No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies | Easy Oatmeal Cookie Recipe (2024)

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I am a huge fan of cookies. It is hard to find a cookie that I do not like. Some of my favorite kinds of cookies are no-bake cookies. Since I really like oats and oatmeal, this no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies recipe really hits the spot.

They are soft and full of chocolate flavor. You kind of feel healthy eating them too, I mean they are full of oatmeal, so they have to be healthy right? Maybe not, but I will keep telling myself that, especially after I eat the third or fourth one

And they are completely gluten-free. Also, it is always a good idea to have a handful of no-bake recipes at your fingertips. Maybe you don’t want to turn on the oven, maybe you don’t have a large oven and only have a microwave and hotplate.

There are a variety of reasons why you may want to make these no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies. They are super easy to make if I can do it, you can do it. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Gather the ingredients and tools for the no-bake oatmeal cookies

First, let’s get the ingredients and tools together for this no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies recipe. You will need the following:

• Butter – I usually use unsalted butter, but you can use salted too if you like. Just reduce the amount of actual salt.
• Milk – Normally I use whole milk but you can use 2%, 1%, skim, etc. as well.
• White Granulated Sugar – The main sweetness ingredient.
• Cocoa powder – Make sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder and not the chocolate milk powder. This is where that chocolate flavor will come from.
• Salt – This will enhance the flavor of the other ingredients and balance out the sweetness a little bit.
• Brown sugar – You can use light or dark brown sugar. The brown sugar will help the cookies get chewier.
• Vanilla extract – This adds flavor on its own as well as enhances the other flavors in the cookie.
• Peanut butter – The peanut butter will act as the binder and help keep everything together. Since we aren’t using eggs as a binder this will work great.
• Oats – The star of this recipe. You can use quick or old-fashioned oats. The quick ones cook faster and give a more fine texture to the overall cookie. If you are worried about gluten, make sure your oats are certified gluten-free. In general, oats are gluten-free, but sometimes they can be processed where wheat is as well.

Tools

• Pot
• Bowl
• Spatula
• Spoon
• Parchment paper, wax paper, orsilicone baking mat
• Large sheet pan or cookie sheet

Step 2: How to make no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies

In a medium saucepot, add the butter, milk, white granulated sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and brown sugar. Then take it over to your stovetop or hot plate and set the heat to medium.

Step 3: Heat and stir

Next, let the mixture heat up until it has a roiling boil. Make sure to constantly stir so the mixture doesn’t burn.

Once it boils let it cook for a minute. This process will melt down the sugars and get rid of the sugar granule taste. It also helps to bloom the cocoa powder releasing its amazing flavor.

Everything will blend nicely together as it heats up. After the minute is over remove the hot mixture from the stove.

Step 4: Peanut butter and vanilla time

Pour the hot mixture into a large bowl. Then add in the vanilla extract and peanut butter. Stir everything together until the peanut butter melts.

Step 5: Mix in the oats

Next, add in most of the oats and stir them in until well combined. Depending on the consistency you may want to add in the rest of the oats. It should be a thick oatmeal-like consistency.

If it is still runny add in the rest of the oats. Three cups are usually perfect but it will depend on where you live, humidity, etc.

Step 6: Finishing the no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies

Now take a large spoon and spoon out equal portions onto a silicone mat-lined baking sheet, or use parchment paper.

They can be close together because the cookies won’t spread very much. Let the cookies cool at room temperature or place them in the refrigerator until they set.

The no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies are done when they are no longer sticky to the touch and lose their slightly glossy look. You will also be able to pick them up without them falling apart on you. Next, take a bite and enjoy! Can you eat just one?

How long do no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies last?

Store them in an airtight container or ziplock bag at room temperature for about a week. If you store them in the fridge, they will last about 2 weeks. They can be frozen as well if you like! If frozen, they will last a few months.

Do you like the recipe? Please give it a rating and comment down below, I really appreciate it. If you make it tag me on Instagram @inthekitchenwithmatt. Also, sign up for the newsletter so you won’t miss out on any of my new posts and recipes.

Here are a few other recipes you make like:

Chocolate crinkles cookies

Overnight Oats

Soft Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

Strawberry Sorbet

Tags

chocolate easy fast simple

56 Comments

1. Chris

   November 13, 2023 at 11:05 am·Reply

   
   I don’t care for sweets but my husband LOVED these. He is type 2 diabetic so I swapped the sugars for Monk Fruit (1-1 ratio) and they turned out great!

   • Matt Taylor

     November 13, 2023 at 11:38 am·Reply

     So awesome! Glad you made them and that your husband loved it!

2. Bev

   August 19, 2023 at 3:22 pm·Reply

   See Also

   BEST Sugar Cookie Recipe | Easy, Soft & Delicious - Shelf Cooking

   
   I love these but other people, in my family, don’t like peanut butter. Is there an alternative ingredient?

   • Matt Taylor

     August 19, 2023 at 6:08 pm·Reply

     You can actually just leave the peanut butter out.

3. Janell G

   October 30, 2022 at 12:46 pm·Reply

   
   Very easy to make..the easiest recipe I’ve made so far

   • Matt Taylor

     October 30, 2022 at 10:56 pm·Reply

     Awesome!! Glad you tried it and liked it!

4. Mary Beth Pettay

   August 14, 2021 at 3:14 pm·Reply

   Have your tried this recipe using Plant based ingredients? I wonder how it would need to be changed. I would use plant based butter, oat milk,with granulated golden Monk fruit sweetener, sunflower butter(which I think I would need to add more oats) the rest of the ingredients i don’t have to sub. any pointers before I make a big mess?

   • Matt Taylor

     August 14, 2021 at 3:18 pm·Reply

     Hello Mary Beth, No I haven’t tried it with any of the plant-based ingredients. Although, not sure if it will set properly since that is one of the main functions the sugar performs when heated to the correct temp. That kind of substitution really isn’t my specialty haha. 🙂 I say go for it, even if it doesn’t set completely, it will still taste good, I bet.

5. GK

   July 12, 2021 at 1:30 pm·Reply

   
   Very Good cookies YUMMIE!!!

   • Matt Taylor

     July 12, 2021 at 1:55 pm·Reply

     Thank you!!

6. Darlene

   February 15, 2021 at 3:46 pm·Reply

   
   These cookies were so good and easy. I said, were hehe. Shared them with my daughters ?

   • Matt Taylor

     February 15, 2021 at 3:53 pm·Reply

     So glad you made them and liked them, Darlene! Nice of you to share them with your daughters. 🙂

7. Angela

   May 27, 2020 at 9:03 pm·Reply

   Best recipe I’ve come across for these no bake cookies. My mom has been making these for years & I couldn’t remember the exact measurements. These are perfect!! Thank you.

   • Matt Taylor

     May 27, 2020 at 10:28 pm·Reply

     So glad you tried them and liked them, Angela! 🙂 🙂

8. Danielle

   April 25, 2020 at 1:24 pm·Reply

   
   Love this recipe! I made replaced the butter, milk and sugar with vegan alternatives and it turned out great. Had to add about 2/3 of a cup of oats. Super pumped about this! Thanks!

   • Matt Taylor

     April 25, 2020 at 1:40 pm·Reply

     So awesome, Danielle! I am glad you were able to modify it to suit your needs. 🙂 That is the best part of baking, experimenting. 🙂

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