How to make no-bake cookies: the ultimate guide to making delightfully tender and chewy no-bake cookies every time! I've featured tips, tricks, recipes, and more on perfecting these classic cookies. They are 100% beginner-friendly and come in a wide variety of tasty flavor combinations, so what are you waiting for?
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How To Make Perfect No Bake Cookies
Whether you need to make a quick and easy treat to take to a gathering or simply have a hankering for something sweet one night, cookies are always a good choice. However, not everyone wants to take the time to bake cookies.
Sometimes, when you need cookies in a rush, you may not have all the required ingredients, like baking powder, flour, or eggs.
Thankfully, no-bake cookies can solve that problem. No-bake cookies use ingredients that many of us already have at home!
Even better, with so many variations on the classic no-bake cookie recipe, you have even more options for a quick sweet treat. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know to make no-bake cookies today.
For a full list of my delicious no-bake cookie varieties, check out this page with all of my no-bake cookie recipes! You can even make extra and save them for later if you freeze them properly!
Classic No-Bake Cookies
When someone mentions no-bake cookies, they usually refer to the classic chocolate peanut butter no-bake cookie recipe. These cookies use common household ingredients like peanut butter, oats, and cocoa powder to create yummy cookies with a rich flavor and satisfying texture.
How Are No Bake Cookies Made
While no-bake cookies are made without needing to be baked in the oven, they do require some heat. In the classic recipe, butter, milk, sugar, and unsweetened cocoa powder are melted together in a pot on the stove.
Once that syrupy mixture comes to a boil, it is removed from the heat. After it is removed from the heat, the vanilla, peanut butter, and oats are added. The last step is to place the cookies on parchment paper to cool.
These same steps are followed in most no-bake recipes, even though the ingredients may vary. The most important factor is that you have a syrupy base that will hold its shape when cooled.
My Classic No-Bake Cookies
For most people, the chocolate peanut butter no-bake cookie recipe is what they consider a classic. However, I have always considered the classic recipe to omit peanut butter and add coconut. This is the recipe that I grew up with, and it has remained my favorite.
While my version of the classic does not include peanut butter, it still follows the standard for creating a simple syrup base on the stove that then forms the perfect cookie shape and texture when cooled.
Peanut Butter vs No Peanut Butter
The use of peanut butter is a personal preference, and you may be surprised to see that choosing to use it (or not) does not change the overall no-bake cookie recipe that much. Check out the comparison of the chocolate peanut butter classic no-bake cookies vs chocolate coconut no-bake cookies without peanut butter to see the similarities.
| Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies | Chocolate Coconut No Bake Cookies (without Peanut Butter) |
| - 2 cups sugar | - 2 cups Sugar |
| - ½ cup butter | - ½ cup butter |
| - ½ cup milk | - ½ cup milk |
| - ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder | - ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder |
| - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract | - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract |
| - ½ cup creamy peanut butter | - 2 cups quick oatmeal |
| - 3 cups quick oats | - 1 cup shredded coconut |
As you look at the comparison above, you will notice that the same amount of sugar, butter, milk, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract are used in both recipes to make the syrup base.
In addition, since the coconut was added to the no peanut butter cookies, only 2 cups of oats are needed. However, the total amount of dry ingredients is still equal to 3 cups.
Using the comparison above, you can quickly make your own version of a no-bake cookie by following these general guidelines.
Basic Requirements of No-Bake Cookies
The basic requirements of no-bake cookies are a syrup base, flavoring, and dry ingredients. The syrup base plus the dry ingredients is what forms the cookies. From there, you can play around with the flavor.
How to Make a Syrup Base for No-Bake Cookies
- 2 cups sugar
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup milk
Add all of the ingredients to a saucepan and stir over medium-high to high heat. Keep stirring to keep the syrup from burning while also bringing it to a boil.
Once everything is melted together and has reached a full rolling boil, cook for 1 minute. *A full rolling boil means that the bubbles are bursting continuously, and the syrup is kind of 'churning' in motion. This boil can threaten to boil over if not stirred and watched closely.
It is important to cook for 1 minute as this helps the syrup reach the best consistency for forming the cookies. After one minute, remove from heat.
How to Add Flavor to No-Bake Cookies
The flavoring will vary depending on your preference. Here is a quick guide to making some of the most popular flavors used in no-bake cookies.
Chocolate No-Bake Cookies
- 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup peanut butter
Chocolate + Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
If using cocoa powder, add it to the syrup mixture with the milk and butter. However, all other flavorings are best added after the syrup mixture is removed from the heat.
