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No Bake Cookies come together in a matter of minutes. With just a handful of ingredients you’ll create a quick and delicious cookie recipe the whole family will love.
Hi there! It’s been a few days since I’ve sat down to write a blog post and yet, I’m still staring at the crummiest weather ever. I’m pretty much convinced Ohio has decided to just skip summer.
The weather is definitely making for an interesting summer break for Elle. Because summer to a five-year-old means shorts, flip-flops, and pool days. Even when it’s hovering around 60 degrees.
We’re trying to make the best of it with crafts, playing school and lots of trips to the library, but my girl is getting bored.
One of my favorite ways to eliminate some of the summer boredom is getting her involved in the kitchen.
From whipping up our favorite banana bread and homemade strawberry lemonade to these no bake cookies, I’m keeping my little babe busy and creating some fun kitchen memories!
THESE ARE THE BEST NO BAKE COOKIES
It’s pretty obvious that I bake a lot. You guys know this about me by now.
And although I love to step out of my comfort zone and whip up delicious things like Blueberry Cream Cheese Kolaches and Churro Cream Puffs, sometimes I crave the simplest of sweets, like no bake cookies.
When I was a kid, I remember my mom whipping up batches of these chocolate-peanut butter no bake cookies for my brother and me, and chocolate chow mein noodle cookies for my dad. We always referred to them as haystacks.
Do you remember those?
We’d gobble up that chocolate-peanut butter goodness in no time, and think Mom was the best baker ever.
Little did we know that those no bake cookies and her rice krispie treats literally came together in minutes, without even turning on the oven. Kids are so easy to impress.
Honestly, even though I now know how simple these cookies are to make, I still adore them. I love recipes that combine chocolate and peanut butter, such as peanut butter blossoms or peanut butter pie, and these are even easier.
HOW TO MAKE NO BAKE COOKIES
The great thing about no bake cookies, like so many of my no bake recipes, is that they require just a handful of ingredients that you probably already have in your fridge and pantry. Butter, milk, peanut butter, oats and cocoa are all you need.
I prefer creamy peanut butter, but you can definitely use crunchy for a little added texture.
Even though these cookies mix up quickly, you definitely need to make sure that you bring the cocoa mixture to a full rolling boil and then let it boil for a full 90 seconds, or the cookies won’t set up properly.
They’ll still taste delicious, but you’ll be left with crumbly bits of cookie instead of actual cookies.
After that, it’s as easy as mixing in the peanut butter, vanilla and oats and using a cookie scoop to portion out the cookies.
You can leave the no bake cookies as mounds or you can flatten them with the bottom of a glass – it’s up to you!
Remember these cookies the next time you’ve got a major craving for something sweet and have absolutely no desire to turn on the oven. They’ll cure any hankering you have, and you’ll only have one pot to clean.
I call that a win-win. You’ll also look like a major culinary rock star when you take them to your next potluck. Because as it turns out, adults are just as easy to impress as kids when cookies are involved.
No Bake Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ cup peanut butter smooth or crunchy
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups quick cooking oats
Instructions
- Line 2 cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, milk, butter and cocoa. Stir until the butter is melted.
- Bring the mixture to a full boil and allow it boil for 90 seconds (I highly recommend setting a timer). Immediately remove the pan from heat.
- Add in the peanut butter and vanilla and stir until the peanut butter is melted.
- Add oats and stir to fully incorporate.
- Using a medium cookie scoop (about 1 1/2 tablespoons), drop cookies onto prepared baking sheets. If desired, use a spoon, or the bottom of a glass to slightly flatten and shape into round cookies.
- Allow cookies to set before serving.
Video
Notes
- For this recipe, I recommend using a peanut butter like Jif. Using a natural-style peanut butter will not allow the cookies to set up properly.
- Be sure to use quick oats in this recipe. They're a bit thinner than rolled oats and will give your cookies the perfect texture.
- You can easily make these cookies gluten-free by using certified gluten-free oats.
- Cookies can be stored in an airtight container within the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I actually love them chilled!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I have made these cookies for my kids when they were little. I always let my mixture boil for 1 minute after it has reached the boiling point. On humid days they wont set well and are mushy. Those days I just add a little extra oats and that seems to work great for me. Kids are grown but hey doesn’t hurt for the kid in me to enjoy such a yummy treat.
Thanks so much for the tips, Anita! I appreciate you taking the time to stop by and leave a comment. Happy baking, or no-baking!
-Jamie
I have used crunchy peanut butter, or have even added slivered almonds and raisins when using dark cocoa powder for a change of pace…
Thanks so much for stopping by, Deb! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Baking!
-Jamie
Like you, my mom also used to make these no bake cookies for my brothers and I! Weโd take them on our vacations every summer and I have such happy memories of eating these cookies on the dock! Such good memories and it was nice that you had the same!
Thanks for the recipe again!ย
Bonnie
Thanks so much for stopping by, Bonnie! I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Happy Baking!
-Jamie
Tried these while babysitting my little sister they were a hit thanks for the recipeย
So happy to hear you enjoyed them, Alison. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving your feedback!
-Jamie
Would you be able to substitute coconut oil for butter? If so how much?
I haven’t tried this, Stasia, but if . you do, let us know how it goes.
-Jamie
Can these cookies be stored in the freezer and for how long if so.
Dinelle-
Hello! I haven’t tried to freeze these, so I am not really sure how they’ll hold up. If you give it a go, please let us know the results.
-Jamie
No baking, that’s amazing, can’t wait to try this. So easy and quick, oats recipe is my favorite one, definitely gonna try it. Thanks for sharing and love the picture.
Thanks so much for stopping by, Sara!
Hi! I was thinking, can I not use oats but instead other recipe? Like chocolate? Thank you.
I do not have stick butter, would using just normal butter out of the tub work the same?
Kayla-
Do you mean margarine? If so, I have never tried this recipe with margarine, so I am uncertain as to how the recipe would perform.
Thanks for stopping by!
-Jamie
Are old fashion oats and quick cook oats the same? ย I just purchased the old fashioned but didnโt read on what kind of oats to buy.ย
Robin-
I am pretty sure quick oats are thinner than old fashioned oats and cook quicker. Sorry you picked up the wrong ones. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
-Jamie