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.
lise dallaire says
que veut dire l'abréviation c dans la recette de biscuits sans cuisson (what does the abbreviation c mean in the recipe for no-bake cookies)
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
C'est une vieille recette et n'a pas été mise à jour depuis un moment. Le c est pour les tasses. (This is an old recipe and hasn't been updated for a while. The c is for cups.)
C McD says
In your video on YouTube, for no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies with no peanut butter, you mentioned adding the coconut. Wasn’t in recipe I saw on your site.
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
You're referencing this recipe here https://bakeitwithlove.com/chocolate-no-bake-cookies-without-peanut-butter/#recipe that includes both oats and coconut. I much prefer to have the coconut in my no-bake cookies. 🙂
Debbie In Peru says
Do you know if these would freeze well? So excited to try. Thank you for posting a nut-free no bake!!
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Yes, they do freeze well! See my guide for freezing no-bake cookies here.
Peter C says
Turned out pretty good, the recipe tips were helpful. Thanks!
Shan says
Amazingly easy recipe! Thank you for all the tips to really nail these nostalgic cookies, I haven't had any in YEARS!! So happy to find the right recipe with no peanut butter too.
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Thank you Shan! They are definitely one of my childhood faves. 🙂
Emma says
Have to say these no-bake cookies are phenomenal! I had always thought that I needed peanut butter to make them work, your recipe was flawless thanks!
Sarah says
Absolutely the BEST cookies ever!
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Agreed! These are one of my all-time favorites 💖
Donna says
These are awesome! This is the recipe I grew up with— mom never added peanut butter! One note—it says in the recipe to use 1cup of butter and in parentheses it says (1 stick) but a stick is only 1/2 cup!!
bernice says
These are the best no-bake cookies because they really are exactly like the ones we used to have as kids. Best ever recipe, thanks for sharing!!
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
We agree completely! You know it's a great classic recipe when the old recipe index card is worn and has chocolate on it! 🙂
Jennifer says
I enjoyed these. Thank you
I recently had to eliminate peanut butter from my diet. These tasted just as good without the peanut butter
nita says
do these cookies have a version using chocolate chips instead of cocoa?
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
I have never made no bake cookies using melted chocolate chips (in over 30 years now), however, if I do try that I will link them into this post too!
Victoria Allan says
Why wont my no bakes set, they are very floppy
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Hello, if they were not boiled long enough they won't set right. 1 full minute at a rolling boil. Hope that helps 🙂
Jackie says
These are just like we used to get at the school lunches (except as bars) and they're sooo good, thank you for sharing. Best no-bake cookies ever!
Anita Harper Chan says
Added 1/2c raisins. A hit with my husband
Abby says
I dont know what went wrong, but these are the driest no bakes I’ve ever made. I usually make mine with peanut butter but didnt have any on me.
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Oh no! Dry no-bake cookies are usually from over-boiling the syrup mixture or a mis-measure on ingredients (I've even been known to forget something!). The peanut butter is not the difference, as I've made these both ways and then some for over 30 years. Did they take long to set up? Let me know if I can be of more help!
Pam says
The 2x recipe has same amount of butter. It says one stick 1 cup. It should say 2 sticks for one cup. I caught that too late. I've already made them and am waiting to see if they will set.
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Hi there! It's a feature that should be worked on to update and correct. When you increase the recipe the ingredient notes don't change with it. So, the notes are for the recipe amounts as written and when you read 1 stick you have to note that it is actually 2 sticks for a doubled recipe and 3 sticks if you were to triple the recipe. Sounds like you might have ended up with some dry no-bakes with that amount of butter, sorry for the inconvenience!
Jerry says
GREAT cookies! So easy a BBQ man can make them. Next attempt will be in my smoker. LOL
Marci says
I used this recipe, but since I love dark chocolate, I added an extra 5 Tbls. Cocoa powder. They turned out beautifully! So 😋 Yummy 😁👏❤️ A Big Thank you to 'Bake it With
L❤️VE!!
Gabby1965 says
Can't rate it yet but it seems to be the same recipe we had ... all the rest had peanutbutter which I never remembered. I couldn't rember the amounts and lost my old recipe but wanted to surprise my son as this is the first cookie he learned to make. He will love the surprise but I made a mistake and used old fashioned oats. After they cool, I will taste it to find out how to rate the recipe even with my error
jo says
Oh so yummy! Just like my mom made.
Lynda says
What are the portions??
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
All of the portions, amounts, and instructions are in the recipe card (found above the comments section here). Let me know if you need more help, thanks!
Lance Thorburn says
Nothing like I remember as a kid.
SOOOO MUCH BETTER!
Tina Terry says
These were awesome!!
Mouse says
Always a childhood favorite, always without the peanut butter. Never had the peanut butter version until I tried store bought ones. Thank you for sharing this classic recipe.
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Me too! I never had peanut butter in any of my no-bake cookies growing up - unless I specifically made peanut butter (only) no-bake cookies. I knew I wasn't alone!
Candace Pilarski says
Wonderful, just like I remember them tasting! Thank you so much.
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
That's wonderful, I love hearing that! Thanks so much Candace!!