No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
This classic no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies recipe is fast, easy, and foolproof. The key is to boil the chocolate mixture for exactly one minute for a perfect, fudgy, set cookie every time.
Equipment
- Medium saucepan
- Wooden Spoon or Spatula
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Two Baking Sheets
- Parchment Paper or Wax Paper
Ingredients
- 1 cup 200g Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 cup 113g / 1 stick Butter (salted or unsalted)
- 1/2 cup 120ml Milk
- 1/4 cup 30g Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
- 1/2 cup 128g Creamy Peanut Butter
- 1 tsp Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 tsp Salt optional, if using unsalted butter
- 3 cups 240g Quick-Cooking Oats (1-Minute Oats, not rolled oats)
Instructions
- Prep: Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper or wax paper. Have your ingredients measured and ready.
- Boil: In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa powder. Stir over medium heat until the butter melts.
- Time It: When the mixture comes to a full, rolling boil, set a timer for exactly 60 seconds. Stir constantly during this boil.
- Mix: Remove the pot from the heat immediately. Stir in the peanut butter, vanilla extract, and salt until the peanut butter is melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Fold: Add the 3 cups of quick-cooking oats and stir until every oat is coated.
- Scoop: Work quickly! Drop tablespoon-sized mounds of the mixture onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Set: Let the cookies cool and set at room temperature for 30-60 minutes (or in the fridge for 15-20 minutes) until they are firm and no longer shiny.
Notes
The Oats: You must use Quick-Cooking Oats. Old-fashioned rolled oats will be raw and tough.
The Boil: The 60-second boil time is the most important step. Too short = goopy cookies. Too long = crumbly cookies.
Storage: Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 1 week.
A final thought: this is one of those "feel" recipes. After you make it once or twice, you'll understand the 1-minute boil perfectly. The mixture should look thick, glossy, and lose a bit of its shine right as you're scooping it. It's a forgiving and fun recipe!