We love to make cookies all year long! One of our favorite recipes, especially in the summer, is our classic No Bake cookies! They’re simple, quick, and we love that we don’t have to turn on the oven.
Whenever we are looking for a quick treat, the kids like to whip up a batch of these easy no bake cookies, not only because they’re delicious, but because they’re easy and take less than 10 minutes to make. The result is a super delicious chewy treat, perfect for an after-school snack, a party, or even an upcoming cookie exchange.
If you’ve had these oatmeal no bakes before, you know that they’re easy and quite addicting! For more no bake cookies, check out our Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies and Cornflake Cookies.
Why we think you’ll love them:
- No bake. Chocolate no-bake cookies are great to make all year long, and perfect for hot days or quick cravings.
- Allergy-friendly. Many of the ingredients can easily be substituted for alternatives.
- Pantry friendly. You likely have everything on hand.
- Fast to make. Just boil for one minute and stir.
No Bake Cookies Ingredients
- Sugar (2 cups): Sweetens and helps the syrup set into a fudgy base.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder (¼ cup): Deep chocolate flavor that balances the sweetness. Use unsweetened natural cocoa powder, cacao powder, or Dutch-processed cocoa.
- Unsalted butter (½ cup): Adds richness and helps the cookies set smooth.
- Milk (½ cup): Loosens the syrup and keeps the texture creamy.
- Creamy peanut butter (1 cup): Brings nutty flavor and helps bind the cookies. Other nut butters like almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter may be used. Note that they will add their own unique flavor and texture to the cookies. If using crunchy peanut butter, add an extra ¼-½ cup or the cookies can turn out dry.
- Vanilla extract (1 tablespoon): Rounds out the chocolate and peanut notes.
- Quick cooking rolled oats (3 cups): Give classic chewy texture and help the mounds hold shape. Quick oats are small and absorb liquid more easily, which makes the cookies softer and chewier. Larger old-fashioned oats can be used, the cookies will have a less chewy texture but still be delicious. For a gluten-free cookie be sure to buy gluten-free oats.
How to Make No Bake Cookies
PREP. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper.
BATTER. Add ½ cup butter, 2 cups sugar, ½ cup milk, and ¼ cup cocoa powder to a saucepan. Bring to a full boil and boil for 1 minute over medium heat (use a candy thermometer to make sure the mixture is at 230 degrees).
Remove from heat and stir in the 1 cup peanut butter and 1 tablespoon vanilla until smooth. Add 3 cups oats and stir.
COOL. Use a cookie scoop to drop heaps of the mixture onto wax paper or parchment paper. Let cool.
No Bake Cookie Recipe
Equipment
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup milk
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
Instructions
- Combine sugar, cocoa powder, butter, and milk in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Once it comes to a boil, start a timer and boil for 1 minute (use a candy thermometer to make sure the mixture is at 230 degrees).
- Remove from the heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla until smooth, then stir in oats.
- Drop heaping tablespoons onto a parchment paper–lined cookie sheet and let cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Store at room temperature, in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. Keep at room temperature for 3-5 days, in the fridge for 1-2 weeks, or freezer for up to 3 months.
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This recipe was first shared December, 2014.
Good basic recipe. I add 1/2 tsp of salt to balance the sweetness. Tip for those whose cookies didn’t set: 1 minute of boiling is not enough. Aim for 1.5 minutes. If you do a minute as suggested here, start your timer when it’s really boiling with entire top foaming, not when you first start seeing the bubbles. I always start the recipe on LOW heat, that allows all the ingredients to combine properly. Once the butter is melted and everything is fully combined, add the heat to medium and bring to boil. Hope this helps someone.
Thanks for sharing your experience with the recipe!
Didn’t harden. Threw them away. What a waste of time and ingredients
I’m sorry they didn’t set for you. This usually happens when the mixture doesn’t boil long enough,
Everytime I try this cookie, it turns out gooey.
Going to try again this winter, and no rain.
Baking is a science, and I love that you have continued to try to master this recipe. It’s delicious and worth the effort. High humidity can play a factor in keeping the cookies from setting. You will also want to make sure that you boil the sugar mixture long enough for it to reach the “soft-ball” stage. If you have a candy thermometer, that would be around 235-240°F or 118-120°C.
Your recipe is the exact same one I’ve used for years. My Mother passed it on to me in the early 1970’s and they always come out perfect. My church has a ‘cafe’ every Sunday and they are gobbled up in no time. There is another lady that makes them but hers are crumbly so of course they prefer mine/yours!
