This No Bake Oatmeal Cookie recipe is a guilty pleasure of mine; they hold immense nostalgia. This was the first no bake cookie recipe I was allowed to make completely on my own. Whether it was an indwelling love for baking or the draw of autonomy, I made No Bake Oatmeal Cookies a lot! As simple as these should be, as a kid, I struggled to execute them well. But now? I've perfected the process and these are a go-to in our home for quick, chocolatey comfort.
With just a few pantry staples, these cookies come together in minutes, no oven required: just stir, scoop, and let them set. They're rich with cocoa, creamy peanut butter, and sweet oats, making them the ultimate kid-friendly (and mom-approved) treat. Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 1 minute boil + 20 minutes to set | Total Time: 30 minutes | Yield: Makes about 29 cookies
Easy No Bake Oatmeal Cookies: A Classic Chocolate Peanut Butter Treat
When I was little, my mom and I made these no bake oatmeal cookies more times than I can count. Many batches turned out as goo instead of cookies, but we didn't mind; we grabbed a spoon and dug in with smiles. Those messy kitchen lessons were sweet in their own way. Over the years, with practice and patience, I've gotten much better at making them. Now it's my kids who beg for these cookies, and I love passing on the same joy my mom shared with me.
These easy no bake oatmeal cookies (with peanut butter) are one of my favorites. If you are looking for even more cookie recipes, have no fear, we have plenty of great cookie recipes! Make sure to check out another family favorite, one I often baked with my kids; our Gooey Homemade Brownies: The Best Easy Brownie Recipe from Scratch recipe. And, make sure to check out all of Kendra's favorite recipes!
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- Easy No Bake Oatmeal Cookies: A Classic Chocolate Peanut Butter Treat
- 👩 Cookies with Instant Smiles
- 🥘 Ingredients Matter
- 🔪 "No Bake" Instructions
- ⏲️ Easy "Baking" Time
- 💭 Kendra's Top Tips
- 📋 Classic No-Bake Cookies FAQs
- 🍪 Ready to Try One of My Favorite Cookies?
- 📋 The Best No Bake Oatmeal Cookie Recipe
- Recipe
- 💭 Support Lily Pad With Us
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- 🥛 Our Other Cookie Recipes
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👩 Cookies with Instant Smiles
If I'm every craving a quick treat, or a bit of home, these no bake cookies can be prepared at a moments notice with ingredients typically kept on hand. This recipe is simple in form, and content, but does require a watchful eye during the boiling process. If the butter, sugar, and cocoa mixture doesn't boil for a full minute, the cookies won't set up correctly. If it boils much over this, the mix becomes candy. Now, that's not a bad thing in flavor, but it won't produce the desired cookie texture we are seeking here.
This step is where I faltered often as a child. However, I also suspect my difficulties resulted from attempting to microwave the ingredients in lou of using the stove top. Something about the microwave process didn't yield the correct texture, so learn from my past experience. Stick to the stove top, trust me. Sometimes basic recipes call for traditional processes. Just go with it!
How long to cook these no bake oatmeal cookies? Zero oven time, but 20-30 minutes on the stovetop. Real fast if you ask me. If you are looking for even more cookie recipes, have no fear, we have plenty of great cookie recipes!
Discover the joy of making no bake oatmeal cookies with this easy recipe. Enjoy the classic flavors and simplicity of this delicious treat. If these no bake cookies aren't your thing, then check out one of my other favorite cookies, our White Chocolate Ship Snickerdoodle, or our all time favorite, Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe.
Looking for even more easy, kid free favorites? Our Brown Butter Rice Krispie Treat mighty just be your next favorite! Check it out!
🥘 Ingredients Matter
On the same note, quality of ingredients matters in - EVERY cookie you bake, but especially these. Top quality butter, milk, and coca power truly lends a flavor hand. Don't skip the sprinkle of sea salt at the end, either. It will elevate these kid friendly sweets in to the world of adult guilty pleasures!
These no bake cookies use just 7 simple ingredients; ones you probably already have!
- Salted Butter
- Granulated Sugar
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- Milk
- Vanilla Extract
- Creamy Peanut Butter
- Quick Oats (don't use old fashioned oats)
See recipe card below for specific quantities.
Why I always use salted butter: Salted butter enhances flavor by amplifying the butter's richness and balancing sugar. It's one simple choice that elevates every recipe. My favorite butter, that balances taste, quality, and cost is Costcos' Kirkland Signature Grass-Fed Butter.
If you're craving even more no bake inspiration, we've got you covered. Browse our full No Bake collection, so you can keep the oven off and still enjoy treats that turn out wonderfully every time.
🔪 "No Bake" Instructions
- Start by lining two baking sheets with parchment paper or set out approximately 29 cupcake liners.
