Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
These Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies are full of peanut butter flavor, only require a few simple ingredients, and are incredibly easy to make!
If I had to choose a favorite cookie recipe from my childhood, it would hands-down be these Classic No-Bake Cookies. I shared the recipe for those cookies last year and ever since then, they have been my top cookie recipe. It makes me so happy that so many of you love the same recipes that I do!
Over the last year, I’ve had several requests for a peanut butter version of my no-bake cookies. So a couple weeks ago I took my no-bake cookie recipe and tweaked it to make a super peanut buttery version. It took a few attempts but I finally got the recipe just right and I have to say, these cookies are just as good as the chocolate version!
These cookies are also ridiculously simple to throw together for those times when you need a quick and simple dessert. You only need six ingredients and about 20 minutes to prepare them!
To make these peanut butter no-bake cookies, you’ll start out with some butter, granulated sugar, and milk. You’ll melt the mixture down then bring it to a rolling boil and allow it to boil for one minute.
Here’s the tricky part with no-bake cookies, sometimes they don’t set up properly. I’ve been making no-bake cookies for years now and I’ve found that one of the main reasons is that the mixture doesn’t boil long enough before you add the rest of the ingredients.
You don’t want to set your timer for 60 seconds as soon as you see a few bubbles. You’ll start to see the mixture bubble around the edges, then bubble a little, then it will come to a rolling boil where the top is completely covered and bubbling vigorously. This is when you want to set your timer for 60 seconds! If you set it too soon, then it’s likely that your cookies will not set up properly.
Once the mixture has boiled, you’ll remove it from the heat and stir in some peanut butter and vanilla extract. When it comes to the peanut butter for no-bake cookies, I have not tested these with natural peanut butter. I prefer to use a peanut butter like Jif or Skippy to make sure they set up properly and aren’t too soft.
And, of course, the final ingredient is some quick-cooking oats. When it comes to baked oatmeal cookies, I love old-fashioned rolled oats. But when it comes to no-bake cookies, I prefer to use quick-cooking oats because they’re smaller. If you only have old-fashioned rolled oats you can pulse them a few times in a food processor to break them down a little more.
One important thing with these no-bake cookies, they do take a little longer to set up. If you’ve made my chocolate no-bake cookies you know that they’ll usually start to set up after about 20 minutes or so. I find that these need about 45 minutes to an hour to really set up because of the extra peanut butter in them.
The cookies will continue to set up even more after that, but they’re still delicious even when they’re a little warm!
Baking Tips for Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
- Make sure to gather your ingredients and measure everything out before you get started with these cookies, it will make the whole process much smoother.
- Be sure to set a timer for 60 seconds once the mixture comes to a rolling boil (the top should be covered in bubbles and bubbling quite a bit). If you set your timer too soon, then the cookies will not set up properly.
- These cookies take a little bit longer than my chocolate no bake cookies to set up. Allow the cookies about 45 minutes to an hour to firm up. You can still enjoy them while they’re a little warm too!
- If you find the cookies aren’t setting up or seem a little too wet after you’ve let them cool for about an hour, you can place them in the refrigerator to help firm them up. I’ve also had a reader mention that she will microwave the cookies for a few seconds and that also helps them set up.
Peanut Butter No-Bake Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup (115 grams) unsalted butter cut into pieces
- 1 and 3/4 cups (350 grams) granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup (120 ml) milk
- 3/4 cup (190 grams) creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 3 and 1/4 cups (325 grams) quick-cooking oats
Instructions
- Before getting started, make sure to gather all of your ingredients and measure everything out. Line a couple of large baking sheets with parchment paper (I like to just line my countertop with a large sheet of parchment paper, if your countertop is heat resistant you can also do this instead) and set aside.
- Place the butter, sugar, and milk in a saucepan and heat over medium heat, making sure to stir often until the butter is melted and everything is well combined. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil (the top should be completely covered in bubbles and bubbling vigorously) and allow to boil for 60 seconds (make sure to set a timer!) without stirring.
- Remove from the heat, and stir in the peanut butter and vanilla extract until fully combined. Stir in the oats and mix until all of the oats are coated with the mixture and everything is well combined.
- Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets. I like to use a 1.5 tablespoon cookie scoop and flatten the cookies out a little. Allow to cool for about 45 minutes- 1 hour or until the cookies have firmed up, serve, and enjoy! The cookies will continue to firm up more the longer they cool.
Can I use almond milk?
Yes, that’s fine!
I made these for my teachers and they loved them! I also made them for easter and my family also loved them
I have a big love for baking and cooking and I was craving peanut butter and wanted something to bake. I used this recipe, first time making no-bake cookies and it was AMAZING. It gave me nostalgia from when my mom used to make them for an after school snack. I didn’t have room on the counter for 2 pans to set them out on, so I just made really big cookies and they turned out fine. My family loved it too. Great recipe, 10/10 highly recommend. 🙂
YUM
Soooo good !! Thanks for sharing your recipe. These will become a staple in our house 🙂
Followed the recipe as close as possible! Very tasty! We’ll definitely make these again!!
