Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies are a classic for a good reason (love ya chocolate and peanut butter)! This is one of the quickest and easiest cookie recipes ever, plus you only need a few ingredients to make them! I’ll show you my easy secret for making the PERFECT no bake oatmeal cookies every single time!
NOTE: This post was updated in January 2020 to include new text. This recipe was already amazing and stayed the same!
I’ve been using this recipe for years and never planned on sharing it with you because the internet is flooded with millions of versions of this classic cookie.
I’m finally sharing it for selfish reasons. Every time I make these cookies, I scrounge around to find THIS recipe. I have about a billion recipes at my house and it’s easy to lose one and I’m not the best at remembering numbers, so I NEED the recipe.
Adding it to my archives of easy cookies and no-bake desserts means I don’t have to search high and low for this recipe anymore. You guys are going to love this simple recipe to get you through those busy days when you don’t have time for the oven!
Readers Review
My brother requested no bake cookies for Christmas. So I followed your recipe to the letter (I’m not very experienced in the kitchen) and I gotta tell you, they turned out perfect. Delicious! Who knows, this may be the start of more time in the kitchen for me. Thank you so much.
Joe H.
why these are the BEST no bake peanut butter cookies
I’ve tried lots of recipes. Some only have peanut butter, but this one has chocolate! Which is heavenly! They’re fudgy and set without being gooey or dry.
- They’re never dry or gooey – not all no-bake cookies are created equally! Some are thin, some are thick, some are dry, some are too soft! These are just right!
- Chances are you have all the basic ingredients in pantry and fridge already
- They’re quick and easy and only take about 10 minutes to make
- Need gluten-free cookies? Use gluten-free oats and you’ve got it!
LITTLE DAIRY ON THE PRAIRIE SECRET TO MAKING NO BAKE COOKIES:
- TEMPERATURE – make the cookies over medium heat. High heat will bring the cookies to a boil too fast. Be patient.
- FULL ROLLING BOIL – Sugar, cocoa, butter, and milk MUST come to a full rolling boil.
- It’s considered a full rolling boil when the mixture continues to boil even when it’s being stirred
- It will have bubbles across the top of the surface. See picture below.
- TIMING – As soon as the mixture comes to a full rolling boil start timing for ONE MINUTE
ingredients in no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies
Some days I really wish I could get a grocery store to deliver to my house, then other days I’m glad I can go for a four-mile walk and not see another human!
One thing for sure, if I don’t have the ingredients on hand I’m not running to the store after them. The ingredients used in this recipe are simple and they’re easy to stock up on.
- Butter – use real butter
- Granulated Sugar
- Milk – I use evaporated milk, but you can use whole or 2%.
- Cocoa – Dutch-process or natural
- Peanut Butter – I haven’t tried making these with natural peanut butter so I can’t say how that would work.
- Oatmeal – Quick oats are my favorite. Steel-cut, old fashioned, or rolled oats can be used instead, however, they aren’t as chewy if they’re pulsed a few times in a blender or food processor. Once again, use gluten-free certified oats for gluten-free cookies.
- Vanilla – optional but good.
- Dash of salt – optional, it helps offset all the sweet.
how to make no-bake cookies (see my pro tips above)
- Measure all ingredients before you start making the cookies
- Line a baking sheet with wax paper or parchment paper
- Whisk sugar and cocoa together in a saucepan. This prevents lumpy cocoa.
- Add butter and milk.
- Over medium heat bring mixture to a ROLLING BOIL – see my pro tip above to see exactly what this is.
- As soon as the mixture is at a rolling boil, set a timer for exactly ONE MINUTE
- After one minute, remove from heat and add vanilla, peanut butter, oats, and salt.
- Stir
- Drop on prepared baking sheet
- Let cool completely
FAQ’s about making no bake cookies
how to shape no bake cookies
- A cookie scoop works great.
- A tablespoon works too.
- Work quickly because the cookies will set up quickly.
how to store cookies
- Airtight container- They’ll last at room temperature for up a week.
- Refrigerator- no need to refrigerate no-bake cookies
- Freezer – up to three months in an airtight container. Let cookies completely set. Freeze on cookie sheet for about 30 minutes. Remove and place in an airtight container.
more no bake dessert recipes you’ll love!
no-bake cookies without Oatmeal
no-bake cookies with oatmeal
peanut butter desserts recipes
- No Bake Peanut Butter Pretzel Bites
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Pretzel Bark
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Hot Fudge Sauce
- Peanut Butter Popcorn
If you have a couple of minutes you have enough time to make a batch of no-bake peanut butter cookies! You’ll be glad you did!
Classic Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 c. butter
- 2 c. sugar
- 1/2 c. milk
- 4 T. cocoa
- 1/2 c. peanut butter
- 3 1/2 c. quick oats may substitute 1/2 shredded coconut for 1/2 c. of oats if desired
- 2 tsp. vanilla
- dash salt
Instructions
- Measure peanut butter, oats, and vanilla. Set aside.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper.
