No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (2024)

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by Regina | Leelalicious 7 Comments

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These amazing No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies are gluten-free and naturally sweetened with honey. They are perfect to satisfy cookie cravings without turning on the oven.

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (1)

This recipe came about when we got an apartment in Chiang Mai, Thailand which included a beautiful kitchen with lots of cabinets and counter space, but no oven. That's why I have a whole category for no-bake desserts.

No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies aren't a new idea. But for my version I didn't want to use butter and sugar (+ cocoa powder) as the binder. So I came up with my own 5-ingredient (yup that's all) version that uses good chocolate, honey and peanut butter as the binder for rolled oats and roasted peanuts.

I love these with very dark chocolate (like 75% or more) but my husband Konrad likes his sweets actually sweet. For him, I made them with semi-sweet chocolate chips and that's also the batch I ended up taking pictures of.

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  • Instructions
  • Variations
  • Storage
  • Top Tip
  • FAQs
  • Related
  • No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Oat Cookies
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (2)

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • chocolate -chopped chocolate bar or chocolate chips; dark or semi-sweet
  • peanut butter -natural & creamy peanut butter
  • honey -or maple syrup
  • rolled oats -or a reduced amount of quick oats. Be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if required
  • roasted peanuts -coarsely chopped

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (3)

Melt the chocolate with the peanut butter and honey in a pot set over very low heat.

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (4)

Stir the oats and peanuts into the chocolate mixture until combined.

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (5)

Divide and shape the mixture into cookies using a spoon and your hands.

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (6)

Place them on a parchment lined baking sheet + garnish with extra peanuts if desired. Freeze for 20 minutes or until set.

Hint: Use a cookie scoop to divide the cookies and make them uniform sizes.

Variations

While the combination of chocolate and peanut butter is epic in this no bake cookie recipe, the beauty of it is that it is a base that you can easily vary and make all your own. Here are some ideas on how to make these treats your own:

  • Replace the Nuts: If you or a loved one can't have peanuts for whatever reason, this recipe would work well with almond butter or hazelnut butter along with some chopped almonds or hazelnuts.
  • Make the Cookies Nut-free: Rather than using nut butter with nuts, consider trying sunflower seed butter and whole sunflower seeds. The cookies will be a little different but they will still be delicious!
  • Add Shredded Coconut: Replace some of the oats with shredded coconut if your love the combination of chocolate and coconut.
  • Make a Salted Peanut Chocolate Cookie: Simply garnish the cookies with a little sea salt if you love the combination of sweet and salty.
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (7)

Storage

To store the cookies, after freezing them so they become solid, you should keep them refrigerated rather than storing them at room temperature so the chocolate doesn't melt and store them in an airtight container. It is a good idea to layer them between parchment paper to ensure they don't stick together.

If you would like to store the chocolate peanut butter oatmeal cookies for longer, you can also put them in the freezer. While they will keep in the freezer for several months, it is best to consume them within 6 months as longer freezing time may affect their flavor and texture negatively.

Top Tip

Make sure you melt the chocolate mixture over low heat, and continuously stir it to prevent it from scorching or seizing up. If you like, you could also melt the mixture in the microwave by heating it for 20 to 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the mixture is melted.

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (8)

FAQs

Why are the no-bake peanut butter cookies crumbling?

Peanut butter cookies can crumble if they lack sufficient binding ingredients or if they are not chilled properly. Ensure the right balance of binding elements and refrigerate the cookies adequately before serving.

What can you do with failed no-bake cookies?

Failed no-bake cookies can be repurposed into toppings for ice cream or yogurt, or crumbled into a parfait. You can also try adding them to a milkshake or smoothie for added flavor and texture.

Why are my no-bake oatmeal cookies gooey?

Gooey no-bake oatmeal cookies may be the result of using too much of the binding ingredients like honey or peanut butter. Adjust the ratios of the ingredients to achieve a firmer texture.

Can I melt the chocolate mixture in a bain-marie?

Yes, absolutely! If you are concerned about scorching the chocolate in the pot on the stove, you can place the chocolate, butter, and honey in a bowl and set it over a pot of simmering water, stirring until the mixture is melted and smooth.

What types of chocolate should I use in this cookie recipe?

You can use either dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate, it all depends on your taste. If you enjoy the richness of dark chocolate but also appreciate sweeter desserts, semi-sweet chocolate is the one for you. However, if you don't care for sweet desserts, dark chocolate is a good choice. The cookies will just be a little darker in colour.

How do I make uniform-sized cookies?

