Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies are a delicious spin on traditional no bakes. Everyone loves these chewy cookies with peanut butter and oats!
I grew up eating chocolate no bake cookies but my friend Becky’s family is peanut butter crazy when it comes to desserts and they make peanut butter no bake cookies instead.
She gave me the recipe and now we can’t decide which ones we love more so we make both of them!
How To Make Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
Step One: Saucepan
This recipe starts with making a sugary concoction in a large stockpot or saucepan. The pan needs to be big enough for the oats that will be added later.
Put granulated sugar, brown sugar, and milk in the pot and stir to combine.
Step Two: Boil
Next, let the mixture come to a full rolling boil over medium heat without stirring and then remove from the heat.
This step can also be done in the microwave if you prefer. See the recipe tips below for details..
Step Three: Peanut Butter
Next, stir in the peanut butter and vanilla extract.
I like to use creamy peanut butter when making these no bakes but my husband loves them with crunchy peanut butter. Choose whichever one your family prefers.
Step Four: Oats
Once the peanut butter has been completely incorporated, stir in the quick cooking oats. You’ll want to work quickly because as the batter cools it starts to harden making it harder to form the cookies.
If the batter does happen to harden, you can pop it in the microwave for a few seconds to soften it again.
Can you use old fashioned oats to make no bake cookies?
Yes! You can use old fashioned oats (also known as rolled oats) or quick cooking oats when making no bake cookies. Quick cooking oats are coarsely chopped old fashioned oats. Using old fashioned oats will give the cookies more texture and make them chewier.
Step Five: Cookies
Use a couple of tablespoons to drop the peanut butter no bake cookies onto parchment paper. For bigger cookies, use large scoops of dough and for smaller cookies use small scoops of dough.
Recipe Tips
1. Can no bake cookies be made in the microwave? Yes. Bring the sugars and milk to a rolling boil on high in the microwave in a large microwave-safe bowl. Depending on your microwave this may take 2-4 minutes. Remove from the microwave and continue with the recipe.
2. Can no bake cookies be cooled in the fridge? Yes, if want to cool the no bake cookies in a hurry you can put them in the fridge.
3. Can I add chocolate to these no-bake cookies? You can find my recipe for chocolate no bake cookies here.
More Peanut Butter Desserts
Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
Video
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2/3 cup milk
- 3/4 cup peanut butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cup quick cooking oats
Instructions
- In a large pot, mix together granulated sugar, brown sugar, and milk. Bring to a rolling boil over medium-high heat without stirring.
- Remove from heat. Stir in the peanut butter and vanilla until combined. Then, stir in the oats.
- Drop by tablespoonfuls onto parchment paper. Allow the cookies to cool and harden.
Rachel Smith says
I’m sorry, bring a sugar and milk mixture, 3:1 ratio, to a rolling boil WITHOUT stirring. How is that possible? Wondering if I can even trust the ingredients list.
Tonia Larson says
Hi Rachel,
Thank you for checking out the recipe! After mixing the ingredients together, you bring them to a boil. While it’s coming to a boil, the sugar will dissolve.
Hope that helps,
~Tonia
Michelle says
Made these tonight following instructions as written and they were delicious!! Can’t stop eating them though! Thank you for sharing the recipe!
Tonia says
I hear ya! It’s best for me to make these when there are lots of people around to share with!
Virginia L Dryden says
These look delish! I’m hosting a baby shower soon and I will make these as part of the sweets on my table!
Question: Could I place the mixture into large, silicone ice-cube trays to give them a more uniform shape, and place them in the fridge to set up? Then, I would remove them from the trays and drizzle chocolate over them.
Thanks,
Virginia
Tonia says
Hi Virginia,
Yes, that should work. Great idea! You could also spread them in a small pan (maybe 8×8 or 9×9), allow them to cool, and then cut them into bars.
Warmly,
~Tonia
s harmsen says
won’t the sugars burn if not stirred
Rhonda says
Always love a new recipe!! Thanks