Description
These Easy No Bake Cookies combine rich cocoa, creamy peanut butter, and hearty oats in a quick and simple preparation that requires no oven. Perfect for a fast treat, these cookies come together in just 10 minutes and set at room temperature, delivering a chewy, chocolaty snack sprinkled with flaky sea salt for a delightful balance of flavors and textures.
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 1 ¼ cups granulated white sugar (or fine grain all natural cane sugar)
- ¼ cup light brown sugar (packed)
- ¼ cup natural unsweetened cocoa powder (not Dutch process)
- Pinch kosher salt
- 2 ½ - 3 cups quick cooking oats
Wet Ingredients
- ½ cup butter (salted or unsalted, cold or room temperature)
- ½ cup whole milk
- ⅔ cup creamy no-stir peanut butter (avoid oily all natural peanut butter)
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
Topping
- Flaky sea salt (Maldon, sprinkled on top before they set)
Instructions
- Prep: Line two cookie sheets with parchment or wax paper. Measure out your oats, peanut butter, and vanilla ahead of time because this recipe comes together quickly.
- Combine & Boil: In a medium saucepan over medium heat, add granulated sugar, brown sugar, butter, milk, cocoa powder, and salt. Whisk as the butter melts and ingredients combine. Continue whisking occasionally until the mixture reaches a full, rolling boil that bubbles from edge to edge.
- Boil: Once boiling, start a timer for exactly 60 seconds without stirring. On humid or rainy days, boil for the full duration and consider extra chilling time to help cookies set properly. Remove from heat immediately after 60 seconds.
- Pull Off Heat: Stir in peanut butter and vanilla quickly until smooth, then fold in oats until fully coated. If the mixture seems too runny, test by dropping a spoonful on parchment. If it spreads thin, add an additional ¼ cup oats until it thickens.
- Scoop & Set: Quickly drop one or two tablespoon-sized scoops onto the parchment-lined cookie sheets. Tap tops to flatten if desired. Sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Let cookies set at room temperature for 20 to 30 minutes, or refrigerate if your kitchen is warm to help firm them.
Notes
- Use quick cooking oats for the best texture and quick setting.
- Do not use all natural peanut butter that tends to be oily, as this will affect the cookie texture.
- Boil the sugar mixture for the full 60 seconds to ensure proper cookie setting; high altitude may require slight timing adjustments.
- If your kitchen is warm or humidity is high, refrigerate cookies to help them set fully.
