The Easiest Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies Recipe

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Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies are a classic, childhood treat made with oatmeal, peanut butter, and Reese’s candy!

I love the simplicity of a no-bake chocolate cookie.

As the weather gets warmer, no bake desserts are awesome to have on hand for summer. You know, when you need something sweet but don’t feel like turning on your oven!

These peanut butter no bake cookies are just the thing. Unlike traditional no bakes cookies, there is no chocolate in this recipe.

I have a family of peanut butter lovers and we needed full peanut butter flavor. Plus, should I remind you they have oatmeal? Peanut butter + Oatmeal = health food. Breakfast. Yeah, I know it’s a stretch, but go with it.

How to make Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies

1. In a large saucepan over medium heat, add sugar, milk and butter. Bring to a boil and continue to boil for one full minute.
2. Remove from heat. Add vanilla, salt and creamy peanut butter. Stir until smooth.
3. Fold in quick oats, stirring until completely combined. Fold in Reese’s Pieces candy.
4. Lay out a large piece of parchment paper on counter. Using two spoons, drop cookie dough by large tablespoon onto paper. Allow to set (about 20 minutes). Store in a covered, airtight container. ENJOY!

Peanut Butter No Bake Cookie Ingredients

• Granulated Sugar
• Milk
• Unsalted Butter
• Vanilla Extract
• Salt
• Creamy Peanut Butter
• Quick Cook Oatmeal
• Reese’s Pieces Candy

Can you freeze No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

Yes. Absolutely.

Slide cookies into a freezer safe ziploc bag (or airtight container). Freeze cookies for up to two months.

Thaw at room temperature and enjoy.

Substitutions

Milk: I always have fat free milk in our refrigerator, so that is what I use. You can use other varieties of milk as well, 1%, 2%, and whole milk all provide similar results! You can also use almond milk in this no bake cookie recipe!

Butter: Typically I use unsalted butter so that I can control the salt in a recipe. If you opt for salted butter, remove the extra pinch of salt from the cookies.

Peanut Butter: Can you make peanut butter no bake cookies without peanut butter? Actually you can! Try using Biscoff or Almond butter instead!

Oatmeal: I always opt for quick oats in my no bake cookies. It results in great texture and flavor. While you can use old-fashioned oats, you’ll get a chewier texture, if you’re okay with that!

Reese’s Pieces Candy: The sky is the limit (or maybe it’s your pantry is the limit). Chocolate Chips, peanut butter morsels, M&M’s, you decide. Or leave it all out and keep them as plain no bake oatmeal cookies!

How to make HEALTHY No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

Want the tips to make your cookie a little healthier or lighter? 

This Skinny No Bake Chocolate Cookie recipe is packed with tips and tricks! Remove the sugar and use banana to sweeten up the cookie. 

Help! Why are my no bake cookies not setting up?

You either have the dilemma of cookies being too gooey? Or your cookies are hard rocks. Wondering where you went wrong and why your cookies won’t set?

For Dry Cookies:

When you bring your mixture to a boil for one full minute, you have likely overheated your sugar. Overcooking the sugar can result in a crumbly mess.

If this is something you struggle with, try using a different saucepan or turn your stove top heat source down! 

For Gooey Cookies:

Most common cause of gooey no bake cookies is not boiling your mixture long enough (see? it’s the opposite of dry cookies).

If your commonly have your no bake cookies turn out too gooey, chances are you’re not letting it boil long enough. Easy fix!

There are other factors that can result in no bake cookies that don’t set properly.

For instance, rain and humidity! The moisture in the air can keep your cookies from setting. If it’s an exceptionally humid day, add a little time to your boiling mixture. Or avoid making these cookies on humid days!

Also, I have found that natural peanut butters can result in gooey cookies. Be sure to stir your peanut butter really well before using, and you may need to add more boiling time.

Do NO BAKE COOKIES need to be refrigerated?

Nope!

Store your cookies in an airtight container at room temperature. You can store in the refrigerator if you prefer them chilled!

MORE NO BAKE COOKIE RECIPES

• Healthy No Bake Cookies
• No Bake Oatmeal Scotchies
• No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
• No Bake Espresso Cookies
• No Bake Cookies without Peanut Butter
• No Bake Nutella Cookies

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Yield: 5 dozen cookies

Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies

Print

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 9 minutes

Total Time 14 minutes

Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies: the quick and easy dessert recipe you love!

Ingredients

• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• pinch of salt
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 3 cups quick cook oatmeal
• 1 1/2 cups Reese's Pieces candy

Instructions

1. In a large pot, add sugar, milk and butter. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Boil for one full minute. Remove from heat. Add vanilla, salt and peanut butter. Stir until smooth. Fold in oats, stirring until completely combined. Fold in candy.
2. Lay out a large piece of parchment paper on counter. Using two spoons, drop cookie dough by large tablespoon onto paper. Allow to set (about 20 minutes). Store in a covered, airtight container. ENJOY!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

60

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 85 Total Fat: 4g Saturated Fat: 2g Trans Fat: 0g Unsaturated Fat: 2g Cholesterol: 4mg Sodium: 23mg Carbohydrates: 12g Fiber: 0g Sugar: 9g Protein: 1g

*Nutrition facts are an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate. Please see a registered dietitian for special diet advice.

Recipe originally published April 23, 2013. Photos updated April 2019.

Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies are the quick and easy dessert everyone loves!

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