These no bake Chocolate Peanut Oatmeal Cookies come together with a few simple ingredients in about 10 minutes. They are chewy, delicious, and so chocolatey perfect.
Make these peanut butter chocolate no bake cookies when you are in a pinch or when you need a fast easy treat. Love these but not interested in coconut? Make these: No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies.
We are in full on holiday mode around here. Quinn had her holiday concert on Monday and tonight we had Gavin’s choir and band concert. Can I tell you something that my kids don’t know? Their concerts make me super emotional. I don’t know why! I don’t want to be the weird mom who is silently sobbing while their child is singing “Over the river and through the woods” off key with 100 other 7 year olds . . . . but I kind of am!
Or it could be that the holidays are just making me super emotional. The fact that I ate like 7 of these no bake chocolate peanut butter cookies without blinking might be supporting evidence.
Fantastic recipe! My husband was asking for no bake cookies and I hadn’t made them in many many years so I went on the hunt and found this recipe. Perfection! I used sugar in the raw because I realized I was out of granulated sugar and they still turned out amazing. Thank you!
How to Make No Bake Chocolate Peanut Oatmeal Cookies
These no bake chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies come together so fast. For the full recipe with all the measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
- Melt the ingredients together. Heat up the sugar, milk, butter and cocoa powder.
- Bring it to a boil. This is a key step. You want to make sure that the mixture comes to a roaring boil and stays there for a full minute. If you don’t do this, the cookies will not set.
- Stir in remaining ingredients. Finish the recipe off by stirring in the oats, coconut, and peanut butter.
Ensuring Your Cookies Set
This is an incredibly simple cookie recipe, but it does have a very key step. It is very important that in step two you bring your mixture to a roaring boil. If you are seeing simmering, in other words small occasional bubbles, you are not quite there yet. You need to see really big bubbles that are nonstop. Once you to that point, then you can start your timer and boil the mixture for a minute. Doing this will ensure that the cookies will set.
Adding Coconut to No Bake Cookies
I love the addition of coconut to this classic cookie recipe. It brings another layer of flavor as well as contributing to these being chewy and delicious. That being said, if you don’t enjoy coconut or are making these for someone with an allergy, you can certainly leave it out. You will just want to add in another 1/4 cup oats. That is what we are doing in this delicious No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie Recipe.
You could also consider adding toasted coconut. It brings another element to this incredible recipe.
No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Old Fashioned or Quick Cooking Oats
Both old fashioned and quick cooking oats work in this easy chocolate peanut butter no bake cookie recipe. I use old fashioned oats because it is what I tend to have on hand and also because I love the look and texture it gives these chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies. That being said, if you only have quick cooking oats on hand, then use those.
Storing
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Oatmeal Cookies can be stored at room temperature for up to two weeks. Store them in an airtight container. As with all recipes, use your best discretion when it comes to leftovers.
Freezing
These are amazing to freeze. Freeze them in a single layer for a few hours, in other words, flash freeze them. Then transfer them to an airtight container and store them in your refrigerator for up to three months. When ready to eat, allow them to thaw at room temperature. In a single layer, it will take less than 30 minutes for them to thaw.
FAQ
While these are naturally gluten free, you want to ensure that your oats are marked gluten free. Occasionally plants that process oats cross contaminate. So this is important if you or someone you are serving has an allergy.
Unfortunately, no. This recipe needs to be made as written or you risk the cookies not setting.
I have not tested this, but some readers have without success.
Please read about this above.
Unfortunately, I have not tested this swap.
More No Bake Desserts
- This No Bake Baileys Chocolate Pie is such a winner!
- My fudge recipes are all no bake and perfect for the holidays or any time of year!
- Every holiday season I make my Mint Oreo Bark and it’s always the first to go!
- Love these but want them without chocolate? Make my Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies!
If you make these delicious no bake cookies or any of my other recipes please leave me a comment. I love hearing from you!
Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar (396 grams)
- 1/2 cup milk (118.3 ml)
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter (113 grams)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (42 grams)
- 2 cups old fashioned oats (178 grams)
- 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut read here about leaving out coconut
- 1 cup smooth peanut butter (270 grams)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line two baking sheets with wax paper or parchment paper.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the granulated sugar, milk, butter, and coco powder. Bring to a boil, while stirring consistently. Read more about this critical step here.2 cups granulated sugar, 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- Boil for one minute while continuing to stir. (It is very important that it is at a full boil for one minute.)
- Remove from the heat and stir in remaining ingredients.2 cups old fashioned oats, 1 cup shredded sweetened coconut, 1 cup smooth peanut butter, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- Using a large spoon or a cookie scoop, spoon large spoonfuls of the mixture onto the waxed paper. Allow to cool completely. Eat immediately or store in an airtight container for up to a week.
Ellie Palmer says
they Look wonderful I am going to try them.
I hope you love them!
Denise says
The one minute boil time is very important I set a timer and they come out perfect every time
Kali says
Will these work with Crunchy Peanut Butter too?
I haven’t tried it with crunch peanut butter yet! If you do, let me know how it goes.
Melissa says
yes crunchy PB works well – I only use this so I can have bits of nuts
Karen says
Mine didn’t harden. I followed the directions and even placed them in the fridge. This morning they were still gooey. Any ideas what I did wrong??
Thank you
I’m so sorry that this recipe didn’t work for you! Is it at all possible that one of the measurements was off? A little extra milk or extra butter wouldn’t be great for this recipe.
Marg says
What is cocoa butter and where do you find it? Can anything else be used?
Sorry, that is a type-o in the post. It is supposed to say cocoa, and butter. If you look at the recipe card and instructions it is more clear.
Mary says
I’ve been making these cookies, minus the coconut for over 45 years! Always a hit.
The best, right Mary?
Ellen Hall says
Can these cookies be froze
Yes, these freeze very well!
Maryjane says
Same thing happened to me, the fridge would t even get them hard or setup. They were gooey!! I winded up tossing them.
I’m so sorry Maryjane. There is nothing more frustrating than a recipe that doesn’t work out. Is it possible that you didn’t have everything at a boil for a minute?
Amber says
Can I use “not peanut butter” (wow butter) for my fiancé who is allergic to peanuts?
I haven’t tried that Amber, but I have a little experience with sun butter and I would think the consistency of that would work fine. I would guess that your Wow Butter would also work but would want to try it myself before I said for sure.
Peggy says
I’m not a fan of coconut.. what can I substitute for it.?!
I think you could try it with more oats instead, but I would have to experiment with it to know for sure.
Patricia West says
These cookies turned out great! My husband loves them and said you were delusional if you think they will last here for a week, maybe a couple of days. Love this recipe.
Pat West
I’m so glad you liked them, Pat!