Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies Recipe

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

Love easy cookie recipes? Be sure to try our 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies next! Our no bake Cheerio Bars are perfect as a treat or breakfast!

No bake cookies with reeses pieces on parchment paper.


Why these Cookies are Best

I love the simplicity of a no-bake 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 bake cookies, there is no chocolate in this recipe.

I have a family of peanut butter cookie 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.

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients needed to make peanut butter no bake cookies.

Scroll all the way down for complete no bake cookie recipe.

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

How to make Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies

Step by step photos showing how to make no bake cookies.

STEP 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.

STEP 2: Remove from heat. Add vanilla, salt and creamy peanut butter. Stir until smooth.

STEP 3: Fold in quick oats, stirring until completely combined. Add in Reese’s Pieces candy.

STEP 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!

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 our biscoff no bake cookies next.

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!

No bake cookie dough in a saucepan.

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).
  • 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.
No bake peanut butter cookies on parchment paper.

Recipe FAQs

Do no bake cookies need to be refrigerated?

You do not need to refrigerate no bake cookies. Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature. However, they are delicious when chilled, so feel free to store them in the fridge.

Can you freeze no bake cookies?

You CAN freeze no bake cookies! Slide cookies into a freezer safe ziploc bag (or airtight container). Freeze cookies for up to two months.

More No Bake Recipes

Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies

4.81 from 31 votes
By: Aimee
Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies are a classic, childhood treat made with oatmeal, peanut butter, and Reese's candy!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 9 minutes
Total Time: 14 minutes
Servings: 60 cookies

Ingredients 

  • 2 cups granulated sugar
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ cup unsalted butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • pinch of salt
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 2 ½ cups quick cook oatmeal
  • 1 ½ cups Reese’s Pieces candy
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Instructions 

  • 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.
  • 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!

Notes

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).
  • 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.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 84kcal, Carbohydrates: 11g, Protein: 1g, Fat: 4g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Cholesterol: 4mg, Sodium: 23mg, Sugar: 9g
Course: Cookies
Cuisine: American
Did you make this recipe?Mention @shugarysweets or tag #shugarysweets!

Easy Cookie Recipes

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



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About Aimee

Aimee is a dessert lover (specifically rice krispie treats), workout enthusiast, self-taught foodie, and recipe creator.

Learn more about Aimee.

Affiliate Disclosure:**There may be affiliate links in this post! By clicking on them, or purchasing recommended items I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I love! Thank you for supporting Shugary Sweets! See my disclosure policy for more info**

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Posted on May 22, 2019

Comments & Reviews

  1. My Mom used to make the chocolate version of peanut butter no bakes. Since I love peanut butter I will try these. I hope its okay if I use monkfruit sweetener. Will try 3/4 C and go from there.

  2. 5 stars
    These were awesome!! I made a double amount but ran out of reeses pieces so I used some peanut butter m&m’s too and it was delicious!

  3. Ummm… just curious if you could use soy or coconut milk instead of skim milk?
    These look delicious, but don’t drink or use milk.

  4. This recipe asks for WAY TOO much sugar. I felt like I was eating pure sugar. I will definitely reduce the sugar next time I try these.

    1. I’ll be honest I’ve never tried to freeze no bake cookies. If you do, let me know how it goes!

  5. These are awesome I have a 5yr old and his favorite food is peanut butter he will eat it with a spoon n he love these!

  6. Does it have to be skim milk? My family drinks 2% or whole milk. I would hate to buy a quart of skim and most of it go to waste. These sound YUMMY!! And can’t wait to make some 🙂

  7. All of these look so yummy… I want to be in the kitchen baking, but I’m suppose to paint today…

    1. I’ve never tried it, but I don’t see why not. Since they are no bake it seems like it should work! Let me know if you try them 🙂

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