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Craving a quick and easy dessert? These No Bake Cookies are a classic favorite combining rich chocolate, creamy peanut butter, and hearty oats for the perfect chewy texture. Best of all, they come together in just 15 minutes – no oven required!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love These No Bake Cookies
These Chocolate Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies are my go-to treat when I’m short on time, but still want a tasty homemade cookie to serve or to eat. My kids love them as an after-school snack with a tall glass of cold milk. My husband whips them up on a lazy weekend afternoon as we are playing board games or watching movies.
- Quick & Easy: Ready in just 15 minutes with simple pantry ingredients.
- No Oven Needed: Keep your kitchen cool – just a bit of stovetop magic is all it takes.
- Chocolate + Peanut Butter Combo: A classic pairing everyone loves!
Ingredients in No Bake Cookies
All of these ingredients are likely to be in your pantry and fridge right now. All you need is:
- Quick Oats: My mom always used quick oats in her no-bake cookies, but I didn’t know why until I tried making them with regular oats. Regular oats don’t work as well, trust me! The quick oats give the cookies a softer, chewier texture.
Tip: Regular oats can be used in a pinch of you pulse them a few times in the blender first. - Peanut Butter: Creamy or crunchy both work great. Peanut butter is the binding agent and adds that delicious nutty flavor that pairs so well with chocolate.
- Butter: Use salted butter for the perfect balance of sweet and salty. If unsalted is all you have on hand, add a pinch of salt to the mixture.
- Sugar: Granulated sugar is essential to sweeten the unsweetened cocoa powder and give the cookies the right consistency.
- Milk: I prefer 2% or whole milk for a creamier cookie texture.
- Cocoa: For the best chocolate flavor, use a high quality unsweetened cocoa powder like Ghirardelli’s or Hershey’s.
- Vanilla: It enhances the flavor of the other ingredients.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Preparation:
- Measure out the quick oats, peanut butter, and vanilla into mixing bowl.
- Spread a sheet of parchment paper or wax paper on a cookie sheet, or on a clean countertop to prepare for the cookies.
Cook the Chocolate Mixture:
- Combine butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa to a heavy saucepan.
- Bring to a full boil. Allow the mixture to boil for exactly one full minute. Set a timer!
- Remove from heat.
Combine and Scoop:
- Add oats, peanut butter, and vanilla to the chocolate mixture. Stir well.
- Scoop the mixture onto the prepared parchment paper using spoons or a cookie dough scoop.
Cool and Set:
- Let the cookies cool for 15-20 minutes until they set. Resist the temptation to dig in early!
Tips for Perfect No Bake Cookies
- Set a Timer! Boil the chocolate mixture for exactly 1 minute. Too short, and the cookies won’t set. Too long, and they’ll be hard and crumbly.
- Stick with Real Sugar. Avoid sugar substitutes to ensure the cookies set correctly.
- Use Quick-Cooking Oats. Quick oats give the best texture. If using old-fashioned oats, place them in a blender and pulse a few times for better results.
- Storage. Keep these cookies in an airtight container and store at room temperature for up to a week or freeze up to three months.
No-Bake Cookie Recipe Variations
- Add-in ideas. For a fun twist, mix in shredded coconut, raisins, or chopped nuts.
- For a peanut allergy: One of our readers recommended using cookie butter in place of peanut butter for those who have peanut allergies. Check label to be sure there are no nuts.
- Gluten-free: This recipe is gluten free as long as certified gluten-free oats are used.
- Vegan no-bake cookies: Use almond milk or oat milk instead of cow’s milk and vegan butter. It works great!
Frequently Asked Questions
They are gluten-free as long as you use certified gluten-free oats. Check the label of your oats to be sure.
If your cookies are dry, they were likely boiled too long. Try reducing the boiling time to exactly 60 seconds.
This happens when the sugar/butter mixture isn’t boiled long enough. It should be at a rolling boil for one minute.
Swap peanut butter for almond butter, sunflower butter, or cookie butter for a delicious, peanut-free, twist.
“I love to make these cookies, and I also love to eat them. They are my favorite. I put them in my homemade Christmas containers last year. They are one of the first if not the first to get eaten! EASY to make.” – Jennie
More No-Bake Desserts:
More Classic Cookie Recipes:
How To Make No Bake Cookies
Enjoy your No Bake Cookies! Let us know how they turned out in the comments!
No Bake Cookies
Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/3 cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 cups quick oats
Instructions
- Measure out oats, peanut butter, and vanilla into a mixing bowl. Don't mix.
- Mix butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa together in a heavy saucepan and bring to a full boil. Allow to boil for one full minute (set a timer). Remove from heat.
- Quickly stir in the rolled oats, peanut butter, and vanilla.
- Drop by spoonfuls or cookie scoop onto cookie sheets lined with parchment paper or wax paper as quickly as possible. Cool 20-30 minutes.
Notes
Recipe tips:
- Measure ingredients exactly and watch boiling time carefully to get best results.
- Use a quality unsweetened cocoa powder for a rich chocolate flavor.
- Optional additions: ¼ cup coconut, chocolate chips, chopped nuts.
- Store no bake cookies at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to two weeks in an airtight container.
- Place cookies in an airtight container or a Ziplock bag and freeze for up to two months.
Hi, I remember a recipe like this without the peanut butter. Do you happen to know that one? Easy & Delicious! Ty
Good question! We currently do not have a no bake cookies recipe without peanut butter, but I recommend this one: https://www.thespruceeats.com/no-bake-cookies-without-peanut-butter-recipe-5190428
I love to make these cookies, and I also love to eat them. They are my favorite. I put them in my homemade Christmas containers last year. They are one of the first if not the first to get eaten! EASY to make.
Delish and easy to make. Best with add-ons . Deeper chocolate taste and no baking.
Yummy 😋
Brings back memories. A stable back in the day in Mom’s kitchen. We would line up to see who got the spoon.
So yummy. Thank you
Thank you I couldn’t find my recipe and looked at several you posted ingredients thank you so much easy to find
OMG LITERALLY AMAZING! I MADE THEM FOR A PARTY-PERFECT!
I really enjoy your recipes, and have came back to this one over and over again. So much fun to make with my granddaughters we usually double or sometimes triple the batch. After a few days there’s not a cookie inside LOL thank you so much sincerely JC in Kansas
These are so good! They made want to make another one!
I made these a few months ago and they were fantastic! Made them today and not so much 😥
Definitely an error on my part (they are a bit dry and crumbly) because the recipe is spot on!
This recipe is perfect.
It’s a great snack and easy and fun to make ..
No oven required
It’s a beautiful 🤩 thing.
Thanks for the recipe keep them coming!!!
These remind me of my childhood baking these in the 60ies. Thanks. Good for grand kids to make!
Can you make these vegan?
Yes, you can use almond milk or oat milk and vegan butter.