Small Batch No Bake Cookies
This Small Batch No Bake Cookies recipe is my go-to dessert when I’m looking for something, quick soft, gooey and flavorful! These chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies are super moist and are made with quick oats to provide the perfect texture!
Adding oats is a delicious way to mix up your cookie repertoire! Be sure to check out my Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies, White Chocolate Cranberry Oatmeal Cookies, Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and Soft Oatmeal Raisin Cookies. I even use oat flour in my Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies and you’d be surprised at what a game changer it is!
Why This Recipe Works
- One pot and no oven preheating. This is a great dessert recipe if you need to satisfy your sweet tooth ASAP! It’s super quick to make because you do it on the stove (no need to wait for your oven to preheat) and it’s all done in one pot!
- Small batch no-bake cookies. I love being able to make these no bake cookies because it’s the perfect amount! This small batch no bake cookies recipe makes about 12 cookies. Just enough to enjoy, share but not having no bake cookies for days! It’s the perfect small batch dessert!
- Super moist no bake cookies! Please promise me you will never make dry no-bake cookies again! This no-bake cookie recipe makes soft, creamy and rich classic no-bake cookies. It’s all about getting the right amount of oats in there. The cookies will set up when they cool, you don’t need a bunch of oats packed in there to help them set. That will just make the cookies dry. When you take a bite of these no bakes, it will be soft and creamy chocolate peanut butter goodness in your mouth!
Ingredient Notes
- Butter: I typically always use unsalted butter in baking. This recipe doesn’t call for salt. So if you use salted butter, just note that there may be a saltier flavor.
- Sugar: Bringing the mixture to a boil will ensure that the sugar is melted. We want the sugar granules to melt so we get that nice, smooth texture.
- Milk: You can use whatever percentage of milk you prefer. If you use milk other than cow’s milk, just know that the flavor will change. One time my parents used almond milk and it definitely had a different flavor than this recipe guarantees!
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder: The trick is to get the right amount of cocoa powder to bring in the chocolate flavor without overpowering the peanut butter.
- Peanut Butter: I use creamy peanut butter because it makes the cookies melt in your mouth, but chunky is always an option too. I don’t recommend natural peanut butter because it often has oil separation which will add liquid that the recipe doesn’t account for.
- Quick Oats: Make sure you use quick oats because they are the perfect size and texture. Old fashioned oats can’t compete here! The old fashioned oats are a bit larger and will take on more of the moisture from your chocolate mixture, making the cookies dry.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Melt the butter. In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter.
- Make the chocolate mixture. Add the milk, sugar and cocoa powder. Stir until smooth and no cocoa powder lumps remain.
- Bring to a boil. Slowly bring to boil. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring often.
- Add peanut butter and vanilla. Take the pan off the burner and add the peanut butter and vanilla. Stir until combined.
- Add the oats. Add the quick oats and stir until coated.
- Form into cookies. Using a small cookie scoop or two spoons, portion and lay out to cool on a small piece of wax paper. Let set. Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
Don’t turn the heat up too high. You want to keep the heat at a good medium-low temperature because anything higher than that can burn the cocoa mixture.
Use a timer. When the mixture begins to boil, start the timer and let boil for 2 minutes, making sure to stir occasionally while it boils.
This is a pretty fast-paced recipe, so make sure to have the peanut butter measured and ready before you begin. This will help make the process go much more smoothly.
To reduce time having to break little cocoa powder lumps in the chocolate mixture, you can combine the granulated sugar and cocoa powder in a separate bowl and whisk until combined. Then add that to the pan with the milk.
Even though you are taking the pan off the heat, the peanut butter will melt from the heat of the mixture and the pan.
Once you add the oats, immediately start spooning onto the wax paper. The chocolate will start setting within a minute or two, so you want to get the cookies portioned out while the mixture is still soft.
When you get to the point of adding the oats, do so slowly. You may not need all of the oats. You don’t want the mixture to be too runny, but you also don’t want it to be too dry. Oddly enough, depending on the climate, the amount of oats I add can vary by 1/8 cup.
Make Ahead, Storing, and Freezing
Store in an airtight container or Ziplock bag at room temperature for 2-3 days.
To freeze, flash freeze on a baking sheet until solid (about 5-10 minutes) transfer to a Ziplock bag or airtight container and store in the freezer for 2-3 months. Remove and let thaw.
I recommend making these cookies right when or just before you want to serve them. They are best enjoyed fresh. Although they do keep for a few days to enjoy some leftover. The small batch no bake cookies is nice because you can typically enjoy them all fresh with a group of people.
FAQs
Yes! While this is a small batch recipe and designed to make about 12 no-bake cookies, you can easily double it to make 24. The steps and instructions are the same, the only difference is that the measurements are twice the amount currently requested.
If your no-bake cookies seem to be too runny, add in more quick oats a tablespoon at a time. This will help to thicken the mixture up without detracting from the flavor and taste.
