4/24/12

No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

A tried-and-true recipe for no-bake cookies made with peanut butter and oats topped with an easy cocoa drizzle icing.

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Brutus' favorite food in the whole wide world is a No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie. When he sweetly asked me to make some for his school lunches, I assured him that I would.

That youngin is so sweet I would have written him a check too if he'd asked me.

I popped into the kitchen to whip up a batch and realized that I was almost out of cocoa.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies! A tried-and-true recipe for no-bake cookies made with peanut butter and oats topped with an easy cocoa drizzle icing.

Well... what to do?

Try to make them without the cocoa, is what. I'm not disappointing that boy. He's the only one around here who's always sweet to me!

I wondered if I needed to adjust the recipe in some way since I wouldn’t be adding any cocoa powder but decided against it.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies! A tried-and-true recipe for no-bake cookies made with peanut butter and oats topped with an easy cocoa drizzle icing.

I know from making Chocolate Pound Cake that cocoa doesn’t serve any structural purpose in recipes so I just made my usual cookies but didn’t add the cocoa.

And I'm so glad I did because I LOVE these like this!

I decided to use the tiny little bit of cocoa powder in the bottom of the carton to make a little chocolate drizzle! I can't wait for him to try one after supper!

No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies! A tried-and-true recipe for no-bake cookies made with peanut butter and oats topped with an easy cocoa drizzle icing.

UPDATE: I first posted this recipe in 2012 and I want to let y'all know that we still love it!! I updated the photos in 2023 but other than that, I haven’t changed a thing!

I’ve done a LOT of cooking since 2012 so if you’re looking for other options for no-bake oatmeal cookies, be sure to check these out too!

No-Bake Monster Cookies - An easy no-bake peanut butter cookie recipe with quick-cooking oats topped with chocolate chips and M&Ms. 

Triple Chocolate No-Bake Cookies - Classic no-bake peanut butter oatmeal cookies made with DOUBLE the cocoa and studded with chocolate chips for three times the chocolate goodness! 

Classic No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies - A better recipe for classic peanut butter chocolate oatmeal cookies with DOUBLE the cocoa that come out perfectly every time!

No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies! A tried-and-true recipe for no-bake cookies made with peanut butter and oats topped with an easy cocoa drizzle icing.

NOTES ABOUT MAKING NO-BAKE PEANUT BUTTER OATMEAL COOKIES:

  • Only use real butter. Margarine will not work in this recipe.
  • If using unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt when heating the milk mixture. 
  • No-bake cookies can be persnickety. If you don’t boil the mixture long enough, they won’t set up. If you boil it too long, they will be crumbly. The recipe below is exactly how I make all my no-bake cookies. Follow it and you should be A-OK.
  • Every now and again my “dough” will be a little on the thick side. I assume this is about some variance in the oats but you know how cooking sweets can be. IF your dough seems a little firm, heat 2 tablespoons of milk and 1 tablespoon of peanut butter in the pan you just used until the peanut butter melts (no need to clean it first and you need to work quickly anyway). Pour the hot mixture into the dough then mix well. That should loosen everything up perfectly. 
  • You can use old-fashioned rolled oats in this instead of the quick-cooking variety. I just prefer the texture of the quick-cook oats.
  • If you don’t have parchment paper, a clean, dry counter will work as well but you may need a spatula to move the cookies. Aluminum foil can be used as well.
  • To make the traditional chocolate version of this recipe, add 1/2 cup cocoa powder with the sugar then follow the recipe the same. 
  • The cocoa drizzle is optional. 

Recipe for No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies! A tried-and-true recipe for no-bake cookies made with peanut butter and oats topped with an easy cocoa drizzle icing.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
Yield: 32-36 Cookies
Author: Mandy Rivers | South Your Mouth
Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 5 MinTotal time: 15 Min
A tried and true recipe for no-bake cookies made with peanut butter and oats topped with an easy cocoa drizzle.

Ingredients

Cookies
  • 3 cups quick-cooking oats
  • 1 stick REAL butter (1/2 cup)
  • 2 cups sugar
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1 cup peanut butter
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
Cocoa Drizzle
  • 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
  • 1/4 cup cocoa powder
  • 1-2 tablespoons milk

Instructions

Cookies
  1. Line a work surface with parchment paper. Add the quick-cooking oats to a large mixing bowl then set aside.
  2. Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir in sugar and milk then bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring frequently. Once the mixture starts to bubble, boil for 1 full minute. Remove from heat immediately. Do not let mixture boil longer than 1 minute.
  3. Add peanut butter and vanilla to the saucepan then stir until peanut butter is melted. Pour mixture into the mixing bowl with oats then gently stir until well combined.
  4. Using a cookie scoop or two tablespoons (I use a 1½ inch cookie scoop), scoop portions of dough onto parchment paper.
  5. Prepare Cocoa Drizzle Icing then add to a zip-top bag.
  6. Snip a tiny whole off the corner of the bag then drizzle icing over cookies.
  7. Allow cookies to completely cool and set-up then move to an air-tight container to store.
Cocoa Drizzle Icing
  1. Combine powdered sugar, cocoa powder and 1 tablespoon of milk then mix well.
  2. Add more milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, until icing is thin enough to drizzle but thick enough to keep it's shape.

