These no bake cookies are an easy to make dessert with only a few simple ingredients. Soft, chewy and fudgy with a classic chocolate and peanut butter taste!
Classic No-Bake Cookies
I love to make all types of no-bake desserts because they are simple, quick and no oven is required! These easy no bake cookies are a crowd favorite for after school snacks and game night, as well as no-bake cornflake cookies, avalanche cookies and haystack cookies.
This is my go-to cookie recipe, though, when I crave the perfect chocolate and peanut butter combo! They are super soft, chewy and only take 7 ingredients and 15 minutes to make.
Recipe Ingredients
Before making this easy no bake cookies recipe it is a great idea to gather and measure out all your ingredients.
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Butter: Real butter will add the best rich taste although margarine could be used.
- Milk: Any milk works from skim milk to whole milk or even 2%. You could even use a non dairy milk such as almond milk.
- Granulated sugar: Adds a sweet taste and helps the cookies set.
- Cocoa powder: Adds the signature chocolate taste. Use natural unsweetened cocoa powder or Dutch-process cocoa powder.
- Peanut butter: Creamy peanut butter is best, crunchy peanut butter could be used but skip any natural peanut butter you have to stir.
- Vanilla extract: Adds another layer of flavor.
- Quick cooking oats: Quick-cooking oats are smaller and less chewy and preferred for this recipe.
How to Make No Bake Cookies
Combine sugar, butter, milk and cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil. Once boiling, cook an additional 1 1/2 minutes and then immediately remove from heat.
Stir in peanut butter and vanilla.
Then add in quick oats with a pinch of salt and stir until well coated.
Using a spoon or cookie scoop to drop the cookie batter onto the lined baking sheet. Let cool until set.
Tips for Perfect No-Bake Cookies
- Line your baking sheets with parchment paper or wax paper so the cookies don’t stick.
- Use quick oats. Old fashioned rolled oats will cause the texture of the cookies to change and be chewier. Pulse your rolled oats a few times in the blender and then use them!
- Before removing the pan from the burner, make sure the mixture is boiling (not simmering). This ensures your easy no bake cookies will set properly.
- In order to speed up the setting process, place cookies in refrigerator to harden faster.
- Store at room temperature for 3-4 days or in the fridge for 5-7 days.
- Let set completely, then add to freezer bag or airtight container. Store in freezer for 2-3 months.
If you love chocolate and peanut butter, try my peanut butter blossoms, chocolate peanut butter fudge and peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.
More No-Bake Recipes
Browse all
HUNGRY FOR MORE? Subscribe to my newsletter and follow on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for all the newest recipes!
No Bake Cookie Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 ¾ cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup butter , see notes
- ½ cup milk
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¾ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 ½ cups Quick 1 minute oats , see notes
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prep. Line two baking sheets with parchment or wax paper. Set aside.
- Boil sugar and butter. Combine 1 3/4 cup sugar, 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup milk and 1/3 cup cocoa powder in a saucepan over medium-heat. Bring to a boil (not simmer). Once it reaches a boil, cook for an additional 1 1/2 minutes and then immediately remove from heat.
- Add in peanut butter, oats and vanilla. Stir in 3/4 cup peanut butter and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Add in 2 1/2 cups oats and a pinch of salt. Stir until well coated.
- Drop cookies onto pan and cool. Drop batter by the spoonful onto the lined pan. Let cool until set. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: American, Chocolate, Chocolate Cookies, Cookies, Freezer-Friendly, No-Bake, Oatmeal Cookies
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
Yummy easy recipe I needed in my life!
Love that! Glad to have helped with the no-bake cookie recipe. :)
I just made these using another recipe and the boil time was 60 seconds which I timed and the cookies were horribly soft. I’ve read other recipes that go up to three minutes. How do you know exactly what the timing should be? Also if anyone makes these and they come out soft I rocked my brain trying to figure out how I could fix them so I could stack them on a cookie tray and I ended up coding the bottoms and chocolate And it was perfect.
I like to boil mine for 1.5 minutes. I do prefer mine on the softer side. Thanks for the tip on stacking :)
This was my first time making no bakes. I measured 1 cup of peanut butter. they came out perfect!!the right amount of dryness and moisture.
I made these on a hot summer day when I wanted a homemade dessert without turning the oven on. I used Quaker organic instant oatmeal packets because that’s what I had in the house! I also put the trays of cookies directly in the fridge to harden since it was hot in my kitchen. They turned out delicious! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
That is great to hear! I am so glad that you loved it!
these are the perfect little treat at the end of the day when I dont want to take forever making something sweet, but I need to satisfy the craving! thank you so much for sharing this recipe
So glad you enjoyed the no bake cookies!
These turned out perfect! Tasted amazing too. A keeper recipe.
I love this recipe. I have made this so many times and it always turns out perfect. Sometimes, I have swapped out the peanut butter for Nutella and they are incredible.
Can I reduce the sugar to half cup?
I haven’t tried, but let us know how it goes!