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
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
- Prepare two cookie sheets by lining with wax paper and set aside.
- Combine butter, milk, sugars, and cocoa powder in a medium-sized saucepan over low heat.
- Stir ingredients frequently until butter is completely melted (I recommend using a long wooden spoon as a metal spoon can become really hot).
- Increase heat to medium and, stirring constantly, bring to a boil.
- 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.
- Add peanut butter and vanilla extract, stirring until peanut butter is completely combined and melted into the mixture.
- Add oats and stir until coated in chocolate.
- Drop no bake cookie mixture by approximately 1 ½-2 Tablespoon-sized spoonfuls onto prepared cookie sheet.
- Allow to cool (approximately 20-30 minutes) before serving, the cookies will harden as they cool.
Nutrition
Sandi says
February 11, 2019 at 2:58 pmCan you use unsweetened baking chocolate instead of cocoa powder?
Sam says
February 11, 2019 at 6:19 pmHi Sandi! That wouldn’t be a straight substitution and not having tried it, I can’t recommend a way to do it.
Charmagne Klosky says
February 10, 2019 at 11:42 amI make these all the time and love them. I’m having a craving for them today but I have no butter only margarine, do you think it would work??
Sam says
February 10, 2019 at 6:48 pmI think that will be fine, enjoy! 🙂
Rochell says
February 8, 2019 at 8:40 amMade these this morning in 20 minutes flat. I needed something quick for a benefit bake sale. This is my first time ever making No Bakes, I hope they turn out!
Joe says
February 7, 2019 at 2:40 pmTried it out. Followed directions to the letter being very mindful of the 1 minute boil and stir. Cookies failed to set up. No idea why but there must be something at least as important as that minute.
Sam says
February 7, 2019 at 9:36 pmHi Joe! Usually if you have that issue it’s due to humidity, try boiling them for just a little bit longer. 🙂
Birgit says
January 30, 2019 at 1:32 pmI made these ounce and everyone loved them
My family is telling me to make more.
I will have to make a double batch cause they don’t last long.😀
Sam says
January 30, 2019 at 8:20 pmI know how that goes! 😂 I am so glad everyone enjoyed them!
Diane Shumake says
January 28, 2019 at 4:11 pmIv’e never done the 2 different sugars, always 2 cups of regular sugar, is there a difference
Sam says
January 28, 2019 at 9:35 pmHi, Diane. The brown sugar adds a subtle depth of flavor that you don’t get with just granulated sugar. 🙂
Amanda says
January 27, 2019 at 4:57 pmAwesome recipe. Came out great. I’ll probably try with quick oats next time but used what I had on hand.
Sam says
January 27, 2019 at 6:07 pmI’m so glad you enjoyed, Amanda! Thank you for commenting!
Lee Mears says
January 10, 2019 at 9:35 pmI love these “cookie/candies” but I like at least 1/2 t. salt added as well as the salted butter.
Adds more flavor I think.
Sam says
January 11, 2019 at 8:52 pmI am so glad you enjoy them, Lee! 🙂
Lola says
January 8, 2019 at 2:47 pmI have been looking for a no bake cookie recipe that seems easy. My grandmother used to make no bake cookies all the time. She has been gone now for many years and no cookie that I have tasted is as good as grandmas. I am going to try this recipe and see if it comes close. Thank you for the simple recipe.
Sam says
January 8, 2019 at 6:03 pmI hope you love it, Lola! 🙂
Pamela says
January 8, 2019 at 2:23 pmCan you use rice cereal instead of oats? I have some loved ones that cannot digest the oats which why I am asking?
Sam says
January 8, 2019 at 11:25 pmHi, Pamela. Unfortunately I don’t think they would turn out, I would be afraid that the cereal will get soggy, but I have not tried it so I don’t know for sure. If you do try it, let me know how it goes. 🙂
Felicia A says
January 6, 2019 at 11:19 pmI just made this recipie & followed it verbatim the only exception is I used half a cup of cocoa. I used a wooden spoon to stir which worked better than I anticipated. I also used a timer as suggested for the last minute. The consistency of the batter was spot on but you have to drop the batter relatively quickly. I have looked at oodles of no bake recipies for weeks now however this one had the ingredients I wanted to use listed and great instructions as well. This recipie made a scant 2 dozen cookies for me dropping a heaping tablespoon at a time. I have only tasted the batter not the set up cookie but the batter had a great texture and the cookies should be ready now after about 40 mins to cool. Not bad. Very chocolately since I added an extra quarter cup of cocoa. I think the cocoa trumps the peanut butter in this case. Without changing a thing to this recipie you could add chocolate chips, nuts, coconut and I believe you would still have a fantasic no-bake cookie. Thanks for sharing Sam, I will definitely use this recipie over and over again!
Sam says
January 7, 2019 at 12:01 amThank you so much, Felicia! I am so glad you enjoyed the cookies. 🙂
Marilyn says
January 5, 2019 at 6:21 pmCan u use use 2percent milk with this
Shaun says
January 21, 2019 at 5:42 pmI used 2 percent milk and they turned out great.
Julie Dymond says
January 2, 2019 at 10:56 pmThis looks like a great sight!!!!
Tim says
January 1, 2019 at 8:07 pmI used coconut milk, added coconut flakes, crunchy peanut butter, and substituted stevia for only the white sugar. They came out GREAT!
Sam says
January 1, 2019 at 9:58 pmI am so glad you enjoyed them, Tim! 🙂
Cindy Green says
January 1, 2019 at 1:51 amI don’t have any milk so I am going to try evaporated milk and hope it works. I will get back to you with the results!
Amy says
January 27, 2019 at 9:26 pmI used evaporated milk and it worked just fine! Set up nicely