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!
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
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 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 Dilemmas
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.
Recipe FAQs
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.
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
- Looking for a guilt-free, easy treat? Make a batch of Healthy No Bake Cookies for exactly that!
- Make a batch of No Bake Oatmeal Scotchies that are sweet, soft, and a new fav!
- Try out this easy, on the go treat that you make for any occasion! Bunny Chow, Puppy Chow, doesn’t matter- they are all yummy!
- These No Bake Cookies without Peanut Butter are the perfect nut-free treat for your kids lunches for school!
- Make these easy and delicious Avalanche Cookies, packed with all your favorite flavors!
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Peanut Butter No Bake 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
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
- 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!
- 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.
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Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies are the quick and easy dessert everyone loves!
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.
Let me know how it turns out with monk fruit. I’ve been meaning to try that too!
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!
The peanut butter cake you make is very delicious. I really love this cake.
Thank you for sharing valuable information. Nice post. I enjoyed reading this post.
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.
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.
My family loves these no bake cookies! They have become a vacation staple!! 🙂
do these freeze well??
I’ll be honest I’ve never tried to freeze no bake cookies. If you do, let me know how it goes!
I’ve made these a couple of times now. Love them! (They are very addictive)
Yum I made these last night, they are delicious! Thank you for sharing
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!
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 🙂
You can use whatever milk you have on hand!
All of these look so yummy… I want to be in the kitchen baking, but I’m suppose to paint today…
This looks awesome… Can I substitute almond milk for the skim milk?
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 🙂
OH MAN! These look like crack!!! 😀