The best way to make sure your cookies are the same size is to use some type of measure, like a cookie scoop. However, if you don't have a cookie scoop, you could also use a 2 tablespoon measuring spoon or simply measure out 2 tablespoons using a tablespoon-sized measuring spoon.

Can I use different nut butter and nuts in these chocolate peanut butter cookies?

Yes, if you or someone in your family has an allergy to peanuts but not other nuts, you could replace the peanut butter and peanuts with almond butter and almonds or hazelnut butter and hazelnuts instead. You could even turn it into a cashew cookie recipe by including cashew butter and cashews rather than peanuts.

Looking for other no bake recipes like this? Try these:

  • Salted Caramel Ice Cream - Vegan, Paleo
  • No Bake Peanut Butter Bars
  • No Bake Chocolate Tart - vegan, gluten free, paleo
  • Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate Bombs

No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Oat Cookies

4.75 from 8 votes

These amazing No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies are gluten-free and naturally sweetened with honey. Perfect to satisfy cookie cravings without turning on the oven.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 0 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Servings 14 cookies

Calories 124 kcal

Ingredients

  • 3.5 oz chocolate dark or semi-sweet
  • ¼ cup peanut butter natural & smooth
  • 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
  • cup rolled oats reduce to ½ cup for stickier cookie dough *
  • ½ cup roasted peanuts coarsely chopped

Instructions

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment. In a medium saucepan, melt chocolate, peanut butter and honey on very low heat. You can also use a double boiler or microwave in short bursts. Stir until smooth and combined.

  • Add oats and chopped peanuts and mix together.

  • Spoon out some of the mixture and shape it into a disk/cookie shape and place on prepared lined sheet. Add a few peanuts right in the center, if desired.

  • Makes about 14 largish cookies. Place baking sheet in the freezer for about 20 minutes for cookies to set. Then store in the fridge in a covered container.

Notes

* if you only have quick-cooking oats, you will need less because they are more absorbent. Start with ¼ cup and only add more as needed

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Oat Cookies

Serving Size

1 cookie

Amount per Serving

Calories

124

% Daily Value*

Fat

8

g

12

%

Saturated Fat

3

g

15

%

Trans Fat

0.002

g

Polyunsaturated Fat

2

g

Cholesterol

0.2

mg

%

Sodium

25

mg

1

%

Potassium

132

mg

4

%

Carbohydrates

10

g

3

%

Fiber

2

g

8

%

Sugar

5

g

6

%

Protein

4

g

8

%

Vitamin A

3

IU

%

Vitamin C

0.01

mg

%

Calcium

15

mg

2

%

Iron

1

mg

6

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Keyword No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies

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No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (14)

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Reader Interactions

Comments

    Leave a Reply

  1. Liz

    No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (15)
    I made these today and had a horrible time keeping them together. Took me 30 minutes to get a half dozen of them to look like cookies. I tried remelting the chocolate which helped a little, but not much. The binding ingredients just aren't as good as butter and sugar, I'll have to switch back to that.

    Reply

  2. jacquee | I Sugar Coat It!

    No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (16)
    Chocolate and PB...mmmmmmm! I have not baked in months, so these would be the perfect little treat for us right now.

    Reply

    • Regina

      No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (17)
      I hear ya. There totally is a reason ovens part of a standard Thai kitchen. But sooner or later I'll miss my baked treats. You can be certain the AC will be running full force 🙂

      Reply

  3. Melissa Belanger

    No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (18)
    These cookies look so good! I love no bake cookies. And they have only a few ingredients which makes them perfect for a quick treat 🙂

    Reply

    • Regina

      No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (19)
      Thanks so much Melissa! Quick with few ingredients are the best kind of recipes, no?

      Reply

  4. Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine

    O wow, these are just soooo good! Always chocolate and PB!

    Reply

    • Regina

      Right?? Can never go wrong with a PB & chocolate combo 🙂

      Reply

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies Recipe » LeelaLicious (2024)

FAQs

Why do my no bake cookies fall apart? ›

If you've glanced at other no-bake cookie recipes then you'll see how important it is to boil the sugar mixture long enough which will help the cookies to set. Boiling too long will cause the cookies to be dry and crumbly. However, if you don't boil long enough the cookies will not set and will be runny.

Why are my no bake cookies gritty? ›

Whisk it up until it's smooth, and let it cook slowly, until the sugar has dissolved. You can tell whether the sugar has liquefied just by placing a drop or two on your fingertip, then rubbing it against your thumb. If it feels gritty or grainy, it's not quite there yet. It should feel silky-smooth.

