These no bake cookies are quick and easy to make—no oven required! Made with chocolate, peanut butter, and oats, they're rich, chewy, and delicious.
No bake cookies! If you’re not already making these irresistible, EASY treats, head to the kitchen and make yourself a batch. You’re going to love this recipe!
No bake cookies were one of my favorite childhood desserts, and I still love them to this day. Made with simple ingredients like peanut butter, cocoa powder, and oats, they have a rich chocolate peanut butter flavor and amazing chewy texture.
Given their name, you’ve probably guessed that these no bake cookies don’t bake in the oven. Instead, the dough comes together on the stovetop and sets up in the fridge. The process is super quick and easy!
This no bake cookies recipe is a perfect dessert to make with kids. (It’s also a perfect dessert to make when you’re an adult who needs something sweet ASAP.) Just a heads up: the cookies are seriously addictive. If you make one batch, you’ll end up with another before you know it. 🙂
No Bake Cookie Recipe Ingredients
You only need 7 ingredients to make this no bake cookies recipe:
- Whole rolled oats – Many no bake cookie recipes call for quick oats, but I like the chewy texture of old fashioned oats here. Use gluten-free oats to make these cookies gluten-free.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – You can’t have chocolate no bake cookies without chocolate!
- Creamy peanut butter – It makes the cookies super rich and packs them with delectable chocolate and peanut butter flavor. For a fun variation, make this recipe with a different nut or seed butter. Almond butter or sunflower seed butter would be great!
- Milk – Any milk works here! Use almond milk to make this recipe vegan.
- Coconut oil – Refined and virgin coconut oil both work in this recipe. Use virgin coconut oil to add a light coconut flavor.
- Maple syrup – I love the complex sweetness of the maple in this recipe. Plus, it makes these cookies refined sugar-free!
- Vanilla extract – The perfect finishing touch! A splash of vanilla adds depth to the rich chocolate flavor.
Find the complete recipe with measurements below.
How to Make No Bake Cookies
Once you’ve measured your ingredients, these no bake oatmeal cookies come together in a flash!
First, make the chocolate/peanut butter coating. Melt the coconut oil in a saucepan over medium heat and stir in the cocoa powder, milk, maple syrup, peanut butter, and vanilla. Bring to a rolling boil and cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Don’t boil it longer, or the mixture will become too thick! Remove the pan from the heat.
Then, stir in the oats. Fold the oats into the chocolate mixture until they’re all thoroughly coated.
Next, shape the cookies! Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to dollop the dough onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Transfer the sheet to the refrigerator and chill for 30 minutes, until the cookies are firm. Then, enjoy!
No Bake Oatmeal Cookies Tips
- Make sure that your peanut butter is runny. Look for creamy peanut butter with a smooth consistency to make this recipe, not the dry, stiff peanut butter that you might find at the bottom of a jar. The richness of runny peanut butter is essential for making great no bake cookies!
- Stir in a pinch of salt. If you use unsalted peanut butter, add a pinch of salt to the chocolate mixture before you stir in the oats. It will really make the flavors in this recipe pop! If your peanut butter is already salted, skip the salt, or taste the mixture before adding any extra.
- Add extra chocolate. If you’re making this no bake cookie recipe, my guess is that you’re a fan of chocolate. To give these guys an extra chocolate boost, press a few mini chocolate chips onto the top of each cookie. Yum!!
How to Store No Bake Cookies
No bake cookies keep well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week. For longer storage, freeze them (see below).
Can you freeze no bake cookies?
Yes! These no bake cookies freeze perfectly. Seal them in an airtight container or bag, and stash them in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow them to thaw at room temperature for about 30 minutes or in the fridge overnight.
More Cookie Recipes
If you love these no bake cookies, try one of these easy cookie recipes next:
- Best Peanut Butter Cookies
- Perfect Oatmeal Cookies
- Peanut Butter Blossoms
- Snickerdoodle Cookies
- Lemon Cookies
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Or any of my easy cookie recipes!
Love easy baking recipes? Try my homemade brownies, banana bread, or chocolate chip cookie bars!
