Best No Bake Cookies
Updated May 17, 2026
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These are the best chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies! They are fudgy and chewy with a rich chocolate peanut butter flavor. Made with cocoa powder, peanut butter and oats, this easy no bake cookies recipe comes together in 5 minutes with simple ingredients — no oven required!
One bite of these classic chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies instantly takes me to to my childhood! They’re rich, fudgy, chewy, and packed with nostalgic chocolate peanut butter flavor in every bite!
This easy no bake cookies recipe only takes 5 minutes to make with simple ingredients, and then all you have to do is let them set. Plus, they’re naturally gluten-free so everyone can enjoy them!
They are a perfect warm weather treat because you don’t need to tun on your oven. But they’re also a must-make for Christmas cookie trays alongside favorites like these cut-out sugar cookies, gingerbread cookies, peanut butter blossoms, etc. because they are so easy and delicious.
These no bake cookies are seriously SO good!! I’ve made them several times and we eat them up in no time.
– Julia
No-Bake Cookies: Ingredients & Substitutions
- Granulated sugar. White sugar or organic cane sugar both work well in this recipe.
- Salted Butter. Unsalted butter can be used in place of salted butter. Also vegan butter, ghee or coconut oil.
- Whole milk. 2% milk or half and half can be used in place of whole milk.
- Peanut Butter. If you have a peanut allergy in your home, any nut or seed butter works well in this no bake cookie recipe.
- Quick-cooking oatmeal. If you only have old-fashioned oats on hand, simply put them in a blender or food processor and pulse once or twice. This will give them the texture of quick-cooking oats.
Equipment
Here’s the equipment you will need to make this recipe!
- Saucepan (4 quarts)
- Cookie sheet
- Wax paper
- Small cookie scoop or 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon
- Whisk
- Spatula
- Measuring cups & measuring spoons
- Kitchen timer (or watch timer)
How to Make No Bake Cookies
This no bake cookie recipe only takes 5 minutes to make. This is a fast-paced recipe and it’s important to lay our all the equipment and ingredients you’ll need before starting.
Start by lining a large baking sheet with wax paper, and set it aside. Then find a small cookie scoop or 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon to use to portion out the cookies.
In a medium saucepan, over medium heat combine butter, milk, sugar and cocoa powder.
Whisk or stir continuously to combine until the butter is melted.
Bring mixture to a boil and boil for 1 minute.
After 1 minute, turn off the heat but leave the pan on the warm burner. Next, add peanut butter and vanilla and whisk to combine until the peanut butter is melted.
Lastly, add quick-cooking oatmeal and sea salt. Stir until combined. You need to work quickly during this step because the mixture begins to harden as it cools.
Then, use a small cookie scoop or 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon to scoop the no bake cookies onto prepared baking sheet.
Let the no bake oatmeal cookies sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes, or until hardened. You can put them in the refrigerator to hasten the hardening process.
Why Didn’t My No Bake Cookies Set?
There are a handful of reasons why your no-bake cookies might not set. Here are a few and how to fix them.
- Did not boil long enough – you have to boil the mixture for a full minute, set a timer to be sure.
- Heat was too low – you can’t just simmer the mixture – it has to be a full rolling boil.
- Humidity – if your kitchen is humid try putting the cookies in the fridge to harden.
- The cookies haven’t cooled all the way – let the cookies cool fully. Put them in the fridge or freezer to speed up the process.
Serve
Serve these chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies with a tall glass of milk as an afternoon snack or holiday treat! Everyone will love them!
More No-Bake Recipes
If you love these no bake cookies, you need to try some of these recipes:
- Chocolate peanut butter bars are my family’s favorites.
- Puppy chow a classic and my method makes it perfect.
- Haystack cookies are so fun and easy!
- Healthy no bake cookies for a lighter treat.
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars lunch lady perfection.
- Scotcheroos made without corn syrup.
How to Store No Bake Cookies
Store these no bake cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days or in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
How to Freeze No Bake Cookies
Freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Transfer them to the refrigerator or the counter at room temperature to thaw slowly. Do not warm in the oven or microwave.
No Bake Cookies FAQs
The main reason no bake cookies don’t harden is not boiling the mixture long enough. Be sure to wait until the mixture is boiling, then set the timer for 1 minute!
If you wind up with gooey no bake cookies, simply store them in the refrigerator or freezer and eat them cold. As I tested this recipe this happened many times, my kids still gobbled up the chilled cookies, no problem. They taste like fudge! Then remember to boil the mixture longer next time.
It’s possible you over-boiled the mixture and cooked off too much moisture. This results in dry cookies. Please set a timer for the best results!
These chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies stay fresh for up to 5 days at room temperature.
Yes, but the texture will be slightly chewier.
Nope! They can be stored at room temperature for up to 5 days.
Yes, if you have a peanut allergy you can use almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, etc.
Yes, easily! Just use gluten-free oats.
If you make and love my recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so I can see your creations!
Best Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter cubed
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ¼ cup cocoa powder
- ⅔ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal
- pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with wax paper. Set aside.
- In a medium saucepan, over medium heat combine butter, milk, sugar and cocoa powder. Whisk continuously to combine until the butter is melted.
- Bring mixture to a boil.
- Boil mixture for 1 minute (set a timer).
- After 1 minute, remove pan from heat.
- Add peanut butter and vanilla and whisk to combine until the peanut butter is melted.
- Add quick-cooking oatmeal and sea salt. Stir until combined.
- Use a cookie scoop or 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon to scoop cookies onto prepared baking sheet.
- Let sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes, or until hardened.
Notes
- Granulated sugar. White sugar or organic cane sugar both work well in this recipe.
- Salted Butter. Unsalted butter can be used in place of salted butter. Also vegan butter, ghee or coconut oil.
- Whole milk. 2% milk or half and half can be used in place of whole milk.
- Peanut Butter. If you have a peanut allergy in your home, any nut or seed butter works well in this no bake cookie recipe.
- Quick-cooking oatmeal. If you only have old-fashioned oats on hand, simply put them in a blender or food processor and pulse once or twice. This will give them the texture of quick-cooking oats.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
My mother is diabetic can I use Splenda in place of the sugar?
Can almond milk be substituted for milk?
If you want a dairy-free option, I suggest coconut milk. Almond milk doesn’t have enough fat to make them rich and creamy.
I followed thiscrecipe to the letter. My cookies look exactly like the ones in the picture but not sure they are going to set up correctly. But they taste great!! If they don’t fully set up, I will slightly increase the boil time.
Trust the process, I’m sure they’ll set up!
Could I try these with less sugar (maybe 1 cup?) to make them healthier?
I wouldn’t reduce by 1 cup of sugar to make it healthier… the recipe is perfect as is and to be honest these cookies are healthier than any store bought chocolate cookie…you know everything that’s in it and real sugar is better than all those maltose, dextrose, and artificial additives and preservatives… I say thumbs up to the recipe as originally written..👍