Why are peanut butter cookies always dry? ›

Why are my cookies dry and crumbly? This is most likely a classic case of using too much flour. It's crucial to properly measure the flour in this recipe, as even 1 extra tablespoon of flour can completely change the structure of the cookies. You also might have over baked them!

What is the purpose of baking soda in oatmeal cookies? ›

BAKING SODA: When baking soda is combined with an acid, like the cocoa powder, baking powder, and brown sugar in this recipe, it produces carbon dioxide, which helps the cookie dough rise and eventually spread. It also helps the cookies caramelize, raising the pH level in the dough for peak browning.

Can you fix no bake cookies that won't harden? ›

Most no-bake cookies have some sticky ingredient to hold it together. If you used something sticky like butter, peanut butter, melted marshmallows or melted chocolate I would pop them in the fridge, so they firm up. If that doesn't help, I would completely dip them in melted chocolate and let them harden in the fridge.

How do you fix no bakes that didn't set up? ›

Why Didn't My No-Bake Cookies Set? Likely, you didn't boil the mixture long enough. You want the butter, milk, sugar, and cocoa mixture to boil for 2-3 full minutes and reach between 190°F-200°F. If you don't boil them for long enough, they will turn out gooey and will not set.

Why are my peanut butter oatmeal cookies dry? ›

One reason could be that you overcooked them. Another reason could be that you didn't add enough moisture to the dough. Finally, your peanut butter cookies might be dry and crumbly if you used a natural peanut butter that doesn't have any added oil.

How do you make cookies soft instead of crunchy? ›

Baking cookies quickly in a hot oven – at 375 degrees F as opposed to a lower temperature – will make for soft results. They'll bake fast instead of sitting and drying out in the oven's hot air. Ever so slightly underbaking your cookies will give you softer results than cooking them the full amount the recipe says.

Why are my peanut butter cookies so grainy? ›

Why Are My Peanut Butter Cookies Gritty? A likely suspect is old or hard brown sugar. If there are clumps of sugar in the dough, it won't dissolve completely during mixing or baking– which results in a gritty texture.

What happens if you add too much peanut butter to peanut butter cookies? ›

With so much peanut butter in this cookie dough, natural peanut butter will give you a dry, crumbly cookie.

What happens if you don't flatten peanut butter cookies? ›

Peanut butter cookies don't spread as they cook, so you have to flatten them before hand. This ensures that the middle will cook through before the outside burns. As for the pattern created, it actually creates slightly more surface area, so you'll get more browning at the extra edges that you create.

Should you refrigerate peanut butter cookie dough before baking? ›

Chill your cookie dough! The dough is extremely soft due to the creamy peanut butter, eggs, and butter and if it's not cold going into the oven, the cookies will spread all over your baking sheet. I chilled this cookie dough for 24 hours and my cookies were soft, thick perfection.

Can I use baking powder instead of baking soda in oatmeal cookies? ›

First, we substituted baking powder for baking soda. The baking powder gave the dough more lift, which in turn made the cookies less dense and a bit chewier. Second, we eliminated the cinnamon recommended not only in the Quaker Oats recipe but in lots of other recipes.

Is baking soda or baking powder better for oatmeal cookies? ›

Include both baking powder and baking soda ~ Many oatmeal cookie recipes call for just baking soda in the batter. Adding baking powder, too, gives more rise to the cookies and creates a really nice soft-and-chewy middle. The amount of dough used for each cookie definitely matters in making these the best cookies, too.

Is baking soda or powder better for cookies? ›

Baking soda is typically used for chewy cookies, while baking powder is generally used for light and airy cookies. Since baking powder is comprised of a number of ingredients (baking soda, cream of tartar, cornstarch, etc.), using it instead of pure baking soda will affect the taste of your cookies.

Why are my cookies falling apart so easily? ›

If you overmix the dough, the cookies will be dry and crumbly. The best way to fix this is to add more liquid to the dough. This can be done by adding milk, water, or even melted butter. You may also need to add more flour to the dough if it is too wet.

Why won't my cookies stay together? ›

Excess Sugar and Fat

Measuring is key in baking. If your cookie contains excess sugar or fat, it will spread while baking. If your first batch of cookies spreads, try adding a few tablespoons of flour to help thicken the remaining dough.

How do you fix crumbly cookies after baking? ›

To soften baked cookies that are too dry, you can add a slice of bread to the airtight container where you're storing the cookies. The moisture from the bread will give the cookies a softer texture. Or you can just pop the cookies in the microwave for 4-5 seconds until their texture softens a bit.

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