Cookies make the ideal sweet afternoon snack. However, you don’t always want to turn on the oven and heat the house to whip up a batch. These peanut butter no-bake cookies are the answer.
This quick cookie recipe requires just six ingredients to stir together a thick batter that will firm up on its own, without any time in the oven. The key is to create a base by boiling the butter, milk and sugar, which results in a smooth, creamy texture with every bite. Try these no-bake cookies with peanut butter only, or get creative by adding in other mix-ins such as chocolate chips or mini M&M’s for an even more perfect peanut butter cookie!
Ingredients for No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
- Butter: To better manage the amount of salt in these cookies, use unsalted butter rather than salted. The peanut butter provides enough salt as it is.
- Sugar: We sweeten these peanut butter no-bake cookies with 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar.
- Milk: Milk plays a role in creating the base for this no-bake cookies peanut butter batter. You can choose to use either 1%, 2% or whole milk.
- Peanut butter: A jar of the best peanut butter adds great flavor and texture and helps bind these cookies. Using creamy peanut butter is best for creating the ideal texture, but you could try crunchy if you’d like to have chunks of peanuts mixed in as well. Stick to standard peanut butter rather than natural peanut butter for best results.
- Vanilla extract: No-bake cookies with peanut butter need an extra flavoring source so they’re not just peanut butter-loaded. Vanilla extract is the perfect enhancer for its subtle sweetness and delicate floral taste.
- Oats: I love to use old-fashioned oats for these cookies because of their thick texture. However, quick-cooking oats, which are smaller, will work just as well.
Directions
Step 1: Boil the butter, milk and sugar
In a large saucepan, stir together the sugar, butter and milk.
Bring everything to a boil, and cook and stir for two minutes.
Step 2: Mix in the peanut butter and vanilla
Remove the mixture from the heat. Stir in the peanut butter and the vanilla extract until the peanut butter has melted and the mixture is smooth.
Step 3: Add the oats
Use a spatula to mix in the oats until well combined with the peanut butter mixture.
Step 4: Scoop and chill the cookies
Drop the cookie dough by the tablespoonful 1 inch apart onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Chill in the refrigerator until set, then store the cookies in an airtight container.
Recipe Variations
- Add fun mix-ins: After stirring in the oats, mix in additions such as a bag of the best chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, sprinkles or crushed nuts. We also love the idea of using mini M&M’s!
- Use your favorite nut butter: Not a fan of peanut butter? Try another nut butter like almond butter or cashew butter as a direct substitute.
- Go nut free: Omit the peanut butter and use an allergen-friendly sunflower butter. Biscoff spread is heavenly too.
- Dip them in chocolate: If you’re a chocolate-peanut butter lover, this option is for you! Once the cookies are all set, melt a few handfuls of chocolate chips in a bowl, and either half dip or fully submerge each cookie in the chocolate.
How to Store No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
These peanut butter no-bake cookies should be stored in an airtight container. They can be stored at room temperature for up to three days or in the fridge for up to one week.
Can you freeze no-bake peanut butter cookies?
Yes, once the no-bake cookies with peanut butter have chilled in the fridge and are set, place them in an airtight container or resealable storage bag with waxed paper or parchment between each layer. Keep them in the freezer for up to three months.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookie Tips
What should I do if the cookie batter is too wet?
The keys to these no-bake cookies with peanut butter are precise measuring and allowing the mixture to boil long enough, but if the mixture seems too wet, try adding a bit more oats to soak up the moisture. Then, scoop the cookies and transfer them to the fridge or freezer to harden and set.
Are these no-bake peanut butter cookies gluten-free?
It may seem as if these peanut butter no-bake cookies are gluten-free since they don’t have any actual gluten-containing ingredients, but the ingredients may have been processed in a facility that handles wheat, which would make the ingredients not safe for celiacs.
To ensure these no-bake cookies with peanut butter are absolutely safe for people with celiac disease, the ingredients must be certified gluten-free. Check the label on each ingredient’s package for a gluten-free certification. After that, locate the list of ingredients and see if there is an allergy warning for the facility where the ingredient was processed.
