The BEST No Bake Cookie Recipe (2024)

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The BEST No Bake Cookie Recipe (1)

Reader comment:

I have used many no bake cookie recipes over the years and this one is my absolute favorite.

When I say these are THE BEST No Bake Cookies, I mean it. Because they have the distinction of winning a No Bake Bake-Off. Of sorts.

In fourth grade, a friend of mine and I were boasting about how great our mom’s cookies were. Both of us loved No Bake Cookies and both of us were convinced our mom made the very best ones.

So we decided to make it interesting. We asked each of our mothers to make a batch and pack one in our lunch boxes for a cafeteria showdown taste test.

Turns out, her mom’s were actually better.

Once I recovered from my shock, I swallowed my pride and asked for the recipe. And I’ve been making them ever since.

The BEST No Bake Cookie Recipe (2)

Ingredients You Need For No Bake Cookies

  • Sugar: Use white granulated
  • Cocoa
  • Butter: I use butter but one reviewer swears by swapping in margarine, FYI.
  • Milk
  • Peanut Butter: I use natural for many recipes but not this one. Using natural peanut butter results in drier cookies, so use regular peanut butter.
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Oats: I prefer old-fashioned oats, but you can use quick oats as well. They’ll just be a bit less chewy.
The BEST No Bake Cookie Recipe (3)

How to Make No Bake Cookies

  • Combine the sugar, cocoa, butter, and milk in a large saucepan and stir over medium-low heat until combined.
  • Turn heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a full boil. Boil for one minute, stirring occasionally. (Watch the clock closely–if you don’t boil them long enough, they will not set. Boil them too long, and they will be dry.) Remove from heat.
  • Add peanut butter, vanilla, and oatmeal to mixture and stir until combined.
  • Drop by the tablespoon onto a baking sheet (I use a cookie scoop like this one). Cool, then remove from sheet with a spatula, and store in an airtight container.
The BEST No Bake Cookie Recipe (4)

Questions about No Bake Cookies

What’s the best way to store No Bake Cookies?

Once the cookies are cooled and hardened, store them in an airtight container and use within a week (but I doubt they’ll last that long!).

Can you freeze No Bake Cookies?

Yes! Simply place the (cooled) cookies in a freezer bag, seal out the air, and store in the freezer. Allow to thaw…or eat them frozen (they’re still good that way!).

Can I use crunchy peanut butter instead?

Yes, It obviously adds more texture. Be sure it is regular crunchy peanut butter (not natural) for best results.

Can I use less sugar in this recipe?

Yes. I have made these with 1 3/4 cup sugar (instead of two cups) and they turned out well.

Can you swap in honey instead of white sugar?

No. The texture will be all wrong. I know there are “health-ified” versions of these cookies out there–with coconut sugar, chia seeds, and what have you–but I’m a purist when it comes to No Bakes. I’d rather make the real deal and enjoy them a couple times a year.

How do you fix No Bake Cookies that don’t set up?

Boiling the mixture for less than a minute will produce cookies that are too soft. If you haven’t portioned out all of your cookies, adding some additional oats to the batter may help a bit. Next time, be sure to follow the one-minute-boil rule exactly, starting the timer when the mixture reaches a full boil.

How do you fix No Bake Cookies that are too dry?

Boiling more than a minute may lead to cookies that are too dry. Next time, only boil the mixture for one minute, starting the timer when the mixture reaches a full boil.

The BEST No Bake Cookie Recipe (5)

The BEST No Bake Cookies

Yield: 30

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 5 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

These No Bake Cookies are rich, soft, and ready in minutes.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups sugar, white granulated* (see notes)
  • 3 tablespoons cocoa
  • 6 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter, regular, not natural* (see notes)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 cups old-fashioned oats, or quick oats

Instructions

  1. Combine sugar, cocoa, butter, and milk in a large saucepan and stir over medium-low heat until combined.
  2. Turn heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until mixture comes to a full boil. Boil for one minute, stirring occasionally. (Watch the clock closely--if you don't boil them long enough, they will not set. Boil them too long, and they will be dry.) Remove from heat.
  3. Add peanut butter, vanilla, and oatmeal to mixture and stir until combined.
  4. Drop by the tablespoon onto a baking sheet. Cool, then remove from sheet with a spatula, and store in an airtight container.

Notes

If you'd like to use less sugar, I have made these with 1 3/4 cup sugar and they turned out well.

Natural peanut butter will result in drier cookies. Stick with regular peanut butter.

