Easy classic chocolate no bake cookies that are a fudgy, rich blend of chocolate and peanut butter and are sure to become a favorite! Whip up a batch of no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies in just 10 minutes without even turning on your oven.
Growing up, it was a family tradition that we made chocolate no bake cookies every Sunday night, along with a big blender full of our homemade orange julius. Yum!
These chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies are the same exact cookies my mom and grandma used to make and that I devoured as a kid.
Sometimes we would switch up our no bake cookies and make Special K bars (or Scotcheroos), which were another mouthwatering family favorite.
My grandmother made these no bake chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies for my mom’s family, my mom made them for our family, and now my daughter loves making them for our family too!
That’s four generations now who absolutely adore these delicious nobake cookies. Four generations of cookie makers can’t be wrong, right?
Chocolate No Bake Cookies
I’m about to divulge the BEST chocolate no bake cookie recipe to you. Get your taste buds ready for a taste of chocolate peanut butter heaven!
BEFORE You Start Making Chocolate No Bakes
Classic no bake cookies are really easy to make, but sometimes people mess them up.
Follow these simple instructions BEFORE you start making this tasty treat for a smoother process and to give you more success!
Prep the Paper
Cut a long sheet of waxed paper, parchment paper, or foil (any of these will work), then place on the counter so it’s ready to go.
When the cookies are hot and ready, you need to be ready too. This step will get those cookies scooped faster if you do it beforehand.
Protect Your Countertop and Hands
Get out a couple hot pads and oven mitts. The pan will be HOT when you move it over to the counter. If you have a couple hot pads already sitting there next to the waxed paper, you will avoid burning your counter top.
Get out an oven mitt or two as well, so you have them ready to carry the hot pot over so you don’t burn yourself.
Chocolate No Bake Cookies Ingredients
These cookies are made from basic pantry ingredients you probably already have-
- butter
- sugar
- unsweetened cocoa powder
- milk
- oats
- creamy peanut butter
- vanilla
How to Make No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Before you start making this chocolate no bake recipe, place the oatmeal, peanut butter, and vanilla all in a medium-sized bowl.
You don’t have to mix it or stir it- just put it all in the bowl and set aside.
This simple trick will save you time and make the cookie-making process simpler.
Now let’s make some no bake cookies!
STEP 1. Stir the butter, sugar, cocoa, and one cup milk together in a medium saucepan, and cook on medium heat until it boils.
Turn down the heat to low so that mixture is at a LOW boil. Boil at a LOW BOIL then set the timer for 3 minutes.
STEP 2. After 3 minutes, from heat and add the oats, peanut butter, and teaspoon of vanilla that you put into a bowl. Stir quickly until thoroughly mixed.
STEP 3. Drop cookies by spoonful onto the waxed paper you prepared.
You could also use a cookie scoop if you’d like.
Be careful not to burn yourself on the hot pan.
Allow the no bake peanut butter chocolate drop cookies to cool to room temperature and cool completely.
How long does it take for no bakes to set?
It generally takes about 20-30 minutes for the chocolate no bake cookies to set.
Being patient and waiting until they are cool is the hardest part of making the cookies for me!
Some people put the cookies on a prepared baking sheet in the refrigerator or freezer to cool down, but it’s really not necessary.
These chocolate no bake oatmeal cookies don’t take too long to set.
Once completely set, you can store these cookies in an airtight container.
What kind of oats do I use to make chocolate no bake cookies?
I like to use quick oats or instant oats best to make nobake cookies, but I’ve used old fashioned oats before and the cookies tasted great.
My personal preference is to use the quick cooking oats.
Why are my no bake cookies dry?
If your chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies end up being too dry, it’s because you either boiled them for too long, boiled them at too high of a temperature, or both.
You need to make sure that your mixture is at a low rolling boil on low heat for no longer than three minutes.
Why do my no bake cookies turn out gooey?
If your chocolate no bakes end up being too gooey, that means they weren’t cooked long enough or they weren’t cooked at a low rolling boil for three minutes.
Thank you for letting me share our family’s favorite recipe for no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies!
They are the perfect easy dessert when you don’t have a lot of time and don’t want to buy new ingredients. You probably already have everything you need to make these at home.
I’ve taken these cookies to countless parties and get togethers and they are ALWAYS a hit!
Chocolate No Bake Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3 cups oats
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 tsp vanilla
Instructions
- Add oats, peanut butter, and vanilla to medium size bowl. Set aside.
- Stir the butter, sugar, cocoa, and milk together in a saucepan, and cook on medium heat until it boils. Turn the heat down to low and boil at a low rolling boil for 3 minutes.
- Remove from heat and add the oats, peanut butter, and vanilla from the bowl. Stir quickly until thoroughly mixed.
- Drop cookies by the spoonful onto wax paper. Let the chocolate no bake cookies to cool and set before enjoying.
I hope you enjoy this chocolate no bake cookie recipe as much as our family does!
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- BEST English Toffee Recipe
- Strawberry Pretzel Dessert
- Oreo Cookie Balls with Edible Flowers
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- How to Make Edible Flower Lollipops
This recipe was updated in September 2021 and was originally posted in 2012.
