Looking for a delicious, easy no-bake treat? These delectable cookies are filled with chocolate, peanut butter, and oats and perfect for a sweet snack.
No-bake cookies are the world's answer to "I need a cookie and I need it now."
These classic cookies are fudgy, sweet, and delicious.
where did no-bake cookies originate?
Classic no-bake cookies exploded in popularity in the 1950s when such ingredients as Crisco and margarine hit the market.
They are also called PREACHER COOKIES or COW PATTIES. Melt butter, cocoa, sugar, and milk on the stove-top and stir in quick oats and peanut butter.
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how to make EASY no bake cookies
Ingredients you will need:
SALTED BUTTER
My preference is to use salted butter. I use the Land O' Lakes brand. I do not recommend margarine or a butter substitute unless you are making a vegan version.
SUGAR
You'll need granulated sugar for these cookies.
COCOA POWDER
For this recipe, choose unsweetened cocoa powder, like the Hershey’s Brand. (As opposed to Dutch-processed cocoa powder.)
MILK
Choose any of your favorite type of milk. I used 2% in this recipe.
VANILLA EXTRACT
Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract. I prefer pure extract, not imitation flavoring.
PEANUT BUTTER
Because consistency and texture are important when making no bake cookies, I recommend a brand of creamy peanut butter that does not separate, such as Jif or Skippy.
If you do use a natural peanut butter that separates, be sure to mix very well before adding to the cookies.
QUICK OATS
It's important to use QUICK OATS and not OLD-FASHIONED OATS!
SALT (optional)
If you use salted butter you don't need to add additional salt. However, I like to cut the sweetness with an additional dash of salt.
Tools you’ll need
Can you freeze no bake cookies?
Yes! You can freeze no bake cookies. If your cookies are soft, chill for a couple hours first, not touching, before transferring to a freezer-safe Ziplock.
Thaw in the Ziplock fully before opening.
How long do no bake cookies last?
These chocolate, peanut butter oatmeal no bake cookies last up to 2 weeks in an air-tight container.
Help! Why are my cookies soft?
If you do not bring the mixture of butter, sugar, cocoa, and milk to a full boil for 1 minute, the cookies may be soft and not fully set.
Refrigerate the cookies to help them firm up.
Are no-bake cookies gluten-free?
Good news for the gluten-free crowd, no bake cookies are gluten-free.
TIPS on making no bake cookies
- I prefer using salted butter AND an additional dash of salt to balance the sweetness.
- Be sure to bring the mixture to a full boil for one minute.
- If cookies are soft, refrigerate to firm up.
- Use butter, not a butter substitute.
- Peanut butter that does not separate is easiest to work with.
- I find QUICK OATS work better than old-fashioned oats.
- A cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons size) is great for cookies of uniform shape.
Meaghan's super secret tip to make the best no bake cookies
For thicker, fudgier cookies, let the finished mixture rest in the saucepan (off of the heat) for ten minutes before scooping.
no bake cookies
The BEST no bake cookies -- The classic combination of cocoa, peanut butter, oatmeal, sugar and milk for a fudgy treat. Also called Preacher cookies.
Ingredients
- ½ cup (113 grams) salted butter
- 1 ¾ cup (351 grams) sugar
- ⅓ cup (28 grams) unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup (4 fl ounces) milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ⅔ cup (170 grams) peanut butter
- 3 cups (300 grams) quick oats
- ¼ teaspoon salt (optional)
Instructions
- Line two baking trays with parchment paper and set aside.
- Place the butter, sugar, cocoa powder, and milk in a large saucepan.
- Heat over medium-high, stirring frequently.
- When the mixture comes to a full boil, stop stirring and put the timer on for 1 minute.
- After one minute, remove from heat and stir in the peanut butter until melted.
- Stir in the vanilla, oats, and salt (if using).
- Let the mixture rest for 10 minutes.
- Scoop with a 1 ½-inch cookie scoop (about 2 tablespoons) on the cookie trays.
- Let firm 20 to 30 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
28Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 21Total Fat: 1gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 23mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 1g
HowToMakeEasyCookies.com offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. To obtain the most accurate representation of the nutritional information in any given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients you use to create this recipe.
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