Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies are one of those classic cookies we make when we need a quick sweet treat and don’t want to turn on the oven. They’re chewy, peanut buttery, and loaded with oats, and once you get the boil time right, they set up perfectly every time.
We love these for after-school snacks, cookie trays, and last-minute desserts because you can have a batch made and cooling on the counter in no time. Just be warned, it’s hard to stop at one.
If you are looking for more easy no-bake desserts, we also love Scotcheroos, Peanut Butter Bars, Haystacks, and Rice Krispie Treats.
Why you’ll love it + Why it works:
- No Oven Needed: These cookies come together on the stovetop, which makes them perfect for hot days or quick desserts.
- Pantry Staple Recipe: You likely already have everything you need to make a batch right now.
- Creamy Texture: The peanut butter melts smoothly into the sugar mixture for rich flavor throughout.
- Chewy Oats: Quick oats create the perfect soft and chewy texture while helping the cookies hold together.
No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies Ingredients
- Granulated Sugar (3 cups): Sweetens the cookies and helps them firm up as they cool.
- Butter (¾ cup): Adds richness and helps create the smooth soft texture. Salted or unsalted butter both work well.
- Milk (¾ cup): Combines with the sugar to create the syrup base that holds the cookies together.
- Vanilla Extract (½ teaspoon): Adds warmth and enhances the peanut butter flavor.
- Creamy Peanut Butter (1 ½ cups): Gives the cookies their rich peanut butter flavor and creamy texture. We usually use traditional creamy peanut butter like Jif or Skippy.
- Quick Cooking Oats (4 ½ cups): Adds chewiness and structure while soaking up the peanut butter mixture perfectly.
How to Make Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
BATTER. Add the sugar, butter, and milk to a saucepan and melt on medium heat. Let that come to a full rolling boil. Boil for one minute and then remove it from the burner.
Stir in your vanilla and peanut butter. Stir the oats into the peanut butter mixture until it begins to cool and all ingredients are combined well.
SCOOP. Use a spoon or cookie scoop to scoop the mixture in small amounts onto wax paper and let the no bake peanut butter cookies cool to set.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Use quick oats instead of old fashioned oats for the best soft and chewy texture.
- Set out wax paper before starting because the mixture sets quickly once the oats are added.
- Use a timer for the one-minute rapid boil, it’s the key to cookies setting correctly.
- Stir constantly while bringing to a boil so the mixture doesn’t scorch.
- Let cookies cool completely before moving them, they firm up as they sit.
- If cookies don’t set, the mixture likely didn’t boil long enough. If they’re dry and crumbly, it probably boiled too long.
Peanut Butter No Bake Cookie Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 cups granulated sugar
- ¾ cup butter
- ¾ cup milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups creamy peanut butter
- 4 ½ cups quick cooking oats
Instructions
- Add sugar, butter and milk to a saucepan on medium heat. Let boil rapidly for one minute.
- Remove from burner and stir in your vanilla and peanut butter.
- Stir in your oats until the mixture begins to cool.
- Scoop a teaspoonful at a time and drop onto wax paper. Must allow cookies to completely cool to set.
Notes
- Set out wax paper before starting because the mixture sets quickly once the oats are added.
- Use quick oats instead of old fashioned oats for the best soft and chewy texture.
- Boil the sugar mixture for exactly one minute or the cookies may end up too soft or crumbly.
- Stir continuously while mixing in the peanut butter and oats so everything combines evenly.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Store them at room temperature in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. If you store them in the fridge, they will last longer, but it’s not a necessity!
You can keep them in the freezer and enjoy them as frozen cookies (they still taste amazing), and then adjust your boiling time accordingly next time.
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This recipe was first shared October, 2018.
Can I use stevia or Splenda instead of sugar?
Unfortunately, you cannot replace the granulated sugar without also adjusting the other ingredients. The granulated sugar is not only key to the sweetness, but it also plays a factor in the structure and how the cookies set.
Love this recipe. I make the chocolate version from a handed down recipe and in a cookbook dated in 1955.
How fun!! The chocolate ones are great too.
How would a few mini marshmallows do in this cookie or maybe a fe2 chocolate chips?
I’m not sure! I haven’t added them, but I imagine they could be added in and would be yummy. You’ll have to let us know how they turn out if you do add-ins!
I have the exact same recipe from somewhere else — i know this recipe by heart and it’s AMAZING! I made like 2 baking sheets worth of it, and it’s all gone! My family absolutely gobbled it up.
So easy and so good!
Anything that is quick to make and has peanut butter in it is a WIN in my book!! Soooo yummy and easy. A win win all around!
Couldn’t agree more! So glad you love the cookie recipe!
So yummy! Tastes like peanut butter fudge! Quick and easy!
We love these! My children’s favorite!
Love these cookies!! Such a fun way to mix up no bake cookies
Easy Peach Cobbler Recipe – Such a treat and so easy to make. I have now shared this recipe with several people because it is delicious. I love to cook but am not someone who likes to bake so this recipe is something you can serve to guests and they think you have the handle on baking too. We live in a temperate climate so fresh peaches are hard to come by but this way you feel like you are eating a seasonal fruit. Thank you so much for this lovely dish. just add a dollop of whipped cream or Ice-cream.
