A classic chocolate peanut butter no bake cookie recipe that will spark those fond memories of your childhood. Melt in your mouth flavors in these large chocolate and peanut butter no bake cookies!
These peanut butter no-bake cookies are hands down my favorite and most cherished cookie recipe. My grandma would make a special double batch just for me, knowing I'd rather not have nuts mixed in. So in this recipe, nuts are optional. Peep her recipe down below. It's been well loved.
Another thing I love about no bake cookies, is when I use my large cookie scoop, I know right away how they're going to look and how big their going to be. These are chunky and thick cookies.
If you want to bake oatmeal cookies instead I have a few you can try. Get your baking sheet ready for my brown butter pumpkin oatmeal cookies are delish! These spiced oatmeal raisin cookies and white chocolate cranberry oatmeal cookies are to die for.
Don't think I forgot about my roots. I LOVE no bake cookies, so naturally I have a few more for you. Swap out that peanut butter for Nutella in my Nutella no bake cookies.
My butterscotch no bake cookies are extra fun with dark chocolate chips and flaky salt. Also another ode to my grandma with all the butterscotch candies she's given me.
To enjoy this treat WITHOUT peanut butter, try these delicious No Bake Cookies without Peanut Butter.
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Important Ingredients with Substitutions
- 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! Hershey's cocoa powder will work also. An unsweetened cocoa powder is ideal.
- Milk - The milk preference of your choice 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. I have not tried any other peanut butter like almond butter or sunflower seed butter. If you happen to try either of these let me know how it goes!
- 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 simple recipe. Just a personal preference of mine to opt for no nuts, but you can add chopped walnuts or pecans.
See the recipe below for the full list of ingredients and quantities.
Instructions for Chocolate No bake Cookies
Step 1: Add sugar, cocoa powder, butter, and milk to a Dutch oven or medium saucepan.
Step 2: 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!
Step 3: Remove from the heat and add the vanilla extract, creamy peanut butter, quick-cooking oats, and nuts *optional.
Step 4: Stir with a rubber spatula until the chocolate mixture is completely mixed together.
Step 5: Use a large cookie scoop to scoop out the cookie and drop cookies onto two baking sheets or a sheet of parchment paper.
Step 6: Allow the no bake cookies set and cool completely before eating.
Level Up with a Top Tip!
Hint: Using a medium cookie scoop will result in smaller cookies, but more of them.
Recipe Variations
While these no bake cookies are a classic in their own right, you can add a few different ingredients here and there to make them your own.
- Sweetened or unsweetened shredded coconut.
- Mixed nuts and dried fruits will give these cookies a trail mix feel.
- Salted peanuts will elevate the peanut flavor and give a crunchy texture.
- Fancy nuts... Add cashew halves and shelled pistachios for more of a gourmet treat.
Storage Recommendations
Store No Bake chocolate oatmeal cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to one week
Store No Bake cookies in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks. Separate each cookie with parchment paper so they don't stick to each other.
Can I freeze peanut butter no bake cookies? Freeze no bake chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies in an airtight container, separated by parchment paper, for up to 3 weeks.
Level Up With Expert Tips & Tricks
The no bake cookie mixture comes together fairly quickly, so don't take your eyes off 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 chocolate peanut butter mixture.
Make sure your mixture reaches a rolling boil over medium heat for exactly 2 minutes to ensure your drop cookies are set properly.
Use quick oats! Old-fashioned oats, while delicious, won't absorb the melted sugar well enough and could result in a drier cookie. If those are all you have, pulsing oats in a food processor before hand could work, though I have not tried this method.
A tall glass of milk or almond milk with these chocolate no bake cookies will really help balance that rich chocolate and peanut butter.
To cool no bake cookies quickly, drop your cookies onto a prepared baking sheet and stick them in the fridge to set up.
Recipe FAQs
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.
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 won't set.
Natural peanut butter tends to separate and may not work as intended. However, if you want to use it, give it a good stir to combine all the oils first.
Similar Sweets
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
No Bake Chocolate Cookies with Peanut Butter
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups white granulated sugar
- ½ cup butter
- 4 tablespoons dutch process cocoa powder
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter with honey
- 3 cups quick oats
- ½ cup chopped nuts *Optional
Instructions
- Add sugar, cocoa powder, butter, and milk to a dutch oven or large nonstick pot.
- Stir the mixture until it reaches a boil. Boil for exactly 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat and add the vanilla, peanut butter, oatmeal, and nuts *optional
- Use a large cookie scoop to scoop out the cookie mixture onto a sheet of parchment paper.
- Allow the no-bake cookies to cool completely before eating.
Alicia Kingsbury
This is my all-time favorite cookie and a no-fail recipe! 🙌
Tavo
I loved not having to bake the cookies as it is super hot in here. The boys devoured them! Thanks for the recipe!
Kris
Super easy and tasty - my kids loved them! Thank you for another winner!
Tara
These cookies sound absolutely wonderful! You had me at no-bake. I love that they have a hint of peanut butter.
Suja MD
This looks and sounds fabulous! Love this recipe. It's a perfect dish for my family.
Ieav
Superb! Reminded me of the chocolate fridge cake, but better, quicker and with the lovely texture of oats! 100% my new favourite no-bake cookie! Thanks for the recipe 🙂
Mirlene
What an easy and delicious cookies to have! I love these cookies especially the chocolate flavor without having to bake them! I usually add walnuts or pecans when I make these.
Sharon
These chocolate no-bake cookies are so easy to make and have a wonderful combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and oats.
Tayler Ross
I made these cookies over the weekend and they were amazing!! Thanks so much for sharing the recipe!