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Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies are a classic cookie recipe that never goes out of style! If you’ve been looking for no-bake oatmeal cookies without chocolate, this is the post for you. They are made with oats and peanut butter and set up perfectly every time.
Table of Contents
Why This No Bake Cookie Recipe Works
I’m a big fan of old-fashioned no-bake cookies, especially during the summer! Not having to turn on the oven is always a plus in my book.
Easy peanut butter no-bake cookies are an all-time favorite of mine. Maybe you’ve tried the classic chocolate oatmeal cookies before? These are like those except without the chocolate. Peanut butter is the star in this recipe.
This is an easy no-bake cookie recipe with just six ingredients.
I’m showing you how to make the cookies so they turn out with the best texture. The key is to use a thermometer and boil the mixture for the right amount of time. A thermometer takes all the guesswork out!
It’s all about the peanut butter and oats with these sweet bites! They’re a little chewy and perfectly sweet.
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter – I like to dice it, so it melts quickly when you make the dough.
- Granulated Sugar – not only is this important for sweetness but the chemical reaction between the sugar and butter helps these set up.
- Milk – Nonfat milk is what I normally use but regular milk is fine too (or nondairy milk)
- Creamy peanut butter – use regular peanut butter and not a natural kind that needs stirring.
- Vanilla extract and Salt – I love a teaspoon vanilla extract for flavoring
- Quick cooking oats – don’t have these? Learn how to make your own quick oats from old fashioned oats.
Love chocolate peanut butter cookies? Make my Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bakes! It’s basically just this recipe with cocoa powder!
How to Make Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
PREP: Before you make the cookies, it’s very important to have all of your ingredients prepped, measured, and ready to go. This is a quick recipe once you start, so have everything ready. Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper and set them aside.
- MELT: Melt the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Once it’s melted, add the sugar and milk and whisk until smooth.
- BOIL: Bring the mixture to a full rolling boil and bring it to a temperature of 230°F. This usually takes about a minute and a half, but use a thermometer to be absolutely sure. If you don’t boil it long enough, your cookies will not set up correctly.
- MIX: Take the pan off the heat and add the peanut butter, salt, vanilla.
- Mix in the oats. Stir well to combined.
- SCOOP: Use a cookie scoop to form two tablespoons of dough for each cookie. Place them on the prepared cookie sheets. Leave them at room temperature to set, or you can chill them in the fridge to speed up the process.
Why did my no-bake cookies not set?
Usually, the reason the no bake oatmeal cookies don’t set is that the mixture wasn’t boiled long enough. This is why a thermometer is so helpful! The temperature should be 230°F when you take the pan off the heat. Any lower than that, and the cookies won’t set properly.
Storing and Freezing Instructions
Store these in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days. They’ll last a week in the refrigerator, and you can freeze them for up to 3 months.
Important Tips
- You can use creamy or crunchy peanut butter as long as it’s the regular kind and not natural peanut butter.
- Prep and measure your ingredients first. This isn’t the kind of recipe you can measure and mix as you go.
- For best results, use a candy thermometer or instant-read thermometer when you boil the mixture. It makes it so much easier, and you don’t have to worry if you boiled it long enough. This is my favorite instant read thermometer!
- If you want to add some mix-ins, chopped nuts or m&ms work well for this recipe!
FAQs
Swap the peanut butter for Biscoff cookie spread, Nutella, almond butter, or other nut butter that you like. You can also use Sun Butter which is a sunflower seed spread. When no-bake cookies are made the right way, they’re irresistible!
Yes, foil is fine. You can also use parchment paper or silicone mats.
No bake oatmeal cookies don’t set if the mixture wasn’t boiled long enough. This is why a thermometer is so helpful! The temperature should be 230°F when you take the pan off the heat.
If you use natural peanut butter, or if you don’t measure your oats properly or if you cook them too long (past 230°F) they can get dry and crumbly.
Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup (113g) unsalted butter diced
- 1 ¾ cups (350g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (118ml) nonfat milk
- ½ cup (133g) creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 3 cups (243g) quick cooking oats
Instructions
- Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- It’s very important that all your ingredients are measured and ready to go before you start and make sure you’ve read the directions before making these cookies. The process goes fast!
- Melt the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the sugar and milk. Whisk until smooth then bring to a boil and cook for about 1 ½ minutes, stirring occasionally. NOTE: you MUST boil them long enough or they will not set. To be sure of this, boil the mixture until it reaches 230°F on a candy or instant read thermometer. If you do not have a thermometer, this will take about 1 ½ minutes on medium heat.
- Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter, salt, vanilla, and oats.
- Use a cookie scoop to drop 2 tablespoon size balls of cookie mixture onto the prepared baking sheets. Let sit to set or chill to harden quicker.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Recipe Nutrition
More No Bake Recipes You’ll Love
- Classic No Bake Cookies Recipe has chocolate and peanut butter!
- Chocolate Lasagna is a no bake lush dessert!
- Easy Rocky Road Bars has chocolate, marshmallows and nuts!
Have you made this recipe?
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These Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies are made with oats and peanut butter and set up perfectly every time! They are such an easy cookie to make when you need something delicious, fast!
Last Updated on October 11, 2022
The peanut butter no-bake cookies are absolutely delicious. We had homemade chili burgers, Hershey’s hot chocolate and peanut butter no-bake cookies with a sprinkle of Hershey’s chocolate. Thanks for the recipe keep cooking.
I made these cookies. I used 1/2c. Brown sugar in place of g. sugar they turned out delicious.
Thank you for the recipe.
Can you use salted butter instead of unsalted and leave out the salt?
Yes
These cookies were really good! Me and my friend made them st her house, though her brother and his friend did decide to smash them into one cookie…
I just made these with Kodiak Oats (for the extra protein) and they are SUPER TASTY. My kids are going to be so happy to eat these as an after school treat.
Never tried making the peanut butter no bake cookies before, but my family loved them. Very easy recipe to follow. Try them once and you will be hooked!!!
My 19 year old grandson is type 1 diabetic and my husband is type 2 Do you have any recipes that would work cookies desserts etc ThankYou very much
The milk used is liquid, not non fat dry milk is it?
These are delicious!
Yes liquid
Thank you for clarifying the milk is liquid.
Can you use whole milk?
Yes
One of my husband’s favorite cookies so easy to make
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