Air Fryer Peanut Butter Cup Brownies

If you love brownies and peanut butter cups, this recipe is about to make your day. These air fryer peanut butter cup brownies are rich, fudgy, and ridiculously easy to put together.

The idea is simple – take a classic box brownie mix, add peanut butter cups right into the batter, and let the air fryer do its thing. You end up with warm, gooey brownies with melted peanut butter cups in every bite.

What I really like about making brownies in the air fryer is how quick it is. No need to preheat a big oven or wait forever for them to bake.

You only need a handful of ingredients to make these, and most of them you probably already have at home. The peanut butter cups do all the heavy lifting when it comes to flavor.

Whether you are making these for yourself or sharing with friends, they always disappear fast. Let me show you how to make them.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Peanut Butter and Chocolate is a Perfect Combo – There is a reason peanut butter cups are one of the most popular candies ever. Stuffing them inside a warm, fudgy brownie takes that classic combo to a whole new level.

Your Air Fryer Makes Incredible Brownies – If you have never made brownies in your air fryer, you are missing out. The air fryer gives them a perfectly crispy top while keeping the inside ridiculously gooey and soft.

The Melted Peanut Butter Cups Inside Are Amazing – As the brownies bake, those peanut butter cups get all melty and gooey in the center. Every bite has this warm, creamy peanut butter surprise that makes these brownies totally addictive.

Way Faster Than Using Your Oven – Your air fryer heats up in a fraction of the time a regular oven does, which means you get to bite into a warm peanut butter cup brownie way sooner. No more waiting around forever for your oven to preheat.

Ingredients

• 1 box Brownie Mix
• 2 large Eggs
• 1/2 cup Vegetable Oil
• 1/4 cup Water
• 6 Regular Peanut Butter Cups
• 1 tsp Cooking Spray

How to Make

Step 1

In a large bowl, whisk together the brownie mix, eggs, vegetable oil, and water until a smooth batter forms.

Step 2

Lightly grease an air-fryer-safe baking pan with cooking spray.

Step 3

Pour half of the brownie batter into the prepared pan and spread it evenly.

Step 4

Place the peanut butter cups in an even layer on top of the batter, then pour the remaining batter over them to cover completely.

Step 5

Place the pan in the air fryer basket and cook at 320F for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted near the edge comes out mostly clean.

Step 6

Allow the brownies to cool completely in the pan before slicing so they hold their shape.

Tips

Use the Right Size Pan

Before you start, make sure you have a baking pan that actually fits inside your air fryer basket with a little room around the edges. Air fryers need space around the pan for hot air to move freely, and if the pan is too big and blocks that airflow, your brownies will cook unevenly.

A 6-inch or 7-inch round pan works great for most air fryers. If you only have a square pan, just double-check it fits with at least a small gap on all sides before you pour any batter in.

Don’t Overmix the Batter

When you whisk together the brownie mix, eggs, oil, and water, stop as soon as everything looks combined and there are no more dry streaks or clumps. You want a smooth batter, but you don’t need to beat it for minutes on end.

Overmixing brownie batter makes the final texture more cakey and tough instead of fudgy and dense. A few small lumps here and there are totally fine and won’t affect the final result.

Freeze the Peanut Butter Cups First

Pop your peanut butter cups in the freezer for about 15-20 minutes before you start assembling the brownies. This helps them hold their shape while they bake instead of completely melting into the batter and disappearing.

When they’re cold and firm, they soften slowly during baking and create that gooey peanut butter layer in the middle that you actually want. If you skip this step, the peanut butter cups can melt too fast and just blend into the brownie with no real distinct layer.

Related Recipes

• Air Fryer Birthday Cake Mug Cakes
• Air Fryer Chocolate Chip Cookie Cups
• Air Fryer Cinnamon Sugar Donut Cakes
• Air Fryer Lemon Blueberry Mini Cakes
• Air Fryer Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use mini peanut butter cups instead of regular-sized ones?

Absolutely, mini peanut butter cups work great in this recipe. You can scatter more of them throughout the batter so you get peanut butter flavor in every single bite.

Use about 12 to 15 minis to replace the 6 regular-sized cups. Spread them out evenly across the middle layer of batter for the best distribution.