Indulge in easy, delicious peanut butter no-bake cookies! Our quick recipe comes together in minutes for a perfect treat. Ideal for family fun!

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Prep Time10

Cook Time10

Total Time1 20

Servings

If you’re anything like me, you love a sweet treat that requires zero oven time and comes together in minutes. Enter: Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies! They’re chewy, rich, and packed with peanut butter flavor, with the perfect balance of sweet and salty. Made in minutes – no mixers, no dough chilling, and definitely no baking required.

Close-up overhead image of a pile of no-bake peanut butter cookies on a black slate board, with bold text reading 'Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies' and a jar icon.

📌 Pin this recipe to your “No Bake Cookies” or “Easy Desserts” Pinterest boards so you can find it later. 📌

Overhead view of all measured ingredients for no-bake peanut butter cookies, including peanut butter, quick oats, sugar, butter, milk, salt, and vanilla, labeled with bold text.

Ingredients You’ll Need

3 cups of quick-cooking oats
¼ teaspoon of salt
½ cup of butter
2 cups of sugar
½ cup of milk
1 cup of peanut butter
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

For a chocolate version, our Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies are another popular favorite we think you’ll love!

Substitutions And Additions

Peanut/Nut Butter: This recipe works best with creamy peanut butter. Avoid natural peanut butter – it separates easily and can lead to oily, soft cookies that won’t set well. You can swap with almond butter, if you’re looking to go nut-free.

Butter: Use unsalted, or skip added salt if using salted.

Oats: Quick oats work best. in a pinch. Old-fashioned oats aren’t ideal—they don’t soften as well and affect the texture. If that’s all you have, pulse them briefly in a food processor to break them down.

Mix-Ins: Add marshmallows, M&M’s, Reese’s, a Hershey’s Kiss, or a chocolate drizzle.

Close-up of no-bake peanut butter cookies stacked on a black slate board, showing their chewy, textured surface with visible oats."

🔗Full instructions in our recipe card, click here to view them.

⏱️ Boil for one minute – Start timing once it hits a full, rolling boil. Undercooking = cookies won’t set or stay sticky. Overcooking = dry or crumbly. This step makes or breaks the texture.

🥣 Mix evenly – Stir the peanut butter mixture and oats together thoroughly but gently to ensure even texture in every bite.

Overhead view of a glass bowl filled with no-bake peanut butter cookie mixture, with a text overlay reminding to boil the milk mixture for one full minute to ensure the right texture."

🥄 Work fast – Once the oats go in, the mixture starts setting quickly. Scoop immediately for nicely shaped cookies.

🧻 Line your tray – Use wax or parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup a breeze.

Unbaked peanut butter no-bake cookies scooped onto a wax paper-lined baking sheet with a cookie scoop, showing tips to use wax paper and a 2-tablespoon scoop for best results.

❄️ Let them cool completely – Cookies set as they cool. If they’re still sticky after cooling, give them more time or refrigerate to help them firm up.

Storing No Bake Cookies With Peanut Butter & Oats

Once the cookies have cooled and set, transfer them to an airtight container. It’s very important you let them cool on the counter before putting them in the fridge or they will become gooey.

They’ll keep at room temperature for up to four days, or in the fridge for up to a week if you prefer them firmer. Avoid stacking them while still soft—use parchment between layers if needed.

Freezing isn’t ideal—the texture can turn crumbly after thawing, so they’re best enjoyed fresh.

Stack of no-bake peanut butter cookies with the top cookie broken in half to reveal the soft, chewy texture inside.

These peanut butter no-bake cookies are such a classic — and so easy to make. You’ll love the moist, chewy texture and rich peanut butter flavor. A batch of cookies takes just a few minutes to make, and the hardest part is waiting for them to set so you can eat!

4.86 from 7 votes

Indulge in easy, delicious peanut butter no-bake cookies! Our quick recipe comes together in minutes for a perfect treat. Ideal for family fun!

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 1 20

Servings

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Ingredients

3 cups quick-cook oats
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup butter
2 cups sugar
½ cup milk
1 cup peanut butter
2 teaspoons vanilla

Instructions

In a large bowl, stir together oats and salt. Set aside.
In a small saucepan, over medium-high heat, whisk together butter, sugar, and milk.
Bring the mixture to a boil for about a minute and then remove from heat.
Whisk in peanut butter and vanilla until well combined.
Pour the peanut butter mixture over oats and stir until combined.
Line a baking sheet with wax paper. Drop tge cookies onto the wax paper using a medium cookie scoop.
Let the cookies cool on the countertop. Store in the refrigerator once cookies are cool and dry.

Video

Notes

It’s important to start the 60 seconds once you’ve reached a rolling boil, not when you see the first few bubbles. If you start counting too soon, your cookies may not set properly.
If your cookies are too hard, you might have boiled your sugar mixture too long or at too high of a heat.
If your cookies are too gooey, you might not have boiled your sugar mixture long enough.
It’s VERY important you let them cool on the counter before putting them in the fridge or they will become gooey.

Nutrition

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Proudly Prepared by the Spaceships Kitchen

This recipe was developed, tested, cooked and photographed by the Spaceships Kitchen. From our dinner table to yours, we hope you think it's out of this world!

Stephanie Keeping Publisher
Layne Kangas Marketing
Lexus Monroe Editorial Assistant