There’s something undeniably nostalgic about perfect no bake chocolate peanut butter cookies. They’re chewy, fudgy, rich, and come together in under 15 minutes no oven needed. I’ve made these for bake sales, midnight cravings, and even brunch tables, and they’re always the first to disappear.
The beauty of this cookie is in its simplicity just a handful of pantry ingredients and the right timing. But make no mistake, getting the texture just right takes a little know-how. That’s where I come in. Follow my tested method below and I promise you’ll never end up with a dry or runny batch again.
Ingredients for No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
- ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup whole milk
- 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter (don’t use natural-style)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups quick-cooking oats
- Pinch of salt
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Prep Your Setup
- Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
- Measure out all your ingredients beforehand once the sugar mixture boils, you’ll need to work fast.
Step 2: Make the Chocolate Syrup Base
- In a medium saucepan, combine butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa powder. Place over medium heat and stir constantly until the butter melts and everything is blended.
- Increase heat to medium-high and bring the mixture to a rolling boil. This means large bubbles should appear across the entire surface.
- As soon as it reaches a full boil, set a timer and boil for exactly 60 seconds without stirring. This is the crucial part underboiling leads to runny cookies, overboiling makes them dry and crumbly.
Step 3: Stir in Peanut Butter and Oats
- Immediately remove the pan from heat. Stir in the peanut butter, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt until completely smooth and glossy.
- Fold in the oats quickly but thoroughly. The mixture should be thick but scoopable.
Work fast once the oats are in, the mixture starts setting quickly. You want to scoop them before it cools too much and becomes difficult to handle.
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