Add Flavored Frosting
While traditional no-bake cookies do not have frosting, frosting is a yummy way to add more flavor. One of my favorite flavor combinations is to top my chocolate no-bake cookies (without peanut butter) with peppermint frosting. A tasty holiday treat that is super easy to make!
In addition to peppermint frosting, you could make a caramel frosting or other tasty flavor that will pair well with chocolate and/or peanut butter.
How to Measure Dry Ingredients for No-Bake Cookies
The most common type of dry ingredient to use in no-bake cookies is quick oats. However, you can use any dry ingredient that will bind the syrup together to form a cookie.
Cereals like Rice Krispies, Chex, or Corn Flakes can all work as dry ingredients. In addition, pretzels and shredded coconut are also fun flavor and texture alternatives.
Whether you use all oats or an assortment of different dry ingredients, you will use 3 cups total.
- 3 cups oats
- 2 cups oats + 1 cup shredded coconut
- 3 cups cereal
- 3 cups pretzels
- 2 cups pretzels + 1 cup shredded coconut
Feel free to have some fun with these combinations or use whatever you have on hand!
The dry ingredients will be the last thing you add to your cookie mixture. Therefore, once you remove the syrup from the heat and stir in your flavoring, you will slowly stir in the dry ingredients.
How to Shape No-Bake Cookies
Once you have followed the steps above you are ready to form your no-bake cookies. First, line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or wax paper. Then, use a spoon to drop spoonfuls of the cookie mixture onto the cookie sheet.
How big or small you make your cookies is up to you! Since these cookies will not change shape, you can place them fairly close together on the cookie sheet.
After you have dropped all the cookies onto the sheet, they need time to set. Although they will be ready to eat in 30 minutes to an hour, the longer you can let them set the better.
Therefore, I often make these at the end of the day and let them set out (covered with cling film but not sealed) overnight.
If you need them to set quickly, you can place them in the refrigerator. However, I do not suggest placing them in the freezer since they will quickly freeze and will lose some of their chewy texture.
If you do have leftover cookies though, you can freeze them to thaw and eat them at a later date.
Alternative No-Bake Cookies
By following the instructions above, you can make several delicious variations of a classic no-bake cookie. In addition, you can also have fun with adding additional flavors and textures.
One of my favorites is no-bake pumpkin cookies! These follow the same format as other no-bake cookies but have some slight variations in the measurements. If you want to try this alternative cookie flavor, check out my recipe for the exact ingredients and measurements.
As mentioned earlier, you can use several different dry ingredients to make no-bake cookies. One that you may not have thought about is dry chow mein noodles!
These crunchy noodles are so fun for adding a salty kick and crunch to a no-bake cookie. Try them in my no-bake haystack cookies!
Whether you stick with a classic or get creative, no-bake cookies are a great choice for an easy treat. Take a peek in your cupboard and gather the ingredients you have on hand to start experimenting with this fun type of treat!
🍪 More No Bake Desserts
- No Bake Pumpkin Cheesecake - A delicious alternative to pumpkin pie that is sure to become a new favorite!
- No Bake Maraschino Chocolate Crisps - All you need is a mixing bowl and spatula to make these crispy cookies with cherry, chocolate, and coconut!
- No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake - A sweet and fruity cheesecake that is incredibly easy to make!
- No Bake Cookie Easter Nests - Cute cookie bird nests topped off with Easter Peeps!
- No Bake Strawberry Cream Pie - A cool and creamy jello pie with a crumbly graham cracker crust.
- No Bake Pumpkin Pie - The perfect way to celebrate the holidays without having to turn on the oven!
Did my 'How To Make No Bake Cookies: Ultimate Guide' answer all of your questions on no-bake cookies? If not, ask me anything cookie-related in the comment section below!
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📖 Recipe Card
How To Make No Bake Cookies: Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies (The Ultimate Guide!)
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter
- ½ cup milk
- 2 cups sugar
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 3 cups quick oats (not old fashioned oats or steel cut oats)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- In a large saucepan, heat the butter, milk, sugar and cocoa powder over medium high heat. Stir often as the butter melts.
- Bring the syrup to a rolling boil, adjusting your temperature as needed to get a good bubbling boil without over flowing while stirring constantly. You need to cook the syrup at a solid rolling boil for one full minute. Set a timer.
- Remove the saucepan from your stove top and stir in the vanilla and peanut butter until smooth and well combined. Then stir in the quick oats until well coated and evenly distributed in the syrup.
- Use a large tablespoon to drop cookie portions in heaping tablespoonful amounts onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet or working surface. Leave about 1 inch between cookies for spreading.
- Allow the cookies to set at room temperature for 30 minutes.
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