These were so amazing my whole family loved them
I found this recipe years ago in some very old school lunch recipes. Theirs called for adding coconut and chopped walnuts. They were super good.
I like to add a cup of raisins!
I have been making no bakes for 40 plus years. This recipe is by far the easiest most perfect most delicious I’ve ever had the pleasure of making. Everyone just gushes over how good they are.
I love the taste of these peanut no bake cookies. They are easy to make. I have never been able to make no bake cookies, but these went together and set up. Thank you
This recipe is both easy to understand and if you are not a person that cooks a lot or just starting to learn how to make cookies , this is the one you . They are really easy fast fun to make and I put my own twist by adding different things like sprinkles or chocolate chips or peanut butter chips makes it more fun and different.
Have usesd this recipe over and over. And, today they came out sticky. Any idea???
If they were sticky, it’s probably because the mixture didn’t boil long enough. Is it possible you set your timer too soon or didn’t have the heat quite as high? You can try boiling it just a little bit longer next time and see if that helps.
Absolutely great! My son-in-law says make a double batch because their kids get them all before he does…
Such an easy recipe! They turned out beautifully and were so yummy! Thank you for sharing!
So good! if you are a non-dairy drinker like me, I suggest oatmilk! They were so tasty & didn’t make my stomach hurt! Delicious ?
I just made these cookies they are really good .They set up in the pan .I was able to add some melted butter and got them back to a cook .They still tastes really good.
Excellent recipe! I had a midnight hankering for some peanut butter oatmeal cookies, and these hit the spot! As it happened, I only had all natural peanut butter, and mine were well set in 20 minutes. My theory for this is that all natural peanut butter only contains peanuts and salt, whereas classic peanut butters have sugar added. So the sugar breaks down and melts into extra liquid, making the mixture more “liquidy” and takes longer to set. Just a theory, but perhaps worth a try for a quicker set time! Thank you for sharing this recipe!
The cookies were good but very sweet. Next time I will use 1 cup of honey. Easy recipe.
They were very easy and good. I added a heaping 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts to them and they were amazing. Will definitely make them again
For a softer cookie I like to cook my oats in the boiling mixture when It is at a rolling boil.
I added 1/2 mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
I chilled in fridge for 1 hour
Fantastic treat on a hot day with a cold glass of milk
If we don’t have parchment paper, are we able to substitute with aluminum paper or grease the baking sheets? Not sure how gooey the mixture will be
Aluminum foil or even wax paper will work just fine!
Honestly I just made these and used Saran Wrap. when they hard enough they pulled right up with no problem
Can you substitute almond butter for the peanut butter? If so would the measurements be the same?
I think it would be fine to substitute it 1:1 for the peanut butter. I do recommend using a no-stir almond butter though.
I love reading about your baking tips. Really helped me to do my home practice. Didn’t see vanilla extract to replaced with honey. I love ❤️ it. Thanks for sharing.
These peanut butter no bakes are so delicious and worth the wait of the extra time to set. I won’t ever use another recipe these are the best no bakes ever.
Great recipe, I subbed a bit of brown sugar for the granulated and did a mixture of both as we as a splash of white corn syrup. I used half crunchy and half smooth peanut butter. I used a cookie scoop and it made perfectly shaped mounds that settled into little disks. Perfect for a not feeling well day but wanting a little something sweet while I recover. I did also add big pinch of salt, which was perfect. Thank you so much!
Please help! Today is my husband’s birthday. Forget the cake, he would much rather have p.b. no bake cookies. Of course thinking I had every ingredient, I decide to make them tonight and leave them out for a surprise in the morning. (He works 3rd shift) Well I have no unsalted butter. He took my car because his is in the shop. Even if I had a car no stores are open. I know usually you just lower the salt going into the recipe but this one does not have it. So now what? Is there anything I can do? TIA
Hi, Amber! I think it would be okay to go ahead and use salted butter in this recipe. This one only uses 1 stick of butter and most sticks of salted butter only have about 90mg of added salt per tablespoon, so it would be a very small amount of salt in each cookie. They’re pretty sweet too, so a little extra salt probably won’t hurt here!
I think the sweet and salty flavor is absolutely delicious ? I use salted butter everytime I make this. Kerry gold Irish butter to be exact. I also do about 1 tsp. Of course ground sea salt as well and use honey roasted Peter pan peanut butter. It gives it a sweet and salty nut flavor like you are eating honey roasted peanuts in cookie form ? absolutely delicious! You should definitely try this!!!
Mine too dry what do wrong
If it was dry, you likely boiled the mixture for too long.
Turned out wonderfully. I loved the recipe. Thank you for sharing ?
I love this recipe. Just want to tell about a non stick parchment paper that you can buy. I get it at Wal Mart. It is the WM brand and it is wonderful. Nothing sticks to it. Not even scotch tape. Thought someone might like to know about it.
Thanks for the tip!
So good! I only used 1 cup of sugar and natural peanut butter with honey. They turned out delicious! I also drizzled dark chocolate over them.