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Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies combine two cookie classics – No Bake Cookies + Peanut Butter Cookies. They’re easy, yummy and perfect for a quick treat.
During hot Arizona summers, we hate having to turn on the oven. No bake desserts like this one are life savers! We also like to make our Classic No Bake Cookies and our Cornflake Cookies.
No oven necessary
Today’s recipe is a real winner. We combined two of our favorite things – No Bake Cookies + Peanut Butter Cookies to make Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies.
Have you tried them yet?! We couldn’t believe how easy and good they were! In fact, they’re my current FAV cookie, and I’m not even a huge PB cookie lover. That’s how good they are!
We’ve always enjoyed making no bake cookies but especially love to make them in the summer when it’s so hot here in Arizona, and the last thing we want to do is turn on the oven. Don’t get me wrong, we still end up turning it on, but the fewer the excuses, the better. 😉
How to Make Peanut Butter NO BAKES
Although this cookie recipe doesn’t call for the oven, it does require that you use the stove for a bit. With that in mind, the no bake peanut butter cookies are still so simple and can be made in no time. Only a few ingredients are required, including:
- sugar
- butter
- milk
- vanilla
- peanut butter
- quick cooking oats
RAPID BOIL. To make them just begin by adding the sugar, butter and milk to a saucepan and melting on medium heat. You’ll let that come to a rapid boil for one minute and then remove from the burner.
STIR. From there, you will stir in your vanilla and peanut butter. Stir in the oats until the mixture begins to cool and all ingredients are combined well.
SCOOP. Then, scoop the mixture in small amounts onto wax paper and let it cool to completely set. From there you just have to try hard not to eat a dozen in one sitting. 😉
FAQ and troubleshooting
Can I make no bake cookies with old fashioned oats? Yes! It’s just a matter of preference on texture. Quick cooking oats are smaller and absorb the liquid easier, so the cookies will turn out more soft and chewy. If you use old fashioned oats, the cookies will be a lot “oatier”.
However, there are a couple ways to soften the old fashioned oats if that’s what you have on hand! You can put them in the blender and pulse a few times to make them smaller, or put them in the liquid mixture once it’s done boiling and let them sit for 5 minutes.
Do no bake cookies need to be refrigerated? Nope! You can store them at room temperature in an airtight container or Ziploc bag. You’re more than welcome to store them in the fridge–in fact they will last longer–but it’s not a necessity!
How to harden no bake cookies that are too soft: If you find yourself needing to salvage your no bake cookies, try putting them in the fridge or freezer to see if the cold helps them set. If they are still too soft, don’t worry! All hope is not lost.
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.
Recipe Tips
- Keep a timer on hand and start the 1 minute countdown as soon as the mixture comes to a FULL boil. This will help ensure you get the mixture off the stove within that “perfect consistency” window. If it doesn’t cook long enough, the cookies won’t set. But if they cook too long, they will be a crumbly mess.
- If you’re worried about over or undercooking the liquid mixture, you can always use a candy thermometer (the mixture is done when it reaches 235-240 degrees Fahrenheit), or do the classic “ice water test”. Once you’ve cooked the mixture for a minute, you can drop a small spoonful into the ice water and if it forms a small squishy ball as it cools, you know it’s done.
- Creamy peanut butter makes for the best consistency (in my humble opinion), but if you decide to use crunchy pb, add an extra ¼-½ c, or the cookies can turn out dry. I’ve also never used natural peanut butter, but if you do, make sure it’s well-stirred and not oily.
For more No Bake recipes, check out:
- No Bake Energy Bites
- No Bake Cheesecake
- Classic No Bake Cookies
- No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars
- No Bake Butterscotch Cereal Cookies
For more peanut butter cookie recipes, check out:
- Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
- Chewy Peanut Butter Cookies
- Mini Peanut Butter Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- 3 Ingredient PB Cookies
- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
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.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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?