No Bake Cookies
Ingredients
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup milk
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter*
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ cups whole rolled oats
Instructions
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium saucepan, melt the coconut oil over medium heat. Add the maple syrup, almond milk, cocoa, peanut butter, and vanilla and whisk to combine. Bring to a boil for 2 minutes, stirring often.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the oats. Use a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop to scoop the batter onto the prepared baking sheet. Chill for 30 minutes or until firm.
Notes
Hi!! Would I be able to sub agave nectar syrup instead of maple syrup??
I think that would be fine!
I’m going to make these this week. Do they freeze well?
Hi Lauren, I think they’d freeze well.
I just made these and tasted them right out of the pan. They were just amazing. One small issue., they were really soft while i put them on the paper. Also really oily. I hope they cool and set just fine. Incase they are still soft, any way I can fix them?
Hi Abida, after some time in the fridge, they should firm up!
Just made these for the third time since we’ve been locked down! So easy and delicious. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Hi Cathy, I’m so glad you’ve been loving them!
So so good! Definitely hit the spot. My new go-to quick and delicious cookie recipe.
I’m so glad you loved them!
can i use honey for a substitute for maple syrup
I think that would work, I haven’t tried – they’ll be a bit more sticky, but should still be pretty tasty.
So I just made these (haven’t tried them yet, they are cooling) and tons of oil came out after I stirred in the oats? Then there were pools of extra oil on my parchment paper! I thought 1/4 cup coco oil seemed like a lot, but maybe with my peanut butter it was just too much oil overall for the recipe? Hopefully they will set up in the fridge and still taste good!
Hi Becca, hmm, I haven’t had this happen. It sounds like the chocolate mixture could have possibly been whisked a little longer to thicken.
I’m not sure, I feel like I had it cooking for a lot longer than the recommended time since I was still grabbing ingredients as I heated it. Oh well, they were a little extra oily but still tasted good! I’ll just use less oil next time 🙂
I NEVER leave a review on these things, but these are literally so good that I had to.. Mine are still cooling, but I can’t stop myself from taking little bites!!
haha, I’m so glad you loved them!
I used to make these all the time as a kid and I especially loved your recipe! Can always count on your site for amazing desserts
I’m so glad you loved them!
Hi Laurie, I’m so glad you loved them!
I’ve made these before but this recipe was a step up! They turned out so soft and chewy! They were super quick to make and so yummy
OH MY!!! These babies are AWESOME!!!
I’m so glad you loved them!!
Yum! Will they get too soft and fall apart if kept at room temperature?
yep, they’re best stored in the fridge.
Wow, so simple. And looks so delicious. Thank you for sharing! Gotta try this at home!
Excellent no bake haystack-style cookies. this type of cookie is always in our Christmas cookie tray. I used almond butter and they are delicious and decadent.
Ooh, thanks for letting me know that they worked well with almond butter. I’m glad you loved them!
a great cookie, especially because of no bake and that they’re not too sweet, thank you
Maybe odd, but do you think butter, or another oil, could replace coconut oil? Would love to make these but out of coconut oil!
Hi Ellie – I think so! I’ve only tried with coconut oil but I’ve seen other similar recipes call for butter.
These are neat Halloween cookies. Roll them into odd shaped logs and place them in a brand new clean cat litter pan with grape nut cereal
ha! how inventive 🙂
I love no bake cookies! Always a delicious treat! Looks so good!
My mother used to make these all the time growing up and I was just thinking about them the other day! Sadly, I haven’t attempted them because my husband has a severe peanut allergy. Any thoughts on using Almond butter? I was thinking maybe Justin’s because it’s got a much creamier consistency than the “creamy” almond butters that require stirring…
Hi Sarah, I think almond butter will work!
You could use Wowbutter or No-Nut Butter.
Try sun butter. It’s what my daughter daycare would use and it’s a nut free center
Sunflower or wow butter are both amazing substitutes for peanut allergy!
any no bake cookies without PB ?
Hi Joyce, I think almond butter would work here.