Notes

  • Only use real butter. Margarine will not work in this recipe.
  • If using unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt when heating the milk mixture. 
  • No-bake cookies can be persnickety. If you don’t boil the mixture long enough, they won’t set up. If you boil it too long, they will be crumbly. The recipe below is exactly how I make all my no-bake cookies. Follow it and you should be A-OK.
  • Every now and again my “dough” will be a little on the thick side. I assume this is about some variance in the oats but you know how cooking sweets can be. IF your dough seems a little firm, heat 2 tablespoons of milk and 1 tablespoon of peanut butter in the pan you just used until the peanut butter melts (no need to clean it first and you need to work quickly anyway). Pour the hot mixture into the dough then mix well. That should loosen everything up perfectly. 
  • You can use old-fashioned rolled oats in this instead of the quick-cooking variety. I just prefer the texture of the quick-cook oats.
  • If you don’t have parchment paper, a clean, dry counter will work as well but you may need a spatula to move the cookies. Aluminum foil can be used as well.
  • To make the traditional chocolate version of this recipe, add 1/2 cup cocoa powder with the sugar then follow the recipe the same. 
  • The cocoa drizzle is optional. 
peanut butter, oatmeal, oats, cookies, nobake, no bake, gluten free, easy, best, chocolate, drizzle, cocoa
Keep up with my latest shenanigans by following South Your Mouth!

36 comments:

  1. Brilliant! I'm rarely without cocoa and always keep the ingredients for my favorite cookies on hand, but these look so good I think I'll try them "blonde" next time on purpose. Love the idea!

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  2. These are wonderful! some of my favorite flavors all in a no-bake cookie= will be trying these w/the kiddos.

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  3. They look mouth-watering!!! Truly favorite flavors all in one beautiful cookie. Thanks so much for linking up to Weekend Potluck!

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  4. These look amazing. So glad I came across the recipe! :)

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  5. Just made these, they are cooling on the counter. I melted some milk chocolate chips and drizzled them on top since I don't have any powdered sugar. I hope they are good! They sure look and smell yummy.

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  6. I just got done making these. Mine were kind of runny so I spooned it into tiny muffin tins. In the fridge now, Wonder how they will be in the am. I am eating the extra right now, yum warm melted peanut butter n oatmeal. Thanks for the recipe

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    Replies
    1. Don't know what kind of butter you used, but when I use tub butter they don't set up like with stick butter. Love 'em better that way though!

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  7. I made these tonight for my boys and added a few chocolate chips in with the penut butter. They smell so good

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  8. Yum! As a peanut butter with a peanut butter loving husband, I'm going to have to try these! :)

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  9. I love no bakes! Thanks for bringing this to Weekend Potluck!
    Hugs, Tonya from 4 little Fergusons

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    Replies
    1. Thanks, Tonya! I really appreciate y'all hosting those!

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  10. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. I do not like chocolate and the vast majority of recipes for sweet treats these days include chocolate and are difficult to modify to "chocolate free." This one will be easily convertible!!!

    I cannot wait to get home to make these!!!

    Aunt B

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    Replies
    1. You're not the first person to tell me that so maybe I need to put some thought into more treats like these without the chocolate! Thanks for your comment!

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  11. I seem to be late to this party, but I just made my first batch...oh.my.word!!!!! Amazing! Thanks!

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  12. Can you use splenda

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    Replies
    1. I'm not sure. Boiling the sugar creates the "glue" that holds this together and I'm not familiar enough with Splenda to know if it will yield the same results. If you try it, I'd love to know how it turns out!

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  13. I just made these and I also placed in the refrigerator to help them firm up.
    I wasn't sure on the measurements for the chocolate drizzle so I will go without that this time.

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  14. Has anyone tried eliminating the sugar and used honey as a substitute?

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  15. What kind of oatmeal do you use?

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  16. I like to marble them! Mix a generous spoonful of the hot mixture with a couple tablespoons cocoa, then partially stir back into the pot. Try it!

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  17. when I make these no-bake cookies I sometimes add coconut and nuts in with the oats gives it a different taste not the same ol same ol

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  18. Unbelievable!!! I made these exactly to your recipe and then poured chocolate chips in and at the end.

    They are still in the fridge cooling. But I have had a full spoonfuls to know that these are definitely a new favorite!!

    Thanks!!

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  19. Is the oatmeal cooked or uncooked? I know a dumb question...but I do need to know....thanks

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  20. I would love to know is the oatmeal cooked or uncooked? thanks

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    Replies
    1. I think you can use either I used cooked and they turned out great :)-Mariah

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  21. Make these with cannabis butter makes good cuz the peanut butter flavors out the cannabis much better than coco...use Incas for pain/sleep sativa's for daytime pain relief an stress ...much more intense than smoking so be careful aan keep away from kids!

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  22. I just made these with Nutella instead of peanut butter, cause we were running low on PB...all I can say is OMG gooooooooood! :)

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  23. I wonder how these would taste with Cookie Butter?!

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  24. yum! made these to take to a quilting event. That is if they ever make it there! LOL!

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  25. i have been making these for years and they are absolutely my fave. they taste just like peanut butter fudge!

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  26. I love making these! So yummy. We've also made them with rice crispies, and/or cashews. Even yummier!

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  27. I doubled this recipe, meaning I doubled all of the ingredients except for the vanilla extract. I added two tablespoons (yes 2 tablespoons) of pure Madagascar bourbon vanilla extract, and they were out of this world. Cooking one minute and using quick oats worked perfectly!

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