- In a 2.5 to 3 quart medium saucepan combine butter, sugar, cocoa, and milk.
- Set over medium heat, and cook stirring frequently until it reaches a full boil.
- Allow mixture to boil 60 seconds without stirring.
- Remove from heat, immediately add in vanilla, peanut butter and quick oats.
- Stir mixture until well combined then, using a medium (2 Tbsp) cookie scoop or two spoons drop mixture onto lined baking sheets
- Allow to rest at room temperature until set, about 20 - 30 minutes (to speed up setting refrigerate).
- Store cookies in an airtight container at room temperature.
⏲️ Easy "Baking" Time
While there is not traditional baking in the oven, hence the name no bake cookies, prudent care during the boil step is important. If the butter, sugar, and cocoa mixture doesn't boil for a full minute, the cookies won't set up correctly. Shoot for around 60 seconds.
Enjoy these easy, no bake oatmeal cookies filled with cocoa, peanut butter, and oats. A nostalgic, kid-friendly treat ready in minutes.
💭 Kendra's Top Tips
If you boil the mixture too much, it will turn into more of a candy mixture than cookie. Don't stress... just get a spoon and enjoy. The flavor will be there, but it won't produce the desired cookie texture. You'll just have to try this recipe for no bake oatmeal cookies again another day. 🙂
And like I said earlier, use salted butter! Trust me! Salted butter enhances flavor by amplifying the flavor; the butter's richness and balancing out sugar some.
📋 Classic No-Bake Cookies FAQs
No bake cookies are a wonderful shortcut on busy days. Instead of using the oven, this no bake cookie recipe comes together on the stovetop with just a few pantry staples. The result is chewy, fudgy cookies that feel homemade and nostalgic, without the wait time of traditional baked cookies.
The most common reason no bake oatmeal cookies stay too soft is that the mixture didn't reach a full rolling boil. Be sure to let it boil for about one minute. That step helps the cookies set properly so your no bake cookie recipe holds its shape every time
Yes. Peanut butter adds both flavor and structure, but if your family avoids peanuts, try almond butter, cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter for a nut-free option. The taste will change slightly, but this no bake cookie recipe still works beautifully.
After they set, keep your no bake cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to five days. If you'd like them to last longer, refrigerate or freeze them. Just let frozen cookies thaw before serving so they're tender and chewy instead of firm. They can stay fresh for up to three months, if placed in a freezer-safe container. Use parchment paper to separate layers of cookies.
Yes, you can make no bake oatmeal cookies with stevia-but with a few important notes. Stevia is much sweeter than sugar and doesn't caramelize or thicken the same way, which means your cookies won't set as firmly on their own. To keep the texture right, you'll need to use a stevia blend that's formulated for baking (look for one that measures cup-for-cup with sugar) or replace only part of the sugar with stevia. You may also need to cook the mixture a few seconds longer so it thickens properly before stirring in the oats. The goal is a glossy, fudge-like consistency-if it still looks runny, give it another gentle boil before removing from heat.
They can be! The main ingredient to check is the oats. While oats themselves are naturally gluten free, they're often processed in facilities that handle wheat, which can cause cross-contamination. For truly gluten-free no bake cookies, use certified gluten-free oats and double-check that your cocoa powder, vanilla, and other mix-ins are labeled gluten free as well. Always check the labels, especially if you're baking for someone with celiac disease or a gluten sensitivity. The good news? These cookies taste just as rich, chewy, and chocolatey with gluten-free oats as they do with regular ones.
Boiling isn't just about melting the sugar, it's about reaching the right stage of sugar cooking. In this no bake cookie recipe, bringing the mixture to a rolling boil for about one minute allows the sugar to reach the "soft ball stage" (around 235-240°F). At this point, the sugar structure changes, which helps the cookies firm up as they cool. If you boil too little, the cookies stay gooey; too long, and they can turn dry or crumbly. That's why timing matters so much here.
Sticky cookies usually mean the sugar mixture didn't cook quite long enough. The short boil in this recipe is what allows the sugar to reach the "soft ball" stage-it thickens just enough to set as the cookies cool. If you cut that step short (or if your mixture didn't reach a full rolling boil), the cookies will stay tacky and never fully firm up. Next time, let the mixture bubble steadily for about 60-90 seconds before removing from heat. Also, make sure you measure ingredients precisely; too much milk or butter can keep them soft. Don't worry-every baker has been there! Once you've nailed the timing, you'll get that perfect fudgy bite every time.
🍪 Ready to Try One of My Favorite Cookies?
If you've been looking for the easiest way to satisfy your sweet tooth without turning on the oven, this no-bake cookie recipe is it. These chewy, fudgy no bake oatmeal cookies are simple, quick, and always a crowd favorite.
Looking for more easy no-bake cookies and no-bake recipes? We have a whole section of no-bake, from-scratch desserts you can whip up in no time.