Yes! After the cookies have completely set, place them on a large plate or baking sheet, and then stick them in the freezer for 1-2 hours to flash freeze. After they’ve been frozen solid, transfer them to a Ziplock bag and let them remain in the freezer for up to 3 months.
If you use a certified gluten free oat then yes, they can be! Those with allergies against gluten such as Celiacs know that oats and wheat are rotated on farmer fields and can contain traces of wheat, despite not being a wheat product. Certified GF oats are not rotated crops and are 100% gluten free and safe to consume.
Thanks to a kind reader, it was suggested to use SunButter in place of the peanut butter for a nut-free no-bake cookie.
More Dessert Recipes
- Crumbl Peanut Butter Brownie Cookies
- Crumbl Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
- Crumbl Classic Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Chip Cookies
Did you make this recipe? I’d love to hear about it! Leave a rating and review or scroll below the recipe card and do so there.
Stay up-to-date by following us on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Pinterest.
Small Batch No Bake Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 1/2 T cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup peanut butter - I use creamy peanut butter
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/4 cup quick oats - SEE NOTES! You may not use all of the oats, and you may need a tad more. Just depends.
Instructions
- In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the butter.
- When the butter has melted, add the milk, sugar, and cocoa powder. Stir. Slowly bring the mixture to a boil. Boil for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally. I never let it sit too long without stirring.
- Remove from heat. Add the peanut butter and vanilla. Stir. Add the quick oats (not all at once, because you may not need all of them… you don't want the mixture to be too runny or too dry. Climate and altitude can affect the amount needed) and stir until evenly coated.
- Lay out a small piece of wax paper. Drop by spoonfuls onto the wax paper. Let cool. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Welcome to this delicious corner of the internet! Here I share the recipes my family loves.
53 Comments on “Small Batch No Bake Cookies”
Yummy old fave! Made a few tweaks – used almond milk, Ghirardelli cocoa powder, dialed sugar back to 1/3 c., added 2 tablespoons chia seeds to milk/butter/cocoa mix, 1/3 c. organic no-salt peanut butter, only 1 cup oats, added 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes. Delish!
Thanks for sharing the changes you made. Sounds like it was a hit!
They are great. Is there a way to add coconut? Or use equal amounts of oatmeal & coconut flakes.
Glad you liked this recipe Linda! Coconut sounds like a super yummy addition. You can add shredded coconut – no need to subtract out any of the oatmeal. I would start with a small amount, like a 1/4 cup, and add from there.
This is an old time recipe. Many thanks for sharing small batch ratios. I think they should be stored in the fridge, especially in the summer. They are delicate, so warm temperatures will affect their consistency.
So happy you loved the recipe. Thanks for the review!
I made theses and I like them idk any other reason why I would not make them other then low on resources
I’ve made these so much my husband is sick of them. I don’t even need to c the recipe, know it by heart. I love these cookies. Sometimes they turn out great while others not so much, but there still delicious either way. Thanks for the small batch recipe. Now I don’t have to eat all 24 cookies, just 12. Lol.
Haha, the small batch is perfect for those cravings! Glad you love the recipe, Jennifer!
Thank you for posting the recipe. For me personally letting boil for 2 min they will crumble. I would definitely cut back on the sugar a tad and I would add 1/2 cup of peanut butter if you want it to taste like it has peanut butter. Just my personal likes.😃
Hi do you think using half and half would work with this recipe?
Hi Christine! I haven’t tried using half and half instead of milk, but it should work just fine. Let me know how it turns out.
Could you mix a cereal with the oatmeal for texture or ground nuts ?
Hi Leahrose — I haven’t tried adding nuts or cereal, so I’m not sure how it would turn out. One option could be to try using crunchy peanut butter instead of creamy to get more of that texture.
Mine never set they was soft and gooey
If they didn’t set it could be for a few reasons. 1) did you boil for the FULL 2 minutes? 2) did you bring it to a strong boil, or just a small one?
It needs to be a rolling boil. Try again, and I can guarantee they will set!
I love how you talk the cook through the cooking process! Whether a seasoned or new cook it helps you feel like you are a good cook because you are using your own judgement for the cookie texture.
I used this recipe because wanted a small batch instead of my usual big one. I boiled for exactly 2 minutes but these were the dryest
Most crumbly ones I’ve ever made. I used the whole 1 1/4
Cup oats, i think maybe half of that would have given me the right ratio.
Not sure what happened!
Don’t use all the oats. When I make these, I usually eyeball the amount of oats needed. Sometimes 1 1/4 cups is too much, and other times 1 1/4 cups is perfect. Next time add 3/4 cup, then add a tablespoon at a time until you get the consistency you’re going for.
But do try again! I make these once a week! (WE LOVE THEM!!)
I’m a fan of white chocolate and wonder what your opinion is on using one of the white chocolate mocha or white chocolate powders that are available for drinks in this as a substitute?
That’s not a bad idea. No idea how it’ll turn out! But it’s worth trying.