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No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies With Oatmeal

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Sometimes you need a little something sweet in a hurry, and without an oven. These no bake peanut butter oatmeal cookies are an easy treat the whole family will love. Luckily they only take a handful of ingredients and a few minutes to make.

Close plate of no bake peanut butter cookies with oatmeal, ready to eat.

If you are a peanut butter lover, these cookies are the perfect treat for you. They are a lot like the classic no bake cookies, but without chocolate.

While we love chocolate, sometimes it is fun to let the peanut butter really shine. This gives you full peanut butter flavor with that classic oatmeal chew.

A Quick and Easy Treat

Have you ever had one of those nights where you just need a little something sweet but there’s nothing in the house? I have those all the time.  

My sweet tooth is always calling for a little something more.  And while you might not believe this if you have perused the dessert section of this site, but I do actually have a little bit of self control at the store.

Ingredients including peanut butter, sugar, butter, milk, and oats ready to be made into no bake cookies.

So I try not to buy too many easy sweet treats to have on hand.  If all I have to do when a craving hits is open a package, that is too easy.

I like to make it a bit of a challenge.

The problem is… I know my way to the kitchen.  And gosh darn it if I don’t know how to whip something up when it’s needed.

So for better or for worse we are always just a few short minutes away from a treat.  Especially when armed with recipes like this one.

You just need to grab a few ingredients, most of which are pantry staples. Then you can be enjoying the fruits of your labors in about 20 minutes.

Making Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies

This recipe is a lot like the chocolate and peanut butter version from my childhood. You start by boiling some sugar, butter, and milk together.

Watch the mixture closely and once it starts boiling, let it boil for exactly one minute. If you boil it too long, the cookies will be dry and crumbly.

If you don’t boil it long enough, they won’t set all the way. One minute is the perfect amount of time to hold them together but maintain a soft interior.

If you are worried about judging the doneness of the sugar mixture just by a timer, you can use an instant read thermometer to make sure they are done. The boiling sugar mixture should be about 235F.

Once your sugar mixture is up to temperature, go ahead and remove the pan from the heat. Then stir in the peanut butter and vanilla.

I like to use regular commercial peanut butter for these kinds of recipes because it gives the most consistent results. I haven’t tried it with the natural peanut butter that needs stirred first, but you can let me know how it goes if you try it.

Now it is time to stir in the oats. I use old fashioned oats, because that is what I always have in the cabinet.

Quick cooking or instant oats also work. In this recipe there isn’t a lot of difference between the two.

Scoop the mixture onto a sheet of wax paper or parchment paper and let the cookies set up. To speed up the process, put the trays in the refrigerator.

Store no bake cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. Or freeze the cookies for even longer storage.

What did the boys think?

My husband isn’t the biggest fan of peanut butter, but even he went back for more and then a few more.  Which is a really good thing.  

He and little man were the only thing that kept me from knocking back the whole batch by myself.

They are so easy, so delicious, so peanut buttery and so melt in your mouth good.  In fact, I don’t know why you are still reading me yammering on about them.  Skip to the recipe and run to the kitchen as fast as you can!

Hand holding peanut butter no bake cookie with oatmeal.

More No-Bake Peanut Butter Recipes

If you like peanut butter no bake treats, you may also like monster cookie bites or chocolaty no bake peanut butter bars.

There are also great chunky monkey oatmeal balls and peanut butter maple snack mix.

Peanut butter oatmeal no bake cookie with bite missing showing dense texture in front of plate of more cookies.

What are your favorite peanut butter recipes? You can let me know about them in the comments below.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a review in the recipe card.

Close plate of no bake peanut butter cookies with oatmeal, ready to eat.

No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

Carlee
Peanut butter no-bake cookies are full of peanut butter flavor and rolled oat goodness. They only require a few simple ingredients, and are incredibly easy to make!
4.86 from 14 ratings
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Chill Time 15 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Servings 36 Servings
Calories 117 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • cups granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 cups old fashioned oats

Instructions
 

  • Cover a baking sheet with wax paper and set aside. 
  • In a large saucepan over medium heat, stir together sugar, butter and milk. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently and keep at a rolling boil for one minute.
    1½ cups granulated sugar, ¼ cup butter, ½ cup milk
  • Turn off burner and stir in peanut butter until smooth. Stir in vanilla and oatmeal until combined.
    1 cup creamy peanut butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 3 cups old fashioned oats
  • Working quickly, drop in desired sized mounds on wax paper. 
  • Allow to cool and set and then serve.

Notes

Sometimes I like to stir in a  Tablespoon or two of ground flax seed with the oatmeal.
Because these cookies are no bake, you can make them whatever size you would like. I usually use either a small or medium cookie scoop to make portioning the cookies easier. The recipe makes 26 medium cookies (1 1/2 Tablespoons each) or about 40 small cookies (1 Tablespoon each)

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookieCalories: 117kcalCarbohydrates: 15gProtein: 3gFat: 6gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 47mgFiber: 1gSugar: 9g
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Recipe Rating




Cindy

Friday 19th of January 2024

These are amazing! I have someone where I work that isn't fond of chocolate so I make this version for that person. Wonderful!

Carlee

Friday 19th of January 2024

I am so glad!

annies home

Friday 5th of May 2017

this is one of my favorite cookies love your added ingredient of flax seed

Carlee

Sunday 7th of May 2017

I had only ever had the chocolate version before so the peanut butter ones were a fun change!

Carlee

Saturday 29th of April 2017

It is definitely handy to have a few things you can whip up at a moment's notice. I hope you give them a try!

Big Rigs 'n Lil' Cookies

Thursday 27th of April 2017

Yum!!! And finally, another one that our husband differ on. Peanut Butter. There are times I think mine could live on the stuff!

Carlee

Saturday 29th of April 2017

Then there's an instance where your husband and I definitely agree! Mine is a bit strange about peanut butter ;-)

Jessica Jarrell

Thursday 27th of April 2017

Ooh, I'm going to have to set this aside for the hubby. No bakes are his favorite :-)

Carlee

Saturday 29th of April 2017

There is just something so good about them and they are so quick and easy! I hope he enjoys them.