I’m glad they turn out so soft and delicious!
Fabulous cookies. So easy to make with the grandkids! Everyone loved them so they didn’t last long.
The grandkids enjoyed measuring the ingredients, a good and practical math lesson. And they got to eat the results.
Hi, I love no bake cookies and make them all the time. How do you get yours to be thick, perfectly round and neat? I get mine pretty neat and a good size but they don’t look thick like yours. Would love to know what things I can do to get them like that. Thank you!
Use a cookie scoop! Release the cookie, turn over the scoop and gently press down on the cookie to flatten it out. It cookies are too runny, scoop them all out and then flatten starting with your first cookie. Hope this helps.
Yep, I use a cookie scoop, and when I really went them to be “picture perfect” I’ll also use a silicone spatula to help push them into a nice round shape.
Why do you have to use “unsalted” butter?
I like to use unsalted butter when I bake because then I can control the amount of salt added and adjust to our flavor preference. But you could use salted butter if that’s what you have as well.
Can’t even print the recipe without a million ads
The ads make it possible for us to keep creating free recipes and content. Thanks for understanding!
Instead of using oatmeal oats, can you use rice crispy cereal in this recipe?
I haven’t ever tried! If you do, you’ll have to let us know how they turn out.
These no bake cookies are OUTSTANDING! I used almond milk and crunchy peanut butter and all worked out just perfectly.
One question: what could I substitute for the peanut butter? I love it but my husband doesn’t and I know he would love the cookies even more without the p/butter. I welcome your suggestions.
P.S. I’ve made quite a few of your recipes and they are all delicious! Keep up the amazing work!
I love this recipe n so does my family. My only complaint is that they don’t set up as much as I’d personally like. They are very good with butterscotch flavoring too!
Mine weren’t setting either. I tweaked the recipe a little bit and put the oats in a bowl and the peanut butter on top. Mix the cocoa mixture into the bowl, not in the hot liquid.
I hope this helps. Good luck! 🙂
Omgosh. I meant mix the peanut butter with the chocolate in the bowl with the oats, out of the hot pan. Sorry I’m not being very articulate. It’s morning. 😅
Can honey be used instead of sugar ?
You know, I haven’t tried it with honey before, so I’m not sure. If you try making them with honey, you’ll have to let us know how they turn out.
Turned out Delicious!! I will most definitely will be making these a lot more in the furure!
I’m so glad you enjoyed them! That makes me so happy to hear!
This is the best and easiest recipe for no bake cookies! I’ve made these several times and they don’t last long in my house.
No bake cookies are a favorite around our house. Plus they are easy and quick to make.
Melt in your mouth literally. These no bakes are so good and they are always eaten up so quick in our house. This a staple recipe.
This is such a yummy recipe. So simple and a go to in our house!
Just like mom makes! One of those recipes I should have written down somewhere but thankfully you have it right here for me! Everyone in my house loves these. Perfect amount of oats too.
Love these cookies!!
We have made this several times and my boys love them!!!! So easy but so delicious!
These are so good snd so easy! Yum!
These no bake cookies are a family favorite! Quick, easy and delicious!
I have found if I put the cookie sheets in the freezer and get them cold, the cookies set faster.
Thanks for sharing! That’s a great idea!
Thank You for sharing
These no bake cookies are one of my kids favorites snacks! This momma loves them because they are easy to make, and most of all absolutely delicious!
Fantastic recipe! You can make it any time since you probably have all of these ingredients on hand. It doesn’t take very long, either. Depending on how big your heaping tablespoons are, you can maybe get more than 24 cookies. Or you can make 24 big ones and eat whatever is left in the pot, which is what we did haha.
I’m so glad you liked this recipe as much as we do! Thanks so much for trying it out!
Sounds delicious
Yes, it’s a great cookie! Hopefully you enjoy!
ive had these before arnt they called haystacks when i had these they used potato shoe strings or those chinese noodles
No these are not at all like Haystacks. Look up the Haystack Recipe on Pinterest, and you’ll see the huge difference! Both are delicious, and both are very different!!
Enjoy!!
Robin
These are our favorite no bake cookies! My daughter loves to make them on her own for a quick sweet treat after dinner! So yummy!
These no bakes are so yummy!! These cookies are the only reason I have cocoa powder in my house. My kids gobble these cookies up so fast, but they are so easy and quick to make. Getting the oats the right consistency is the hardest part, so you just have to watch closely.
