No-Bake Cookie Recipe (2024)

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These No-Bake Cookies are the perfect dessert when you’re short on time. You just need a pot, a stovetop, and a few basic ingredients, and voila… 10 minutes to a whole batch of awesome delectable cookies. The flavor of these is to die for: chocolate, creamy peanut butter, and old-fashioned oats, a classic combination! (A deadly combination, in my opinion). Why stop here, try these No-Bake Peanut Butter Bars next!

What Are No Bake Cookies?

No bake cookies are a type of cookie that does not require any baking in the oven. They are made by combining rolled oats, cocoa powder, peanut butter, sugar, milk, and butter together. The mixture is then formed into balls or dropped by spoonfuls onto a baking sheet.

The cookies are then left to set in the refrigerator or at room temperature until they become firm and set. No-bake cookies are a quick and easy dessert because they don’t require any special baking equipment or skills. Score! No-bake oatmeal cookies are the ultimate easy dessert.

Advantages of No-Bake Cookie Dough

These no-bake recipes have a multitude of advantages, including the following:

• They only contain basic ingredients like regular peanut butter and unsalted butter.
• You require very little cooking ability to make them.
• You don’t need a fancy candy thermometer or other tools to make them successfully.
• It’s easy to store them in an airtight container or in a Zip Top bag in the freezer.
• They last for up to three months when frozen.
• You can easily play around with different nut butter types like almond butter and macadamia butter or even incorporate chopped nuts and other additives.
• They’re unbelievably tasty and easy to make, so they’re perfect for get-togethers, school lunches, and other opportunities that require snacks.

Tips and Tricks For Success

• Pre-Measure Ingredients: Pre-measure your ingredients because this no-bake cookie recipe is a quick one! This would be a great activity to do with your kids to help build their confidence in the kitchen.
• Don’t Use All-Natural Peanut Butter: Do not use all-natural peanut butter for this no-bake cookie recipe. It prevents the cookies from setting completely. So reach for the Jif or Skippy smooth peanut butter.
• Use Creamy Peanut Butter: Most people prefer creamy peanut butter because it combines well with the other ingredients. I wouldn’t recommend using crunchy peanut butter because it’s less likely to bind well with the other ingredients.
• Boiling: We aren’t going for a simmer; we want a full-blown rolling boil. If you don’t melt the sugar completely, you will get that granulated sugar texture in the cookie.
• Set a Timer: Setting a timer ensures that you don’t overboil your sugar mixture! You want the sugar to dissolve completely within that minute because it helps set the cookies.

How To Make No Bake Cookies

This no-bake cookie recipe has been in the family for the last 50 years! You only need one pot, ten minutes, and a couple of basic ingredients to make this sweet dessert that everyone loves! For full details, see the recipe card down below. Here is what you can expect when making this recipe:

Bring Butter, Sugar + Milk to a Boil

Start out with granulated sugar and butter in a pot. Add in the milk and set over the heat to boil.

Measure Out Remaining Ingredients

While that butter and sugar mixture is cooking away, get the rest of your ingredients ready: oats, cocoa powder, peanut butter, and vanilla.

*A Note about Rolled Oats –for best results, use old fashioned rolled oats. If you only have the quick-cooking kind of oats, reduce the amount by 1/4 cup.

Remove Mixture From Heat + Add Remaining Ingredients

After the butter, sugar, and milk have boiled, remove them from the heat and quickly stir in the pre-measured ingredients. Stir to incorporate all the ingredients. Using a cookie scoop, place the cookie dough onto wax paper or silicone mats.

Let Cookies Set

The cookies will be ready when they have cooled, set, and peel cleanly from the wax paper (roughly about 10 minutes).

Storing No-Bake Cookies

Store no-bake cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for 3-5 days. If you want to store them longer, freezing them is a great idea!

To Freeze: place the cookies in an airtight, freezer-safe container or bag, then store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

To thaw the cookies, take them out of the freezer and let them sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes before serving.

More Cookie Recipes to Try!

• Actually Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Chewy Oatmeal Cookies
• Monster Cookies
• Peanut Butter Blossoms
• Perfect Shortbread Cookies (highly popular!)

If you loved this No-Bake Cookie recipe, you are sure to love these other cookie recipes! The printable recipe card is below. Have a wonderful day, friends! 🙂