These Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies have been a staple in my household since a friend shared the recipe with me over a decade ago. They’re simple to make with just a handful of ingredients that you probably already have on hand.
No Bake Cookies are made without flour and eggs and (as you may have gathered from the name) do not require an oven… it doesn’t get much easier than this.
No Bake Cookies are one of the easiest cookies I’ve ever made. Made without flour and without eggs, they’re a bit different from so many of my other cookie recipes, and taste something like a hybrid between cookie and candy.
A friend shared this recipe with me years ago when I was a kid wanting to bake cookies but without so much as a half cup of flour in the house. I’ve held on to the recipe it ever since and have made it probably hundreds of times. The scrap of paper that the recipe was scrawled on has since been rendered completely illegible by hundreds of chocolate thumbprints, so fortunately I’ve committed it to memory.
No Bake Cookies are richly chocolaty, nice and chewy (thanks to the oats), and have shiny chocolate exteriors. If you’ve never made them before, you’ll want to try this recipe for yourself and see what you’ve been missing out on.
These cookies are very, very simple to make, but there is one part where it’s possible to go wrong that I want to address, so let’s talk about that.
Making these No Bake Cookies calls for stirring together and melting butter, milk, sugars, and cocoa powder over low heat. Once the ingredients are melted, you’ll increase your heat to medium-low (not high, keep the heat on medium-low and it will come to a boil eventually) and continue to stir until it reaches a boil.
Once the mixture comes to a boil, continue to stir for a full minute (I strongly recommend using a timer, because the minute is critical) and then remove your pot from the heat and continue to stir for a few more seconds before adding your peanut butter and vanilla, and finally your oats.
If you don’t boil your cookie mixture long enough, the ingredients may not set up when you try to scoop them and you’ll have cookie puddles.
If you boil the ingredients for too long, your cookies will become dry and crumbly.
See why I recommend using a timer?
Do No Bake Cookies Need to be Refrigerated?
No, they do not need to be refrigerated. No Bake Cookies should be stored in an airtight container and will last about a week at room temperature. If you prefer to refrigerate them you can (still in an airtight container) and they will last longer, but refrigeration is not necessary.
Can You Use Old Fashioned Oats to Make No Bake Cookies?
Yes. I prefer to use quick oats because I like the texture best, but you can substitute old fashioned oats, and you would use the same amount of oats as is called for in the recipe.
How Do You Make No-Bake Cookies?
No Bake Cookies
These Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies have been a staple in my household since a friend shared the recipe with me over a decade ago. They're simple to make with just a handful of ingredients that you probably already have on hand. These cookies are made without flour and eggs.
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter cut into Tablespoon-sized pieces (113g)
- ½ cup whole milk (120ml)
- 1 cup light brown sugar, tightly packed (200g)
- 1 cup sugar (200g)
- ¼ cup cocoa powder (25g)
- 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter (165g)
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups instant oats (285g
Instructions
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Prepare two cookie sheets by lining with wax paper and set aside.
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Combine butter, milk, sugars, and cocoa powder in a medium-sized saucepan over low heat.
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Stir ingredients frequently until butter is completely melted (I recommend using a long wooden spoon as a metal spoon can become really hot).
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Increase heat to medium and, stirring constantly, bring to a boil.
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Boil, still stirring constantly, for 1 minute (I recommend using a timer, see post for more details on why it's important to not over or under-boil) then remove from heat. Continue to stir the mixture for several seconds.
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Add peanut butter and vanilla extract, stirring until peanut butter is completely combined and melted into the mixture.
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Add oats and stir until coated in chocolate.
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Drop no bake cookie mixture by approximately 1 ½-2 Tablespoon-sized spoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheet.
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Allow to cool (approximately 20-30 minutes) before serving, the cookies will harden as they cool.
Teresa Soroka says
If I leave out the peanut butter, what should I substitute? Or so I need to substitute anything?
Sam says
Hi Teresa! I have heard others leave the peanut butter out completely without an issue. I have not tried it though. 😃
Linda says
I don’t use the peanut butter. I use the oats and sweet coconut in my cookies. The family loves them.
ookiemaster says
I make these No-bakes a lot and add 1/2 to 3/4 cup coconut…yum!
Bonnie Bowman says
I have added raisins, cranberries, coconut, and pecans All work well.
Angel says
Thank you so much. I have been making no bake cookies for years and I finally gave up because sometimes they would turn out and sometimes they wouldn’t. I knew it had something to do with the heat but I wasn’t sure what. Now I know and this is perfect thank you
Sam says
I’m so glad this recipe was helpful, Angel! Thank you for commenting!
Angel Beasley says
I guess I’m just not meant to make no bake cookies. LOL. I just finished the recipe they’ve been sitting for about 20 minutes and they look very wet. I have an electric stove and I followed it exactly. I used the timer and everything. Do I maybe need to turn the heat up? It took a long time to boil but once it boiled it was bubbling good.
Sam says
It could be the humidity, or they may have needed to boil just another few seconds. These cookies can be very temperamental, especially if there is a lot of humidity. 😃
Angela says
Do you boil at medium or medium low? In the post you said medium low but in the instructions it said medium.
Sam says
Hi Angela! Use Medium, the important thing is that you don’t turn your heat up too high. I hope you love the cookies!
Linda green says
Isn’t there a recipe without the peanut butter?
Sam says
Hi Linda! I know other people have left it out and had success, however, for best results I recommend using the peanut butter. 😃
Amber says
Mom always called these “He
aystacks” but either way these are the best camping cookies!! great for the trail too.
Debbie says
Can you substitute oats for Rice Krispies?
Sue says
I don’t think that would come out right. I think the oats in this recipe bind up the liquid. I could be all wrong though. I would use the rice krispie recipe and try to add chocolate to that instead.
Minerva Richardson says
What can I use to substitute sugar?
Sam says
I don’t have any recommendations for substitutions unfortunately.
Sherlee Grinstead says
Also delish if you make them without the cocoa! I love them both ways.
Jeannette says
I find there is a lot of sugar that goes into the recipe .
Sam says
This is the way with most desserts 😉
Lynn W. says
can I use almond milk or coconut milk? I am not allowed to eat dairy?