Yum!!
These are our absolute favorite each year. My daughters are already begging for them.
Those sound really good , id like to know if i can SUBSTITUTE rice krispies instead of the oatmeal , ( because of ALLERGIES ) ? I have used rice Krispies as a SUBSTITUTE in my baking .
I am sure that would work! I have not personally tried, but it would give it a nice crunch!
These are wonderful. I live in arizona. So really nice to not have to turn on oven. I used 1/2 regular creamy peanut butter and 1/2 BNutty flavored peanut butter. They are fabulous! Gave some to a neighbor and they loved them too.
I know what you mean about not turning the oven on! Glad you like these! Thank you!
I like every thing but a bit too sweet–I will use less sugar next time!!! And want to try Crunchy Peanut Butter!!!
I always loved these when growing up, and still buy them at any bake sale when available. I wonder though, could the mixture be poured into a square pan (lined with waxed paper or buttered), chilled, then cut into squares?
I bet they could, though I personally have not tried.
THEse did not set! Im not sure what i did
Oh, darn! I’m sorry! I wish I knew what happened. Did you change anything with the recipe?
Can you uSe cocon milk For a health aLternative?
You sure could 😉 Enjoy!
I love those cookies….you did a good job explaining how to make them. They are my favorite!!!.
Thank you so much for saying that!! I am so glad you like them 🙂
Could you make theSe with rolled oats or old fashion oats instead of quick oats?
I personally have not used those, but I am sure it would be fine 😉
Awesome recipe! Made them up in no time. Kids will wake up to fresh homemade cookies (Not a baker, here!) These turned out great. Thank you for your recipe and I may try some more of your recipes!
I sure hope you do! Thank you for trying them! I hope your kids like them!
I used almonD butter instead of peanut butter. Had to stir it really well because of the oil, so cookies were still slightly thinner, but they taste delicious!!! I also used dark cocoa powder, and maybe 1/4 cup of brown sugar and 1 & 3/4 cup of the white, mainly becauSe i didn’t have enough white. Haha. However, theSe turned out great!!!!!
Glad they turned out!! Thank you for sharing what you did 🙂
I was curious whether you could make this with brown sugar rather than white. Thanks for sharing that it turned out great! I will try it with brown sugar next time!
LOok so amazing!
Thank you!! They are the best! Hope you try them!
These no bake cookies were delish! Can’t wait to make them again!
Glad you like them! My family loves them, too! Thank you for letting me know!
Love these!
Glad you do!! Thank you for stopping by!
I grew up on these and loved them as a kid and GUESS WHAT? NOTHING has changed- i still LOVE them TODAY as a grown up!!
Can you use any peanut butter? I have whole foods peanut butter. Pure peanut butter, so It’s rather soft at room temp. Will it work? Thank you.
I think it should be ok 🙂 It all melts together, so it will be fine.
I COULDN’T find my Recipe box so i used this version. It was really goOd. My kids ate them up before i could blink!
These are the next best thing to chocolate chip cookies. I love these cookies and there so easy to make.
these didn’t last long in my house! My girls devoured them.
I love quick and easy desserts and the fact that this is a no-bake recipe, is even better! Can’t wait to try them out!
This is such a classic recipe! One that we will make again and again!
No-bake cookies are like crack cocaine to me–I can’t ever resist! This is one of my favorite recipes!
These no bake cookies were delish! Can’t wait to make them again!
My hubby requests these all the time! They are his absolute favorite. I love making them for him, when he isn’t expecting them. They are super easy to make!
Could i use peanut butter powder in place of coco powder??
I haven’t tried the powder, but I do have a peanut butter version….https://lilluna.com/peanut-butter-no-bake-cookies/
Our favorite no bake cookie recipe!
These look delicious! Great for the kids to make on their own too since I don’t have to worry about the oven. lol!
These look delicious! And I love no bake cookies – especially when I’m making them with the kids!
These are some of my favorite cookies! Very similar to ones my mom used to make!
Our favorite no bake cookie recipe!
These are the best! My new daughter in law can’t have gluten, so we make these when she comes over. She loves them as much as we do!
I make these in a 9 x 13 pan and cut into squares like a bar cookie. Yummy!
Ooooh – never tried that! Will have to do that next time. Thanks for the tip!!
I love these cookies! They always remind me of childhood.
Same, Amanda!! I hope you enjoy the recipe. 🙂
These look amazing!