- Bring butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa to a boil over medium heat. As soon as the mixture begins to boil time for 1 minute, then remove from heat.
- Add vanilla, peanut butter, oats, and salt. Stir.
- Quickly drop on prepared baking sheet.
- Let sit until completely cooled and firm.
- Store in an airtight container.
Nutrition
what’s happening on the farm?
My boys just don’t like school. They never have. They never will. We have way too many exciting things happening on the farm to mess around with school. Please understand I know education is important. They do their homework and all three of them are planning on furthering their education at college. It’s just more fun to be out hands-on on the farm.
Payson, my youngest was struggling with one of the concepts his teacher was teaching him at school. The teacher didn’t think he was going to get it. I worked with him at home and he owns that concept now!
A few days after his teacher called me I went downstairs and saw how he had his little farm set up…complete with animal reproduction happening! That’s when I thought to myself, he might not understand why a and g make two different sounds but he has the most important concepts in life figured out! I bet the other first graders didn’t know about that!
The kids absolutely love these I cannot make enough!!
They are a classic for a good reason! I love how easy they are to make!
What a great summer dessert!
It’s way too hot to turn on the oven, but we still NEED cookies!
Yummy! These will be perfect for easy school-lunch treats!
I don’t even want to think about packing lunches for school, or having my kids have to go to school! As long as lunches must happen, they just as well have these cookies in there!
Oooh, these look heavenly! I love these so much!!!
Thanks! There’s nothing quite like a classic no bake cookie!
These look so delicious! My kids love no bake cookies!
They are always popular with the kids!
Oh these sound tasty! Nothing beats the classics!
Yes! They are classic for a reason! These ones are just right!
These are a perfect treat! My kids will devour this in no time!
Every mom needs a few quick treats that are always a hit! These cookies are exactly that! Enjoy!
I haven’t made these in years. they are delicious.
I always foret about these cookies too, that is until my kids remind me! They never forget about them!
These take me right back to my childhood. My grandma and I in the kitchen. I’m so happy to have these measurements!! Thank you!!
What a fun memory! I hope you enjoy every moment of making, and eating these cookies!
i love this recipe and it is so good.
I love the cookies but I found the oats were over powering the chocolate so next time I make them I’m going to cut back on the amount of oats that I put in
You could always substitue shredded coconut for a portion of the oats if you’d like! That’s always a tasty twist on the classic! Good luck!
My brother requested no bake cookies for Christmas. So I followed your recipe to the letter (I’m not very experienced in the kitchen) and I gotta tell you, they turned out perfect. Delicious! Who knows, this may be the start of more time in the kitchen for me. Thank you so much.
Yay Joe! It’s so exciting that you are enjoying your time in the kitchen! This cookie recipe is a great place to start! Glad you enjoyed them!
I just made cookies and the are delicious . Thank You for the recipe .
Yay! I’m thrilled you enjoyed the cookies as much as we do! Aren’t they so easy? That’s one of my favorite parts!
By reading your tips/instructions, I found several things I have done wrong. Can hardly wait to make these cookies again, your way! Thanks, Linda from Bowling Green, KY.
Hi Linda! It’s amazing how there are so many different recipes, and different ways of making a simple recipe like No Bake Cookies! These little tricks have helped me get them just right every time! I hope you enjoy them as much as we do! Best of luck!
Amy, thanks! Made this last night so quick, easy and tasty!
Aren’t quick and easy recipes the best? I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Amy, thank you very much! I like this cookies! Wonderful combination of ingredients. It look so yummy!
Hi Olga! I’m glad you are enjoying these cookies! They are’re so quick and easy to make!
Amy, that recipe looks so yummy! I’ll have to try that one. Thanks for sharing.
I know there are a million classic no bake cookie recipes out there, but this one is always a hit! Enjoy!
These look great! Can I use natural peanut butter or are they better made with a blended peanut butter? Thank you!
Thanks! Yes, I have used natural peanut butter before and it worked just fine. Be sure it’s stirred really good before adding it to the cookies. Enjoy!
Amy, WOW! so simple, yet SO tasty! This is fantastic, yum. Thanks for the recipe.
Aren’t simple recipes the ones that you make over and over again! Enjoy!
Just made these with my kids and they loved them! They turned out perfect and they were so shiny!
Spending time in the kitchen with the kids is the BEST! I’m glad you all enjoyed them!
I’m late to the comments, but a year later they are still wonderful! My aunt used to make these but we’d lost the recipe. This is exactly it. Thank you!
Yay! Losing recipes is the worst! I’m so happy you found these and love them!
These are the best!!
The best No Bake Cookies.
Can you use almond milk?
Since my family owns a dairy farm I’ve never actually used almond milk in my life. So, I can’t really say from experience, but I think it should work just fine in this recipe. Let me know how it goes!