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Looking for a fast and delicious treat? These No Bake Cookies are the answer! With a prep and cook time of less than 15 minutes, you can satisfy your chocolate and peanut butter cravings in no time.
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: Perfect for busy days or last-minute dessert needs.
- No Oven Needed: Keep your kitchen cool – just a bit of stovetop magic is all it takes.
- Healthy-ish Ingredients: Peanut butter and oatmeal are good for you, right?
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
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.
How to Make No Bake Cookies
1. Prepare the Ingredients:
- Measure out the quick oats, peanut butter, and vanilla into a mixing bowl.
- Spread a sheet of parchment paper on a cookie sheet, or on a clean countertop to prepare for the cookies.
2. Cook the Chocolate Mixture:
- Combine butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa to a heavy saucepan.
- Stir constantly over medium heat. When the mixture comes to a full boil, set a timer for one minute.
3. Combine and Scoop:
- Remove from heat and pour the mixture over the oats, peanut butter, and vanilla. Stir until combined.
- Scoop the mixture onto the prepared parchment paper using spoons or a cookie dough scoop.
4. 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.
This happens when the sugar/butter mixture isn’t boiled long enough. It should be at a rolling boil for one minute.
The cookies will turn out dry and crumbly. Stick to the 1-minute rule for best results.
More No Bake Recipes
Looking for more easy no bake desserts? Try these no bake favorites:
No Bake Cookies
Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup peanut butter creamy or crunchy
- 3 1/2 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 to get best results.
- Watch boiling time carefully to get best results.
- Use a quality unsweetened cocoa powder for a rich chocolate flavor.
- Any nut butter can be substituted for peanut butter.
- 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.
This is my favorite recipe, you have to measure and follow recipe exactly how it is written. ❤️😊
very happy with this recipe! Thank you!!
Haven’t made these yet , I was wondering if I don’t add coco will it make a difference
to the recipe? my husband doesn’t like chocolate.
This recipe won’t turn out without the cocoa powder, but I have a recipe for no bake cookies without chocolate!
1 1/2 C quick-cooking oats
3/4 C coconut flakes
1/2 C chopped peanuts
1/4 C butter
1/2 C evaporated milk
1 C sugar
3/4 C chunky peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla
Mix oats, coconut, and peanuts. Set aside. In a medium saucepan, combine butter, milk, and sugar. Bring to a boil and stir for 2-3 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Pour over oat mixture and mix thoroughly. Drop by rounded tablespoons onto waxed paper. Let stand for about an hour until set.
Quick and easy. For those who have problems with peanuts, substitute cookie butter.
I doubled the recipe, was low on butter so I did half butter and half shortening. I also added tsp of peppermint extract as I made after Christmas.
As long as you cook/boil as directed, these are Amazing and easy to make cookies. They don’t last in our home, so haven’t had the chance to store in fridge or freezer. Thank you for sharing.
Very easy and very tasty
Very easy recipe, love chocolate so this recipe is great!
Finding this recipe has been a lifesaver for those times in which people had arrived without notice and I have nothing ready to offer. Just a couple of minutes later… deliciousness all around XD
Truly the best no bake cookies.
MMMM!! Looks so good and easy to prepare. Will be trying these soon.
Love theses cookies- so quick and easy! Delicious with coconut added .
These are quick easy go to cookies , kids can help, everyone loves them, we like to roll into balls and when firm and cool dip in chocolate and roll in crushed peppermint candy canes for Christmas!!! Or sprinkles!
the best there is was my mother in laws recipe every one loves them
These are our favorite! My recipe has 1/2 cup of cocoa and it’s perfect. I am going to try adding raisins or coconut next time for a different version. I’ve tried chopped pecans and couldn’t even tell the pecans were in them
Easy and Yummy!
Since I was a child, this has always been my favorite cookie. This quick and easy recipe taste just like my mother’s cookie recipe, but easier to make! Thank you for sharing with us!
Merci beaucoup!
Mark
WOW! Quick, easy and YUMMY!
This is a great recipe 🙂
I absolutely love these cookies! Makes up quick, a few ingredients and no baking. Clean up is easy because I don’t need to use a bunch of pans, utensils, etc. These are my go to when I want something quick and tasty.