These simple No Bake Butterscotch Cookies are everything you love about no-bake cookies but with an addictive butterscotch flavor! My popular oatmeal butterscotch cookies are made with just 6 ingredients, take only 5 minutes, and are ready to enjoy in under 30 minutes!
These tasty no-bake cookies are full of wonderful butterscotch flavor and chewy oatmeal texture!
Butterscotch Oatmeal No Bake Cookies Recipe
As a family, we are all enthusiastic fans of all things no-bake cookie! I've been making no bake cookies, in a variety of flavors, since I was a young girl which totals over 30 years now!
My love for no-bake cookies has never changed, and it is still a popular request from family and friends in my holiday baking and gift baskets!
I'm enjoying adding some new no-bake flavors to the blog, and have many more planned in addition to this tasty butterscotch oatmeal cookie!
What Are No Bake Cookies
No bake cookies, also called Preacher Cookies, Cow Patties, Poodgies, 1st Grader Cookies, Boiled Cookies, Chocolate Oaties, or Peanut Butter Delights, are a vintage cookie that originated around the time of the Great Depression. The first Depression-era cookbook recipes called for a sugar ( sugar, honey, or corn syrup ) or a fat ( butter, cream cheese, margarine, or peanut butter ) to hold the cookies together.
The basic intent of the no-bake cookies is to hold together without binders like eggs and flour. They also are meant to hold their shape, without rising, as normal baked cookies would.
How To Make No Bake Butterscotch Oatmeal Cookies
You will need to gather a saucepan and just 6 ingredients to make these no bake butterscotch cookies, including milk, butter, sugar, vanilla extract, butterscotch morsels, and oats. Here are the common questions asked about ingredients needed to make perfect no-bake cookies every time!
Can I Use Old Fashioned Oats or Steel Cut Oats?
You can, but I don't recommend it! The texture of these cookies is based on using quick oats very specifically. Old fashioned and steel cut oats are not going to absorb the candied coating the same and will result in overly chewy cookies.
Will Instant Oatmeal Work?
Definitely not. Instant oatmeal does the opposite of the Old fashioned oats and holds too much of the candy syrup coating. This results in no-bake cookies that turn out mushy. Trust me, it's a totally unpleasant texture!
Salted vs Unsalted Butter?
Whatever you have on hand will work. If using unsalted butter, add a pinch to a ¼ teaspoon of salt to the cookie mixture when you add the vanilla extract and butterscotch morsels. If you are using salted butter, there is no need to add salt to the no-bake cookies recipe ( follow the recipe card, as-is, below ).
Boil the Cookie Mixture
I suggest gathering all of your ingredients before starting any no-bake cookie. The rolling boil that you want to achieve will need to be stirred, so you won't have free hands to measure out the last few ingredients.
- Add the sugar, milk, and butter to your saucepan and bring to a rolling boil for one full minute.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract, salt ( if needed ), and butterscotch morsels.
- Stir the mixture for 1 - 2 minutes, or until the butterscotch morsels are mostly melted. *The morsels do not need to be fully melted.
- Add the quick oats and stir until thoroughly coated with the candied syrup.
Drop the No-Bake Butterscotch Cookies & Cool
Once the mixture is well combined, portion out the butterscotch oatmeal cookies in a heaping tablespoon ( or two tablespoons ) amounts onto your prepared working surface. I like to use baking sheets that are lined with parchment paper, as I can move the cooling cookies out of the way if needed.
The cookies will set as they cool, and are typically ready in 15 - 30 minutes.
More Great No-Bake Cookies
- Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
- Chocolate Oatmeal No Bake Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
- Chocolate Peppermint No Bake Cookies
📖 Recipe Card
No Bake Butterscotch Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup butter (salted butter, if using unsalted butter add a pinch of salt)
- 2 cups sugar
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup butterscotch chips
- 3 cups quick oats (do not use old fashioned or instant oatmeal ***see notes)
Instructions
- Add butter, sugar, and milk to your saucepan. Heat over medium-high until it reaches a good, solid rolling boil.
- Remove from heat after one full minute at a rolling boil.
- Add the vanilla extract then the butterscotch chips. Stir until melted.
- Stir the quick oats oatmeal into the candied sauce mixture.
- Make sure that the oats are thoroughly coated with the butterscotch sauce.
- Portion out the no-bake cookies in heaping tablespoon amounts onto a prepared work surface or parchment paper-lined baking sheets. Allow the cookies to cool and set for 15-30 minutes.
Notes
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
Rebecca says
Can these be made ahead and frozen?
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Yes, see my cookies that freeze well guide for more information. Thanks for asking!
nita says
can you add coconut to this recipe?
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Yes, definitely! Use 2 cups oats and 1 cup shredded coconut. They're so tasty!
Susanna says
I thought that the butterscotch chips might be sweet enough and thought two cups of sugar might be too much. I used one cup of light brown sugar, and they turned out perfect. Thank you!!!
Angela @ BakeItWithLove.com says
Awesome! I bet the brown sugar added a nice touch to the flavor!
Lisa says
Thanks. I was wondering about using brown sugar.