Who can resist the classic flavors of Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies without peanut butter? Not me. The perfectly cooked syrup will set up with the oats for a texture that is a pure chocolate fudgy delight!
Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies (without peanut butter) Recipe
I love that these easy 5 minute cookies bring back childhood memories of sneaking the still-setting-up Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies (without peanut butter) from the kitchen counter.
It also makes me think my daughter is well trained not to touch anything in the kitchen that isn't clearly fair game to eat (as in, it's already photographed and ready to be shared here!). Or she just has more self-control than I did as a kid 🙂
This cousin to my other no-bake cookies, the original version that I grew up with that is also without peanut butter (to let the chocolate flavor shine on its own) is my chocolate no bake cookies. They may be without peanut butter, but they do include the coconut that may be the classic version you remember!
And since I don't want to make you think I'm a peanut butter hater (I'm really not!) I also have my creamy peanut butter oatmeal no bake cookies. It's just one of those quirky me things, sometimes I don't like my flavors combined. Or I just really remember it the one way from childhood.
Either way, I cannot have my chocolate and peanut butter combined in these tasty cookies!
Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies (without peanut butter) Ingredients
These simple no-bake cookies are made using 6 ingredients including butter, sugar, milk, vanilla, cocoa, and quick oats. For best results, we suggest using quick oats in your no-bake cookies only.
Firmer oats like old fashioned oatmeal and steel-cut oats won't absorb the syrup as well and will yield a set cookie texture with much more 'chew' than when using quick oats.
How To Make Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies
Combine the butter, sugar, and milk in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high to high heat (enough to bring the syrup to a rapid boil).
Stir frequently to prevent burning or boiling over!
Once the syrup is at a full rolling boil, stir and cook for 1 minute then remove from heat.
Add the vanilla and cocoa, stir until the syrup is smooth.
Add the quick oats and stir until evenly coated with the syrup.
Drop tablespoon-sized portions onto waxed paper, use the back of a spoon to make cookie-shaped (rather than a no-bake cookie mound) if desired.
Allow to set up for at least one hour.
📖 Recipe Card
Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies (without peanut butter)
Ingredients
- 2 c sugar
- ½ c butter (1 stick - salted)
- ½ c milk
- 4 tablespoon cocoa
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 c oatmeal (use quick oats, not old fashioned or steel cut oats)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Combine the butter, sugar, and milk in a saucepan and bring to a boil over medium high to high heat (enough to bring the syrup to a rapid boil). Stir frequently to prevent burning or boiling over!
- Once the syrup is at a full rolling boil, stir and cook for 1 minute then remove from heat.
- Add the vanilla and cocoa, stir until the syrup is smooth. Add the quick oats and stir until evenly coated with the syrup.
- Drop tablespoon sized portions onto waxed paper, use the back of a spoon to make cookie shaped (rather than a no bake cookie mound) if desired. Allow to set up for one hour.
Anonymous says
Word to the wise, don't use sweetened coconut like I did! I subbed 1 cup of coconut for a cup of quick oats as suggested but used the wrong kind and the cookies are inedible as a result. They look perfect but they're sickly sweet. Will try it again with plain flake coconut some other time.
Angela Latimer says
I use both sweetened shredded coconut and unsweetened coconut, but I love these no-bakes even when they're super sweet 🙂
Lisa Tiessen says
In the write up you mentioned coconut. How much do you add, and at what step?
Angela Latimer says
Well I love a coconut combo in these cookies, so if you want to add some you can use an equal amount (1/2 oats, 1/2 coconut for 1 1/2 cups each) or 2 cups oats and 1 cup shredded coconut. Toasting the coconut makes these cookies amazing. Yum!
Joyce says
Thank you for sharing this recipe
Anita Pucci says
Can these be frozen?
Angela Latimer says
Yes, definitely. You can see my complete guide on how to freeze them here https://bakeitwithlove.com/how-to-freeze-no-bake-cookies/
Lora Von says
Thank you for the original recipe. Made these in the 60s and 70s. Now they all seem to want you to add peanut butter or coconut oil.
Bailey says
Thank you for sharing this recipe
AnneM says
Bonjour
Je voudrais tester la recette qui me plaît bien .
Je suis française, je sais utiliser les cups mais comment faire pour le beurre ? Que représente 1 bâton ? Et il s’agit bien de beurre salé ?
Je vais aussi chercher ce que c’est que l’avoine rapide. J’espère en trouver ici.
Anne
"Good morning. I would like to try the recipe.
I'm French, I know how to use the cups but what do I do with the butter? What does 1 stick represent? And is it really salted butter?
I'm also going to look up what quick oats are. I hope to find some here.
Anne"
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Bonjour. Le beurre est constitué de 1/2 tasse ou 8 cuillères à soupe de beurre salé. L'avoine rapide est de l'avoine entière qui a été coupée en morceaux plus petits pour cuire plus rapidement.
"Good morning. The butter is 1/2 cup or 8 tablespoons of salted butter. Quick oats are whole oats that have been cut into smaller pieces to cook faster. "
Anonymous says
Super easy and excellent I added almond slivers as well
Elise says
Thank you so much for this simple and yummy recipe! My childhood recipe was the peanut butter version and for decades now, I've believed they HAD to be made that way! My child has a peanut allergy, so I was thinking of just using sun butter until I found your recipe. It's perfect and chocolatey and my new Go To no bake chocolate oatmeal cookie in my holiday lineup!
Kayla says
This is perfect! Just the right amount of moisture and no added salt!
Anonymous says
awesome recipe for those who cannot have pb.... made with hersheys dark cocoa....YUM..
Laurie says
Just like mom used to make! Thank you!
Jessica says
Can you make this with other kinds of milk (oat, coconut) and have the same results?
Melanie says
I've made similar recipes with almond milk and more often 1/3-2/3 half and half and water as I don't often have regular milk on hand...