just 8-10 minutes. Whether you're making them for a last-minute dessert or a sweet snack, these lava cookies are sure to impress!
INGREDIENTS
- Creamy peanut butter: ½ cup, for the molten center.
- Powdered sugar: ¼ cup, sweetens the peanut butter filling.
- Vanilla extract: ½ tsp for the peanut butter filling, and 1 tsp for the cookie dough.
- Semisweet chocolate chips: ¼ cup, melted to add a rich chocolate flavor to the filling.
- All-purpose flour: 1½ cups, to form the cookie dough base.
- Granulated sugar: ½ cup, for sweetness.
- Brown sugar: ½ cup, adds moisture and a deeper flavor to the dough.
- Baking soda: ½ tsp, helps the cookies rise.
- Salt: ¼ tsp, to balance the sweetness.
- Unsalted butter: ½ cup, softened, for richness in the dough.
- Egg: 1 large, to bind the dough together.
INSTRUCTIONS
- Step 1:
- In a small bowl, mix together ½ cup peanut butter, ¼ cup powdered sugar, and ½ tsp vanilla extract until smooth. Shape the mixture into small balls (about 1 tsp each) and place on parchment paper. Freeze for at least 30 minutes.
- Step 2:
- Melt ¼ cup semisweet chocolate chips in the microwave, stirring every 30 seconds until smooth. Let the chocolate cool slightly.
- Step 3:
- In a medium bowl, combine 1½ cups all-purpose flour, ½ cup granulated sugar, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ tsp baking soda, and ¼ tsp salt.
- Step 4:
- In a separate large bowl, beat together ½ cup softened butter, 1 large egg, and 1 tsp vanilla extract until creamy. Gradually add the dry ingredients to the wet mixture, mixing until a dough forms.
- Step 5:
- Flatten a tablespoon of dough into a disc and place a frozen peanut butter ball in the center. Wrap the dough around the peanut butter, ensuring it is fully enclosed.
- Step 6:
- Preheat the air fryer to 350°F. Arrange the dough balls in the air fryer basket, leaving space between each one. Air fry for 8-10 minutes until the cookies are golden and set.
- Step 7:
- Let the cookies cool slightly before serving, enjoying the gooey peanut butter center!
Serving and Storage Tips
- These cookies are best enjoyed warm, so the peanut butter center remains molten. Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, and reheat for 10-15 seconds in the microwave to enjoy the gooey center again.
Helpful Notes
- Freezing the peanut butter balls is essential to achieving a gooey center, so be sure to freeze them for at least 30 minutes before baking.
Tips from Well-Known Chefs
- Chef Hannah suggests adding a pinch of sea salt to the top of each cookie before baking for an extra touch of flavor contrast.
How to Make Perfect Peanut Butter Lava Cookies
The key to perfect Peanut Butter Lava Cookies is freezing the peanut butter mixture before wrapping it in cookie dough. This ensures the center stays molten while the cookie bakes to a golden, chewy texture. Be sure not to overfill the dough with peanut butter to avoid leaks, and allow the cookies to cool slightly after baking so the molten center doesn’t burn your mouth!
FAQs
Can I use chunky peanut butter instead of creamy?
Yes, you can use chunky peanut butter for added texture, but the center may not be as smooth and molten.
Can I bake these in a traditional oven instead of an air fryer?
Yes, you can bake these cookies in a conventional oven at 350°F for 10-12 minutes, or until golden and set.
Summary
Air Fryer Peanut Butter Lava Cookies offer a quick and easy way to indulge in a rich, gooey dessert. These cookies are made with a soft dough that surrounds a frozen peanut butter center, which melts into a luscious filling as the cookies bake in the air fryer. The result is a perfectly golden, soft cookie with a flowing peanut butter lava inside. Ready in just 8-10 minutes, these cookies are a great option for a last-minute treat or dessert to impress guests. Enjoy them warm for the best gooey experience!