These 7-ingredient no bake cookies are filled with oats, peanut butter, and cocoa powder. They're chewy, fudgy, and easy to make—no oven required!
Who else loves no bake cookies?! Made with simple ingredients like oats, peanut butter, and cocoa powder, these classic treats are chewy, fudgy, and packed with delicious chocolate peanut butter flavor. They’re also easy to whip up on the stovetop—no oven required!
I’ve been making this no bake cookies recipe on repeat lately for two reasons. Reason #1: It’s great for making with kids! My four-year-old Ollie loves mixing and scooping the dough. Reason #2: You don’t have to turn on the oven. On a hot summer day, these no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies are the best way to satisfy a cookie craving. Try them the next time you’re in the mood for something sweet. I think you’ll love them!
No Bake Cookies Ingredients
This chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies recipe calls for 7 simple ingredients:
- Oats! They give these cookies their signature chewy texture. I love to use whole rolled oats (aka old fashioned oats) here, but you can substitute quick-cooking oats if that’s what you keep on hand. The whole rolled oats make these cookies extra-chewy.
- Peanut butter – Feel free to use any creamy peanut butter you like. I typically use natural peanut butter, but conventional peanut butter works here too. If you go the natural route, make sure the peanut butter is runny and well-stirred, not chunky or dry.
- Cocoa powder – It gives these cookies their rich chocolate flavor and helps bind them together. Regular and Dutch-process cocoa powder both work.
- Granulated sugar – For sweetness.
- Milk – Any kind you like! I’ve had success using almond milk and whole milk in this recipe.
- Unsalted butter – It adds richness and helps the cookies set.
- And vanilla extract – For warm depth of flavor.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Make No Bake Cookies
This no bake cookies recipe has four simple steps:
- Boiling the sugar, milk, butter, and cocoa powder
- Adding the peanut butter, vanilla, and oats
- Scooping the cookies
- Letting them cool completely and set
Start by boiling the chocolate mixture. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the sugar, milk, and cocoa powder and whisk until smooth, then bring the mixture to a rolling boil, with bubbles forming across the mixture’s entire surface.
Boil for 2 minutes, reducing the heat as needed if the mixture looks like it’s going to boil over. This process thickens the chocolate mixture so that it can bind the cookies together.
Next, add the peanut butter, vanilla, and oats. Remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the peanut butter and vanilla. The peanut butter might look slightly separated at first, but as you continue to stir, the chocolate mixture will become thick and smooth. Add the oats and mix until well combined.
Then, form the cookies. Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the oat mixture onto two baking sheets lined with parchment paper. If you like, you can flatten the oat mounds to get more of a “cookie” shape.
Chill the cookies in the refrigerator until firm, 30 minutes or more.
That’s it!
How to Store No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
This recipe uses slightly more peanut butter and slightly less sugar than most, so the cookies come out a bit gooier. As a result, they’re best kept in the fridge. Store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
They also freeze well for up to 3 months. Let frozen cookies thaw in the refrigerator overnight, or let them sit at room temperature for 15 to 20 minutes to soften.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t skimp on the boiling time. Set a timer and let the mixture go for a full 2 minutes! If you don’t boil the mixture long enough, the cookies won’t set up.
- Variations are fair game. Replace the peanut butter with almond butter, or make a nut-free variation by subbing in sunflower seed butter. I also love adding chocolate chips to this recipe. Stir in a few when you add the oats. They’ll melt slightly, making the cookies extra-fudgy and delicious!
More Easy Cookie Recipes
If you love these no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies, try one of these easy cookie recipes next:
- Perfect Oatmeal Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies
- Or any of these 17 Easy Cookie Recipes!
Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter, 1 stick, sliced into pats
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup milk
- ÂĽ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- Âľ cup creamy peanut butter*
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups whole rolled oats
Instructions
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the sugar, milk, and cocoa powder and whisk until smooth. Bring to a rolling boil, adjusting the heat as needed to maintain a full boil for 2 minutes.
- Remove from the heat. Add the peanut butter and vanilla and stir until smooth, then add the oats and mix until well combined. Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the oat mixture onto the prepared baking sheets, flattening the cookies slightly if desired.
- Chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to firm up. The cookies will become firmer the longer they chill.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Notes
Thank you for sending me the recipes. Unfortunately due to the fact that my husband was not well and passed away recently I have not been baking much. Will let you know once I am back to my old self.
Have a nice day!
Did the recipe for this get changed? I just made it last week and it called for coconut oil and honey – not butter and sugar? Was so good before and felt so good about eating them.
Hi Meagan, here’s that older recipe, sorry for the confusion!: https://www.loveandlemons.com/healthy-no-bake-cookies/
I have been making this recipe every Christmas for the past 65 years! One of my favorites. :>) Nice seeing it on your site.
These are great cookies. My husband calls them dirt clod cookies. I used to make these and send them to work with him back in 1980’s. He always came home with an empty container.
I’m glad he loved them!
Can you make these without butter ? Would like a healthy version vegan please!
Yes, I’m wondering if one could use coconut oil instead?
Here’s our recipe that uses coconut oil: https://www.loveandlemons.com/healthy-no-bake-cookies/
Buy Vegan Butter.
These no bake cookies look amazing, perfect for hot days when I don’t want the oven on. I love how simple the ingredients are, especially with oats and peanut butter. I came across some handy tips on SheMed’s blogs too that make recipes like this even easier to try at home. and also helpful for weight loss.
hi there! I grew up with this recipe; using regular milk; and think it was cooked longer, and the candy texture becomes hard like fudge. Not sticky, or gooey… looking for a vegan recipe that ends with a firm cookie.
Do you know what I am talking about? a true fudgey cookie that firms up.
IF I cook the mixture longer will that work out?
The only thing more incredible than the ease of this recipe is the taste of the cookies. I used oat milk to really punch up the oaty flavour, but otherwise followed the recipe as written. Thanks for keeping me fed!
So glad you enjoyed the recipe, Corey!
This was so yummy and easy. I replaced the milk with almond milk and did gluten free oats. I will be adding this to my recipe book.
I’m so glad you loved the cookies!
These look delicious ! Has anyone tried using either regular or coconut milk instead of the almond milk ? I have everything on hand and don’t want to go to the store. Thanks!
Getting to this way too late, but for future reference, regular milk would work well here!
These are incredible!!
I’m so glad you loved them, Rebekah!
Let’s be honest… These are essentially peanut butter, oatmeal fudge rounds. It’s more like an oat filled fudge than anything else. Who doesn’t like fudge?
Hi Shanon, that’s a good description of them! Fudgy and delicious. 🙂
Made these last night and they were a hit! Very easy and satisfying to make.
Hi Julia, I’m so glad you loved them!
How many calories etc are in these?
Absolutely delicious. One of my favorite recipes.