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Nutrition Information:

Yield: 30Serving Size: 1 cookie
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 137Total Fat: 5gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 44mgCarbohydrates: 21gFiber: 1gSugar: 14gProtein: 2g

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The BEST No Bake Cookie Recipe (13)

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The BEST No Bake Cookie Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why did my no bake cookies not get hard? ›

Why Didn't My No-Bake Cookies Set? Likely, you didn't boil the mixture long enough. You want the butter, milk, sugar, and cocoa mixture to boil for 2-3 full minutes and reach between 190°F-200°F. If you don't boil them for long enough, they will turn out gooey and will not set.

What is the most successful cookie? ›

Oreo is the best-selling cookie in the world. It is now sold in over 100 countries. Oreo was first produced in 1912 by the National Biscuit Company, now known as Na-Bis-Co.

Why do my no bake cookies fall apart? ›

A: Chances are if the no-bakes turned out dry and crumbly it was because you overcooked them.

How do you make cookies that don't get hard? ›

Baking at 375 degrees F as opposed to a lower temperature will help cookies stay soft: they'll bake faster which means they aren't in the hot, drying air of the oven too long. Pull the cookie sheet out of the oven when the cookies are just set: underbaking is better than overbaking.

How do you fix dry no-bake cookies? ›

No matter how careful I am about not over boiling the sugar mixture I always seem to do it, causing a very dry no-bake cookie. My solution is to scrape all the cookies back in the pan and add enough milk to be able to stir it over low heat.

What makes cookies chewy and not hard? ›

The science is simple: According to the flour authorities over at Bob's Red Mill, cornstarch can help “soften the rigid proteins of the flour, resulting in a light and chewy dessert.” “The cornstarch complements the flour in absorbing the liquids, but won't develop gluten structure like the flour will,” stresses ...

How long to chill cookie dough before baking? ›

Scooping then chilling your cookie dough for at least. 2 hours before baking. As you can see, this primarily affects spread and height, both of which significantly contribute to texture.

What is cookie secret? ›

Cookie Secret is the secret used to encrypt and sign session cookies. If you don't provide a cookie secret, Pomerium will generate one for you.

What is America's favorite cookie? ›

OREO® is America's favorite cookie, available in more than 100 countries around the globe. Over 60 billion OREO® cookies are sold each year with more than 20 billion of those cookies sold in the U.S. annually. An estimated 500 billion OREO® cookies have been sold since the first OREO® biscuit was developed in 1912.

What brand did Oreo copy? ›

Hydrox cookies have a sweet filling and a crunchy cookie shell. The Oreo cookie, introduced in 1912, was inspired by the Hydrox. The Oreo eventually became more popular than Hydrox which resulted in Hydrox being thought of as a copy of Oreo.

Who is the rarest cookie? ›

Hollyberry Cookie, an Ancient Cookie of Defense class, is one of the hardest to find cookies in the game. Her position is prioritized to the Front by default.

Why do my no bake cookies never set? ›

If you don't boil the mixture long enough, your cookies may not set properly. On the other hand, if you boil it for too long, your cookies may turn out dry and crumbly. Using a timer for one minute avoids these issues and sets you up for beautiful, perfectly textured no-bake cookies!

How to get no bakes to harden? ›

If you've glanced at other no-bake cookie recipes then you'll see how important it is to boil the sugar mixture long enough which will help the cookies to set. Boiling too long will cause the cookies to be dry and crumbly. However, if you don't boil long enough the cookies will not set and will be runny.

Why won't my cookies get hard? ›

It's all about moisture. To keep it simple, cookie recipes that contain a lot of butter, brown sugar or egg yolks are going to yield soft and chewy cookies, because those ingredients add moisture and retain it for a longer amount of time.

Why aren't my cookies firming? ›

If your cookies repeatedly turn out flat, no matter the recipe, chances are your oven is too hot. Here's what's happening. The butter melts super quickly in a too-hot oven before the other ingredients have firmed up into a cookie structure. Therefore, as the butter spreads so does the whole liquidy cookie.

Why is my cookie dough not hard? ›

If you think your cookie dough is off, you may not have enough liquid in the recipe. Consider adding a touch more liquid such as melted butter, egg yolks, or a teaspoon of water. Add a teeny bit and see if that helps. Add more as needed until the dough holds together and is scoop-able.

How long does it take for no bakes to set up? ›

Shaping and storing no-bake cookies

Scoop the finished cookie batter into spoon-sized rounds onto parchment paper, then let the cookies cool and set for 25 to 30 minutes. You can enjoy them right away, or store for up to five days in an airtight container at room temperature.

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