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Posted by Aimee 53 comments
Published: May 02, 2018 Last Updated: Sep 28, 2023
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No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies are filled with crunchy oats, creamy peanut butter and satisfying sweetness. You don’t even need to turn on the oven to make these easy homemade cookies.
Looking for a different flavor of no bake cookie? These No-Bake Oatmeal Scotchies are another reader favorite! OR give our avalanche cookies a try.
What are No Bake Cookies
No Bake Cookies are cookies that don’t require any baking in the oven.
They’re made with a combination of ingredients that stick together and hold their shape, without the traditional flour and egg in most baked cookies.
Today’s recipe is a classic No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie, one of the most popular no-bake cookie varieties.
- Delicious chocolate-peanut butter flavor
- Chewy oatmeal cookie texture
- No oven required
If you’re looking for the perfect recipe to make with your kids, give these cookies a shot! It comes together easily and doesn’t involve the hazard of a hot oven, making it a stress-free option for families to make together.
Enjoy these chocolate oatmeal cookies with a big glass of milk. Or be like me and pour yourself a fresh cup of coffee! A cup of our pumpkin cream cold brew coffee would be delicious!
Ingredient Notes
- Cocoa powder – This is the prominent flavor of these chocolate oatmeal no-bakes, so we recommend a good quality brand here.
- Peanut butter – The sticky nut butter holds the ingredients together so the cookies keep their shape. We recommend creamy peanut butter over crunchy for no bake cookies.
- Quick oats – These are a more finely chopped version of rolled oats. The finer texture allows them to absorb more of the liquid in this recipe and makes the cookies soft and chewy.
- Unsalted Butter – You’ll melt this with milk, sugar and the cocoa powder to give the cookies their richness and moisture. Salted butter can also be used, just don’t skip the added salt called for in the recipe.
Easy Instructions
- First, have all your ingredients measured and ready. This comes to a boil quickly, and sets up quickly. Also, lay out your parchment paper on your counter before beginning.
- Next, over medium heat, you’ll combine the sugar, cocoa, milk, and butter. You’ll bring that to a full boil. Boil for only ONE MINUTE.
- Immediately remove from heat and add in the vanilla extract, salt, peanut butter, and oats. Stir until combined.
- Working quickly, drop by large tablespoon onto your parchment paper (I use two spoons). Allow to set, about 20 minutes. Try to not EAT it all as it sets, haha!
- Store in airtight container at room temperature. ENJOY.
PRO TIP: You can even make No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies without the chocolate. They’re quite tasty, especially if you toss in the Reese’s Pieces!
Tips and Tricks
- Enjoy chilled: Store your no bake cookies in the fridge for a refreshing chocolate treat on a hot summer day. We love the flavor even more when they’re cold.
- Storing: You can also store these cookies at room temperature! They keep well at room temperature for about 5 days or up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Mine never last that long because we eat them within a day or two!
- Do not overboil. Set a timer and keep it to one minute. Over cooking the sugars results in crumbly cookies.
Recipe FAQs
Can I use rolled oats instead of quick oats?
Rolled oats can be used but the consistency of the cookies will not be the same. Because the oat grains are larger, they do not absorb the liquid as well and will not be as soft and chewy.
Why do my no bake cookies fall apart?
If your no bake cookies are consistently falling apart, you may be overboiling the sugar, milk and butter mixture. Over cooked sugar turns no bake cookies into a crumbly mess.
Why are my no bake cookies runny?
On the opposite side of the spectrum, under cooking your butter and sugar will cause the cookies to have too much liquid. Similar to making chocolate peanut butter fudge, the temperature has to be just right for perfect cookie texture!
Will natural peanut butter work in no-bake cookie recipes?
We have made this recipe with both natural peanut butter (the kind you have to stir) and regular peanut butter like Jif and Skippy. It works well with both kinds, so feel free to use whatever you have.
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No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
4.78 from 53 votes
By: Aimee
Easy recipe for No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies! The peanut butter with chocolate and oats gives these cookies so much flavor!
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Additional Time: 25 minutes minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes minutes
Servings: 60 cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 cups quick cook oats
Instructions
Over medium heat, cook sugar, cocoa, milk and butter. Bring to a boil and boil for one minute.
Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla, salt, peanut butter, and oats. Stir until combined.
Drop by tablespoon on parchmentpaper and cool.Allow to set about 20 minutes.
Notes
- Enjoy chilled: Store your no bake cookies in the fridge for a refreshing chocolate treat on a hot summer day. We love the flavor even more when they’re cold.
- Storing: You can also store these cookies at room temperature! They keep well at room temperature for about 5 days or up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator. Mine never last that long because we eat them within a day or two!
- Do not overboil. Set a timer and keep it to one minute. Over cooking the sugars results in crumbly cookies.
- See blog post for more recipe tips and tricks.
Video
Nutrition
Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 70kcal, Carbohydrates: 10g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 3g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 4mg, Sodium: 14mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 7g
Course: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!
No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies are the perfect summer dessert recipe. Whip up a batch in minutes!