📋 The Best No Bake Oatmeal Cookie Recipe
Recipe
The Best No Bake Cookies (with Oatmeal)
Equipment
- 1 parchment paper for lining counters or pans
Ingredients
- ½ Cup Salted Butter (113 g)
- 1 ¾ Cups Granulated Sugar (350 g)
- ⅓ Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder (32 g)
- ½ Cup Milk (120 ml)
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ⅔ Cup Creamy Peanut Butter (160 g)
- 3 Cups Quick Oats (275 g)
Instructions
- Line two baking sheets or the counter with parchment paper. I'm always for less dishes so I skip the baking sheets and simply put parchment paper down.
- In a medium saucepan combine butter, sugar, cocoa, and milk.½ Cup Salted Butter, 1 ¾ Cups Granulated Sugar, ⅓ Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, ½ Cup Milk
- Set over medium heat, and cook stirring frequently until it reaches a full boil.
- Allow mixture to boil 60 seconds without stirring.
- Remove from heat, immediately add in vanilla, peanut butter and quick oats.1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract, ⅔ Cup Creamy Peanut Butter, 3 Cups Quick Oats
- Stir mixture until well combined then, using a medium (2 Tbsp) cookie scoop or two spoons drop mixture onto parchment paper.
- Allow to rest at room temperature until set, about 20 - 30 minutes (to speed up setting refrigerate).
Notes
- These no bake oatmeal cookies work because of simple kitchen science. When the sugar, butter, and cocoa mixture boils for a full 60 seconds, the sugar reaches the "soft ball" stage. This chemical change allows the cookies to firm up instead of staying gooey. Skipping or rushing this step is the #1 reason no bake cookies don't set.
- This no bake cookie recipe has been tested multiple times in my own kitchen to ensure consistent results. If you're new to candy-making science, don't worry-the oats and peanut butter make this process more forgiving than traditional fudge.
- For a fun variation, swap peanut butter for almond butter or sunflower seed butter. It changes the flavor profile slightly, but the texture of these no bake cookies stays delicious.
- Using quick oats keeps these no bake oatmeal cookies soft and chewy. If you prefer a rustic texture, try old-fashioned oats-the recipe still works, but the bites are heartier.
- Want to explore more easy no bake desserts? Browse our no bake recipe collection for tested favorites that use the same principles of time, temperature, and technique.
Nutrition
Who would have thought these unbaked cookies are such a hit! These are my #1 recipe of all time here on the blog, because of how easy and flavorful they are. And they are perfect to make with the kiddos! But, if you are in need of gluten free options, or more no bake recipes, we have you covered!
Oh, and make sure to follow us on Instagram or Facebook for our latest recipes!
💭 Support Lily Pad With Us
When Kendra isn't baking or caring for her family, she is actively involved in Lily Pad as their Director of Operations. Lily Pad is dedicated to demonstrating God's love by supporting vulnerable youth in diverse ways and focused on creating safe spaces where they can thrive and find support. Lily Pad creates a personal space within the DSS offices that can help children experiencing foster care feel a sense of belonging.
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About Kendra Boettner
Hi, I'm Kendra, wife, mom of three, and the baker behind The Baker's Table.
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🍪 Or start with a reader favorite:
- Best No-Bake Oatmeal Cookies
- The Best Homemade Brownies (Chewy, Fudgy!)
- Lemon Meringue Bars with Swiss Meringue
- Cake Pucks Made Easy (Cake Pops without the Sticks)
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ERIC says
One of our family favorite recipe and desserts! Kids LOVE them!
Janice Stocks says
Can you add cha seeds to no bake cookie recipe
Kati says
Usually when I make no bakes I have problems with the cookies not firming up. This recipe resulted in solid, perfect cookies.
Charleston says
Made these with the kids. Super easy, kids loved helping. Tasted great too.
Lauren says
Kids loved them! Thanks for sharing, the recipe was easy to follow and tasted great. I’ll be making these again for sure.
Pat says
These brought back all the childhood feels! I used to make a version of these with my grandma, and I remember always hoping they'd set... even when we rushed the boil. Made them with my kiddos this time, and not only did they set perfectly (thanks for the boil tip!), but we all stood around the counter sneaking warm spoonfuls.
Ashley says
Family favorite for sure. Super easy to make. Taste great. Make sure to to only boil for a minute. I learned this is key! We will be trying these again soon for sure.
Lex says
These were so delicious and easy to make, yum!
Ingrid S. says
Great recipe, easy and easy for me to adapt it to vegan
Sarah | Well and Full says
These cookies are amazing! 😀
Jet says
This recipe looks like the perfect quick treat. Love how nostalgic and fuss-free it feels. Great for busy days or when you just want something sweet without turning on the oven.