No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

These No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies are a delicious and easy treat that can be made in no time. They are chewy, flavorful and make the perfect treat after a meal or as an afternoon snack. Shape each cookie into the traditional size cookie or form it into balls and roll in your favorite toppings.

If you love no-bake treats then you will also want to try these healthy peanut butter balls.

Why You’ll This Recipe

• There’s no need to worry about heating up the house because you don’t need the oven to make this recipe. 
• You’ll love the chewy satisfying texture.
• This old-fashioned recipe tastes just like your Grandma used to make. After the first bite, you will feel like you are back to your childhood. 
• Plus, this recipe is so simple to follow that you will be coming back for more each and every time. 

Equipment Needed

Here are a few kitchen tools that you can use to make these delicious no-bake peanut butter oatmeal cookies. Grab these tools and get ready to enjoy this sweet treat. 

• medium saucepan
• parchment paper or wax paper
• large spoon

Ingredients for No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

One of the best things about this no-bake cookie recipe is that you only need a handful of simple ingredients. These ingredients are pantry staples so you don’t have to worry about making a trip to the grocery store when you are craving a sweet treat. 

• granulated sugar – you can use your favorite sugar alternative to make this a sugar-free no-bake cookie.
• unsalted butter
• milk – I use whole milk.
• cocoa, unsweetened powder. Use your favorite brand. I make these with Hershey’s cocoa. For dark chocolate try the Special Dark variety.
• Peanut Butter – I use creamy, but you can use chunky if you prefer to have the added peanuts.
• oatmeal – Use quick oats oatmeal. Old-fashioned rolled oats will be a bit more chewier.
• vanilla extract 
• chocolate chips chopped peanuts, walnuts, and shredded coconut for topping the cookies, or rolling in cookie bites.

How to Make These No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Making these old-fashioned cookies is so simple just follow the instructions below and you will have some delicious cookies that are full of peanut butter flavor.

Step 1: Boil the sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa

In a medium saucepan bring to a boil, sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa. Let boil for 1 minute then remove from heat.

Step 2: Add the remaining ingredients

Add the peanut butter, vanilla, and oatmeal. Stir until well combined.

Step: 3 Chill the dough

Put in a bowl and cool in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. On two baking sheets covered with parchment or waxed paper, drop the mixture by the teaspoonfuls. Let cool. The dough will firm up to form with your hands or scoop up with a cookie scoop.

Step 3: Shape the cookies

Flatten each cookie with the back of a spoon and garnish with chocolate chips, shape with a biscuit cutter, or roll into 1 – 1 1/2 inch balls. Decorate if desired.

What To Serve With These Cookies

These easy cookies are delicious on their own, but if you want to enjoy them after a meal you can pair them with a simple entree like this Copycat Olive Garden Steak Gorgonzola Alfredo recipe. 

Substitutions and Additions

One of the best things about these cookies that are bursting with peanut butter flavor is that they are so versatile. Here are some ways that you can customize this simple recipe. 

• Not a fan of chocolate? Leave the cocoa powder out, and add 1/4 cup of peanut butter to get extra peanut butter flavor. 
• I prefer to use an all-natural creamy peanut butter when I make these cookies, but you can switch it out and use crunchy peanut butter instead if you want a little crunch. 
• The great thing about this reason is that you can experiment with other nut butter by using almond butter or even cashew butter instead depending on what you prefer.

How To Store

Store these chewy cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator. In warmer weather, they’ll get too soft if they’re stored at room temperature. You will also want to layer them with parchment or waxed paper to avoid the cookies sticking together. They should last up to a week, but you will most likely eat them all before then! 

Sandra’s Pro Tips

• For this easy recipe, I like to use quick oats, but old-fashioned oats can be used also. The old-fashioned oats will give you a very chewy cookie. 
• Make sure that you allow the butter, sugar, and milk mixture to come to a full rolling boil before starting the timer. The boil allows the cookies to harden. 
• For these no-bake peanut butter oatmeal cookies make sure while the sugar mixture is at full boil that you stir constantly and quickly.
• You don’t have to roll these cookies into anything extra if you prefer just simple cookies.  

FAQs

Other Delicious No-Bake Desserts You May Enjoy

• Copy cat Samoas No Bake Cookies – Inspired by the famous Girl Scout Cookies, these cookies are made with coconut and caramel on a vanilla wafer and then drizzled with dark chocolate.
• Mini Cheesecake Recipe – Bite-size cheesecake that you don’t have to turn on the oven for! These are topped with fresh fruit.
• No Bake Eclair Dessert – Delicious layers of vanilla wafers, homemade pastry cream topped with chocolate ganache. Enjoy with fresh fruit and whipped cream!
• No Bake Pumpkin Protein Bites – This is a quick and easy healthy option that makes a great snack for any time of day.
• No Bake Brownies – Chewy and chocolaty treats. The base of these brownies are graham crackers and walnuts.

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

Rich no bake chocolate peanut butter cookies are the perfect snack for those warm days. Form into balls or shape into traditional sized cookies.

5 from 6 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cookies, no-bake, peanut butter cookies, sweets

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 3 dozen

Calories: 140kcal

Author: Sandra Shaffer

Equipment

• mixing bowl
• Parchment Paper

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/3 cup cocoa unsweetened
• 1 cup Peanut Butter
• 3 cups quick oats oatmeal
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• chocolate chips chopped peanuts, shredded coconut for topping the cookies or rolling in cookie bites.

Instructions

• In a medium saucepan bring to a boil, sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa. Let boil for 1 minute then remove from heat and add the peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal.
• Put in a bowl and cool in the refrigerator for 15 minutes. On two baking sheets covered with parchment or waxed paper, drop mixture by the teaspoonfuls. Let cool. The dough will firm up and be easy to form with your hands.
• Flatten each cookie with the back of a spoon and garnish with chocolate chips OR roll into 1 – 1 1/2 inch balls and roll into toppings of your choice.

Notes

• Not a fan of chocolate? Leave the cocoa powder out, and add 1/4 cup of peanut butter to get extra peanut butter flavor. 
• I prefer to use an all-natural creamy peanut butter when I make these cookies, but you can switch it out and use crunchy peanut butter instead if you want a little crunch. 
• The great thing about this reason is that you can experiment with other nut butter by using almond butter or even cashew butter instead depending on what you prefer.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 140kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Sodium: 49mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 11g

Disclaimer

Please note that the nutritional information provided are guidelines and may vary based on the brand of products used. For your specific nutritional goals use My Fitness Pal or Verywell Fit recipe calculators. All content within this site is not intended as medical diagnosis or treatment and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical expertise.

This post was first published in September 2014. It has been updated with new photos and content in July 2023.