Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

A classic Chocolate No-Bake Cookie recipe that will spark those fond memories of your childhood. Sweet chocolate with a hint of peanut butter in a chewy oatmeal cookie!

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How to make Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

These no-bake cookies are hands down my favorite and most cherished cookie recipe. My grandma would make a special batch for me, knowing I’d rather not have nuts mixed in. So in this recipe, nuts are optional.

Gathering your ingredients for Chocolate no-bake cookies

White granulated sugar – A coconut sugar or a monk fruit sweetener can replace white granulated sugar 1:1 if you need to go that route.

Butter – Unsalted butter or salted butter will work fine. Salted butter may add an extra layer of flavor.

Cocoa powder – Any cocoa powder you have on hand will work fine. I love this cocoa powder for just about everything! Hersheys cocoa powder will work also. An unsweetened cocoa powder is ideal.

Milk – Milk preference of your will work. Try almond milk for an additional nutty flavor!

Vanilla extract – A pure vanilla extract will yield the best vanilla flavor. Using a vanilla paste will work also.

Creamy Peanut butter – Creamy peanut butter with honey is what I prefer in this recipe. The honey adds just a touch more sweetness. Crunchy peanut butter is also another great option.

Quick Cooking Oats – Be sure to use quick oats and not old-fashioned oats. Using steel-cut or old-fashioned rolled oats will result in a dryer cookie. Quick oats will absorb that moisture and make for a melt in the mouth cookie.

Chopped nuts – 100% optional in this recipe. Just a personal preference of mine to opt for no nuts, but you can add chopped walnuts or pecans.

*see recipe card for detailed measurements

Kitchen supplies you’ll need

• Dutch oven
• A rubber spatula or Wooden spoon
• Cookie scoop
• Parchment paper or wax paper

Boil it, Mix it, & Drop it!

Add sugar, cocoa powder, butter, and milk to a dutch oven or medium saucepan.

On medium heat, stir the mixture until it reaches a rolling boil. Let the mixture reaches a full rolling boil for exactly 2 minutes. Set a timer!

Remove from the heat and add the vanilla extract, creamy peanut butter, quick cooking oats, and nuts *optional.

Stir with a rubber spatula until the mixture is completely mixed together.

Use a large cookie scoop to scoop out the cookie and drop cookies onto a sheet of parchment paper.

Using a medium cookie scoop will result in smaller cookies, but more of them.

Allow the no bake cookies to cool completely and set properly before eating.

Tips for Making, Eating, & Storing No-bake chocolate cookies

Making

-This cookie mixture comes together fairly quickly, so don’t take your eyes off of your pan.

-You should easily be able to double or triple the recipe if using a dutch oven. They’re typically large enough to handle the extra cookie ingredients.

-Make sure your mixture reaches a rolling boil over medium heat for exactly 2 minutes to ensure your drop cookies set properly.

-Use quick oats! Old fashioned rolled oats, while delicious, wont absorb the melted sugar well enough and could result in a drier cookie.

Eating

-A tall glass of milk or almond milk with these chocolate cookies will really help balance that rich chocolate and peanut butter.

Storing

-Store No Bake chocolate oatmeal cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 1 week

-Store No Bake cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Seperate each cookie with parchment paper so they don’t stick to eachother.

-Freeze No Bake chocolate oatmeal cookies in an airtight container, seperated by parchment paper, for up to 3 weeks.

No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies FAQ

Why wont my No-Bake cookie harden?

If your chocolate no-bake cookies do not harden, then it is likely that the butter/sugar mixture did not boil long enough. The recipes requires 2 minutes exactly of a rolling boil.

The sugar needs to reach that “soft ball” stage so when the cookies are left to cool, the sugar will harden some and hold the cookie together.

Why are my No-Bake cookies grainy?

If your cookies appear grainy after setting it is likely one of two things. The sugar mixture wasn’t cooked long enough, or it was cooked too long.

If cooked too long, the cookie will end up dry and crumbly. If not cooked long enough, they wont set.

Tools I use

Dutch oven

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Cookie scoop

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Try these other delicious recipes!

• Chocolate Chip Mint Cookies
• Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cake
• GIANT Chocolate Chip and Cranberry Cookie
• Ladyfinger Dessert Cookies (for Tiramisu)
• Peanut Butter Cookies
• Milla’s Sugar Cookie

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