No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies are an old-timey favorite and one of the easiest and most delicious cookies you’ll ever make. I think pretty much everyone has had these cookies at one time or another and pretty much everyone loves them.
No oven needed for these cookies which have the most amazing texture and you likely have all the ingredients on hand. You’ll need butter, unsweetened cocoa powder, sugar, milk, quick-cooking oats, peanut butter, and vanilla extract.
Love butterfingers? Try these No-Bake Butterfinger Oatmeal Cookies.
How To Make
(More detailed instructions in recipe card below.)
- Add the butter, cocoa powder, sugar, and milk to a saucepan.
- Cook the chocolate mixture. Bring mixture to a rolling boil and then boil for 90 seconds. Set a timer and keep track because the cookies might not set up right if you boil the mixture too long or not long enough.
- Add remaining ingredients. Remove from heat and stir in oats, peanut butter, and vanilla.
- Form Cookies. Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Let cool. Let cool for 30 minutes to set up.
Then remove the mixture from the heat and stir in the remaining ingredients. So simple!
In less than 10 minutes you can have the ingredients measured, the batter mixed together and shaped into cookies. These No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies do need a little while to set, but you won’t have to wait long. They should only take about 30 minutes to set up. If they are still too wet at this point, try sticking them in the fridge.
This recipe makes a pretty large batch of cookies- about 24 cookies. They are dense and filling cookies so they will go a long way. That being said, it is hard to not go back for another. 🙂
★★★★★
What readers are saying
Tastes like my childhood! My mom always popped them into the fridge for a really amazing treat. Try them on the counter but also can put some in the fridge! It’ll blow your mind.
Amazing recipe thank you for sharing! My kids adored these, and it brought me closer to my Mom and memories. This was the cookie my mom made every weekend in the summer.
Why Did My Cookies Not Set Up?
It’s very important to boil the chocolate mixture for the right amount of time.
- If you don’t boil it long enough, the cookies won’t set up.
- If you boil it too long, the cookies will be dry and crumbly.
Storage
These cookies can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for 5 days.
More No-Bake Sweet Treats
- No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies
- No-Bake Butterfinger Oatmeal Cookies
- No-Bake Butterfinger Oreo Icebox Cake
- No-Bake Oreo Pie
- No-Bake Butterscotch Pie
- Millionaire Pie
Watch the video below to see how to make these easy cookies!
No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter, cut into 1-tablespoon pieces so it meltes faster
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3 cups quick-cooking oats
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, combine the butter, cocoa powder, sugar, and milk,
- Stir well and bring to a boil over medium heat. Boil for 90 seconds, stirring occasionally.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the oats, peanut butter, and vanilla.
- Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto baking sheets lined with wax paper or parchment paper. Let cool to set.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe Source: Bless Your Heart
Originally published February 27, 2018.
Hi, what temp should this be cooked at?
Low, medium , medium high?
When you say once starts boiling… boil 90 seconds. What does the boil look like?
When you see the first few bubbles or 10 bubbles or full boil… when do you start counting the 90 seconds.
Is this boil at low, medium , or medium high?
What causes not setting up and hardening?
Cooking too long or not long enough?
Thanks so much!
I have type 2 diabetes anybody know a recipe that I can substitute the sugar and tell me what I do wrong when they are either too dry or do not set. The taste is awesome just like growing up in the ’50s and 60s. Thanks in advance
What am I doing wrong they are either too dry and crumbly or do not set
Too dry? Boiled too long.
Too wet? Didn’t boil long enough.
You need to boil the wet mixture for 3 minutes or it will not set up .
What if I’m not using quick cooking oats? Should I make adjustments for the 5 minute old fashioned oats?
I was wondering the same thing Jean. Please let me know if you find out thanks in advance Happy New Year 2025
Can you use corn flakes instead of oats with recipe
I haven’t tried that Judy.
These No bake chocolate oatmeal cookies turned out perfect. Very easy recipe.
Easy. I prefer to use a double boiler instead of direct heat. Also, let butter soften ahead if time.
Instead of peanut butter, i added some pecans and a good handful of coconut.
Coconut and pecans sound amazing. Going to try it now. 🙂