I made these today and they were Delish! I made a couple adjustments because, corna, but they worked great. I only had 2 cups of sugar so I used that plus 1 cup of brown sugar and I did half creamy and half crunchy peanut butter. I also added 4 tsp of cocoa. So good, plus they made a ton. will definitely make these again.
That works! I am glad you found ways to substitute 🙂 Thank you for sharing that!
Hi there Lilluna,
My name is zaida and actually i’ve made your no-bake easter oreo cake. my second year in a row and it’s always a hit. i have a really hard time understanding if there is no video. that’s my fault and i’m sorry to ask, but can i see this “no-bake bake cookies” as a video pretty please.
i’m not a baker. I only do no-oven dishes. i’m actually a great cook and i make random dishes, it comes naturally to me, but if i were to attempt a dish i usually watch a video to see if i believe i can make it, if it’s easy, and if it’s ingredients i generally have or easy for me to know i can find at any store.
please forgive my request of….a possible video for the “peanut butter no-cake cookies” please?
I am so sorry, but I do not have a video for these cookies. They are really simple..I know you can make them 🙂 You can ask me any questions you might have
This was a great alternative to the chocolate version although those are delicious, too! They were easy to make, stay moist as long as they last (four days at our house) and were enjoyed by everyone who tried them!
Thank you so much for sharing that!! It’s great to have options!
It’s a great combination, but They tasted only “okay” to me.
I made these for my nephew’s bar mitzvah. The little kids went straight to these cookies first. So don’t pass this recipe over because of me. My nieces and nephews loved it.
Thanks for sharing that! I am glad they liked them 🙂
Could you put this in a 9 x 13 pan and cut into bars when set?
You know, I have not tried, but I don’t see why not 🙂
Thank you so much for your reply! I tried them yesterday. They are great!
Glad you thought so!
Do you have a peanut butter substitute?
I have heard coconut butter is great, though I have not tried. Hope that helps!
Easily one of my FAMILY’s favorite cookies! I love how easy they are to make too. Definit a great alte to regul no-bake cookies!!
I love how easy they are too!! I am so glad you like them too! Thank you!
Do you have any sugarfree desserts?
I wasn’t quite sure I’d like these without the cocoa. I was wrong. They are just a delicious! My taste buds thank you though my waistline does not. lol
Cocoa no bakes are my favorite to make! So glad to have found this PB recipe. They are just as easy and really really delicious. The peanut butter lovers in my house, like this one better than the cocoa. YUM!
My husband loves these!! He could eat the whole batch!! Thank you for sharing a great recipe!
LOL! I am glad to share! Love hearing that your hubby liked them!
These make the perfect dessert. Easy to make and enjoyable to eat!
I agree!! Thank you so much for sharing that!
These look so great! I love peanut butter as do the children 🙂 am I able to use coco oil in place of butter? My daughters friends are arriving afternoon and I have no snacks lol. Thanaks for the recipe!
I have not tried making it with coconut oil, but I am sure they’d be fine. Sorry, I didn’t get back to you sooner. I hope they were a hit!
That’s quite alright! They turned out FANTASTIC! I put it in a 9×13 and chilled in the fridge for a few hours 🙂 they are a hit! Drawback is it does have to stay in fridge (softens if out too long because of the coco oil). For me this is okay because I have a toddler and keep a lock on the fridge anyway! Also, the oil did add sweetness so next time will probably cut back on the sugar. Only just over a third of the pan left 🙂 Thank you!
My husband loves PB. Does the recipe require real butter? Can I use margarine? I really think want make these for him. Thanks!!
You could use margarine 🙂 If he loves peanut butter, then he would love these 😉
Thank you so much! Can’t wait to make these for him!!
Quickly scanning the recipe for No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies, I read it as 11 and 1/2 cups of peanut butter. But that was not nearly as bad as the 41 cups of oats. It was late and I was tired. It made me laugh. Can’t wait to try out the recipe. This one works for me as I am gluten intolerant. Thanks
LOL!! Yes, that would be bad. Hopefully, you read it right 🙂 I am glad you could eat them, because they are so good!
They were delicious! Thanks
I am glad you thought so! Thank you!
This is so good. I have been making it for years but we also add 4 teaspoons of coco.
Aren’t they so good?! Yes, I have a version where we add cocoa too 🙂
DO YOU HAVE ANY DIABETIC EASY RECIPES?
I definitely have a ton of recipes, but I don’t have a diabetic category. You’d have to just search for recipes & see if you’d be able to eat them. I’m sorry that’s not as easy 🙁
You can substitute the sugar for No Calorie Stevia (made with Stevia extract) cup for cup!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Love the chocolate peanut butter cookies
I am so glad you do! Thank you!
hey girl- these cookies look so yummy! Y’all have a great weekend!