Nothing beats these classic No Bake Cookies for a quick and tasty chocolate peanut butter treat! With just a few staple ingredients and no flour or eggs, these easy peanut butter no bake cookies are ready to enjoy in 30 minutes! Love all things no bake? Make sure to try this Peanut Butter Icebox Cake and Chocolate Chip No Bake Cheesecake!
This post is sponsored by Challenge Dairy.
No Bake Cookies
If you’re a fan of chocolate and peanut butter you’re going to go crazy for these amazing no bake cookies!
If there was ever a cookie for today, these classic No Bake Cookies are those! Made without flour or eggs, and just a few pantry staples, these cookies can be in your mouth in under 30 minutes.
You’re welcome.
What Are No Bake Cookies?
If you’re new to no bake cookies, here’s what you need to know:
- No bake oatmeal cookies are made on the stovetop, not the oven. They are cooked much like fudge until the mixture reaches temperature from boiling for 1 full minute.
- The cookies are scooped straight from the pan and onto parchment or silicone baking mat where they set up in about 20 minutes. During the summer, if the house is hot, I just pop them into the fridge so they set up nice and quick.
- These peanut butter no bake cookies have a chewy, fudgy texture that is a cross between a cookie and fudge. They’re so dang good!
How To Make Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
These easy cookies are a summer staple in our house but we really enjoy them all year long. They are so quick to make and are a favorite with everyone who tries them.
- Start by lining two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. If you have a solid surface countertop you can just line your countertops.
- Place the granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, milk and cocoa powder in a 3 quart saucepan. (See notes below about using all granulated sugar.)
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Once the mixture is boiling (in the middle and around the edges of the saucepan) set a timer and boil for exactly one minute.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in 2 cups of the quick oats just until coated.
- Add in the peanut butter, vanilla extract, salt, and remaining quick oats. Stir just until combined.
- Scoop out mixture using a medium cookie scoop or two spoons. Use whatever is easiest for you! Just have it ready to go.
- Drop the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets and let sit at room temperature for about 20 to 30 minutes or until the cookies are set up and firm to the touch. You’ll notice that the gloss starts to fade when they are ready.
- Cookies should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. They can also be stored in the fridge.
Tips for the Best No Bake Cookies
- Pre-measure all of your ingredients. These cookies cook up rather quickly and it helps to have everything ready to go.
- Make sure to line two sheet pans or your countertop with parchment paper or use silicone baking mats.
- Bring the mixture to a FULL boil. I’m not talking about a few bubbles around the edge of the pot. You want bubbles breaking across the entire surface. Set your 60 second timer as soon as you hit that full boil.
- Don’t try to make these cookies with margarine. Just don’t.
I used Challenge butter because they’re the brand I’ve used and trusted my whole life. Made with 100% real cream, it’s my butter of choice. The quality is outstanding and use it for all my baking and cooking!
- Once the oats, peanut butter, salt and vanilla extract have all been stirred in, start scooping out the cookies IMMEDIATELY. These cookies set up within a few minutes of being cooked so get to scooping as fast as you can.
- Use a cookie scoop to get super consistent results OR use two spoons and go with it. These cookies will set up big or small, so feel free to make them whatever size you want.
- Chocolate no bake cookies should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature. If it’s summer or if your house is hot, you can also store the cookie in the refrigerator. Either way, the cookies will last about 1 week.
Modifications and Variations
- I’m a fan of creamy peanut butter in these cookies but if you prefer crunchy peanut butter that will work too. Or, if you don’t like peanut butter, it can be omitted from the recipe. Any other nut butters can also be substituted in this recipe.
- Quick oats are the way to go with this recipe but if you don’t have any on hand, here’s what you can do in a pinch:
- measure 3 cups of old fashioned oats
- pulse them a few times in a food processor
- measure out your new “quick oats” for the recipe
- I like to use a combination of granulated sugar and brown sugar but you can use all granulated sugar if you prefer. You’ll need anywhere from 1 3/4 to 2 cups of granulated sugar depending on how sweet you like your cookies.
Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies – Troubleshooting Guide
These cookies are incredibly simple but the one place that most people have problems is with the 1 minute boil.
Why did my cookies not set up?
Most likely, the mixture did not boil for the full minute or the mixture wasn’t at a full boil when you started timing. Try boiling for 1o seconds longer next time.
Why are my cookies dry and/or crumbly?
Most likely, the mixture boiled for too long. Boil for about 10 seconds less next time. It’s also possibly that you cooked the mixture over too high of heat, so turn it down a little bit next time.
More Peanut Butter Recipes To Try
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup Mini Cheesecakes
- Peanut Butter Icebox Cake
- Peanut Butter Cup Cheesecake Fudge
- Reese’s Peanut Butter Fluff
- Peanut Butter Brownies
How To Make No Bake Cookies
No Bake Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup brown sugar light or dark
- 3 cups quick oats
- 2/3 cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
Instructions
- Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
- Place granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, milk and cocoa powder in a 3 quart saucepan.
- Bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
- Once the mixture is boiling (in the middle and around the edges of the saucepan) set a timer and boil for exactly one minute.
- Remove from heat and stir in 2 cups of the quick oats just until coated. Add in peanut butter, vanilla extract, salt, and remaining quick oats. Stir just until combined.
- Immediately begin scooping out mixture using a medium cookie scoop or two spoons.
- Drop the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets and let sit at room temperature for about 20 to 30 minutes or until the cookies are set up and firm to the touch.
- Cookies should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week. They can also be stored in the fridge.
Video
Notes
Tools Need
Sheet Pans | Silicone Baking Mat | Cookie ScoopNutrition
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Angela says
I’m glad to have received this easy no-bake cookie recipe today, which gladly isn’t for the usual Haystack Cookies! My 4 little-ones like to have cookies around to snack on, but I hate to use the oven when the weather is hot & humid, as it’s been here this week. These sound delicious & easy, so I’ll give them a try tomorrow. Thanks Trish 💐
Terry says
I’ve been using a similar recipe for years – but having gotten called away mid – forming once – the ingredients of course seized. Ended up just plopping it on a plate with a knife & let everyone cut pieces off.
(I was at work)
The NEXT time I poured it onto a foil lined cookie sheet & spread it out with a spatula. Lightly scored into squares with a butter knife & topped each with half a peanut.
WAY faster than individual cookies & I didn’t have to worry about it seizing if I got called out. And no biggie if I had to leave before scoring or embellishing – still cut easily with a sharp knife (I used a serrated steak knife! )
Win-win!
18 below here in sunny (NOT) Alberta – so time to hit the kitchen & bake.
Have a blessed day!
Terry says
My bad. Forgot to rate above. 😕
Emily says
They taste AMAZING and they’re so easy! (Just don’t eat any of the boiling chocolate water no matter how good it looks! I burned my mouth) Thank you so much!
Trish - Mom On Timeout says
Ouch! Yes, let it cool, lol! And thank you!