Classic No Bake Cookies Recipe
This quick and easy no bake cookies recipe, requiring simple ingredients is a classic. These old fashioned no bake oatmeal cookies have a chewy texture.
This recipe for no bake cookies is one of those recipes that has been passed along COUNTLESS generations. I am sure your Moms, Grandmas and Great-Grandma’s all made this too, while growing up.
Also known as no bake oatmeal cookies, chocolate no bake cookies, peanut butter no bake cookies!
This is the best no bake cookie recipe from scratch, which is is LOADED with flavors of chocolate and peanut butter and the addition of oats gives them a CHEWY texture that’s unbelievable! These peanut butter no bake cookies are FUDGY are always a HIT at Christmas time. Now, keep in mind they are not too pretty to look at but trust me, what they lack in appearance, they make up for it in flavor!
What are no bake cookies? How to make no bake cookies?
These are cookies are very quick and easy to make. They require no baking and there’s no need to turn on the oven. Start off by cooking milk, sugar, butter and cocoa powder in a saucepan on medium heat until it comes to a boil. Then, remove from heat and mix in oats, peanut butter, vanilla extract and salt. Finally, scoop portions of the mixture onto wax paper and let it harden. Enjoy!
What do no bake cookies taste like?
They are slightly hard and crispy on the outside and fudgy and chewy on the inside. They are sweet and have a wonderful rich chocolate flavor with hints of peanut butter.
What oats to use for no bake cookies?
Only use quick cooking oats. Other oats don’t give the same results!
Are no bake cookies gluten free?
Yes, they are gluten free if you are using certified gluten free oats.
How long do you cook no bake cookies?
Once the mixture comes to a boil, you cook for 1 minute, while constantly stirring.
How long does it take for no bake cookies to set up? How long for no bake cookies to harden?
They usually set up in 15-20 minutes but I don’t remove them from wax paper until at least 30 minutes have gone by.
Do no bake cookies need to be refrigerated?
I don’t refrigerate them. I just keep them at room temperature but there is nothing wrong with keeping them in the fridge.
Reasons why no bake cookies won’t harden? Why no bake cookies don’t get hard? Why no bake cookies don’t set up? Why no bake cookies stay soft and sticky?
They were not cooked long enough. You MUST mix all the ingredients in a saucepan and bring it to a rolling boil and then let everything cook, while stirring for 1 minute! If you don’t cook long enough, you will end up with a gooey mess.
My friend likes to use a candy thermometer and let the mixture reach 226-228 degrees F and says it works perfectly every time.
Why are my no bake cookies gooey? Are they supposed to be gooey?
They should be fudgy on the inside but NOT gooey that they are falling apart and unable to hold their shape.
What causes no bake cookies to be dry? Why are my no bake cookies crumbly?
The mixture was over-cooked OR the measurements of ingredients was not accurate.
Are no bake cookies healthy?
I am not really sure I would classify these as healthy cookies. They do have oats and peanut butter which are good for your health but they also have a lot of sugar and butter. Some people have made healthier versions of these cookies with coconut oil and honey or molasses. Honestly, I tried one recipe and didn’t like it since it tasted NOTHING like this classic recipe.
How long are these cookies good for?
They are good for 5 days but honestly, they never last more than 2 days at our house…hehe.
How to store no bake cookies?
Just store them in a cookie jar or an air tight container at room temperature and use within 5 days. You can store them in the fridge too and some people even like to freeze them in freezer bags to enjoy later.
How to fix no bake cookies that don’t set and harden?
Honestly, there is nothing you can do. There is no way to fix this recipe once it goes wrong. All I can recommend is perhaps baking these cookies until become crunchy and roughly crushing them. Then, you can use them as a granola topping on ice cream, yogurt, cereal or parfaits.
My no bake cookies stuck to wax paper. Why?
There could be two reasons: 1) The mixture was not cooked long enough and was still very wet 2)Or you need to use a good quality of wax paper.
Other chocolate cookies
- Chocolate Cake Mix Cookies
- Peppermint Stuffed Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- Chocolate Sugar Cookies
- Fruit Loops Chocolate Cookies
- Cake Mix Chocolate M&M Cookies
Classic No Bake Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup Milk, Whole
- 1 3/4 cups Sugar, Granulated
- 1/2 cup Butter, Unsalted
- 4 tbsp Cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup Peanut butter, Smooth
- 3 cups Oats, Quick cooking
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a saucepan, add milk, sugar, butter and cocoa powder and cook at medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a rolling boil.
- Then, cook for for exactly 1 minute, while constantly mixing.
- Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter, oats, salt and vanilla extract.
- Drop tablespoonfuls on a sheet of wax paper and let the cookies set for 30 minutes or until they harden. Enjoy!
Notes
- Do not substitute any other type of oats. You must use quick cooking oats!
- Remember that if you cook the mixture for too long, the cookies will become dry and crumbly. If you don't cook long enough, the cookies won't hold their shape properly.
- You can use crunchy or creamy coconut butter. It all depends on your preference.
- You can add ¼ cup desiccated or shredded coconut to enhance the chewy texture of these cookies.
- You an add ¼ tsp espresso powder to enhance the chocolate flavor of these cookies even further.
Nutrition
Until next time, tata my lovelies!
I’m a little confused. Do i add all the ingredients at once and let the mixture come to a rolling boil or add 4 ingredients and let it come to a rolling boil and then add the other ingredients and let it all cook for 1 minute?
So, you add the 4 ingredients and cook until everything comes to a rolling boil. Then, set a timer and cook for an additional 1 minute.
As soon as the 1 minute is over, remove saucepan from heat and add all the remaining ingredients and mix.
Hope this clarifies things 🙂
Made these tonight (1.9.17) and they are amazing! ! Great recipe!
So glad you enjoyed them! They are impossible to stop eating… right?! lol.
Made them last nite, turned out awsome!! Thank you for sharing your recipe