Description
Chewy, fudgy no-bake cookies combining rich chocolate and creamy peanut butter with oats—ready in under 30 minutes using just one pot and pantry staples.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup milk
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 3 cups quick-cooking oats
- ½ cup chopped nuts (optional)
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut (optional)
- 2 tablespoons protein powder (optional)
- Jam or extra peanut butter for sandwich cookies (optional)
- 2 ounces semi-sweet or dark chocolate for drizzle (optional)
Instructions
- Combine butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa powder in medium saucepan over medium heat; stir until butter melts and sugar dissolves.
- Increase heat to bring mixture to a full rolling boil that cannot be stirred away; boil exactly 1 minute, stirring gently.
- Remove from heat; stir in peanut butter, vanilla extract, and salt until glossy and smooth.
- Fold in quick-cooking oats (and optional nuts, coconut, or protein powder) until fully coated and thickened.
- Line baking sheet or countertop with parchment paper or silicone mat.
- Scoop rounded tablespoonfuls of mixture onto prepared surface, spacing about 2 inches apart.
- Optionally, flatten each mound to ½-inch thickness with back of spoon.
- Allow cookies to set at room temperature for 20–30 minutes until firm but chewy.
- For sandwich cookies, press half mixture into mini muffin cups, add jam or peanut butter, top with remaining mixture, and let set.
- Optionally, drizzle melted chocolate over set cookies and let firm before storing.
- Store cookies in airtight container with parchment layers at room temperature up to one week.
Notes
Ensure the mixture boils a full minute at rolling boil for proper setting. Use unflavored dental floss to cut sandwich cookies cleanly. Avoid refrigeration to keep chewy texture. Variations include adding spices like cinnamon or cayenne, swapping sugar for maple syrup, and vegan substitutions with coconut oil and plant-based milk.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Bake
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 140
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 80mg
- Fat: 7g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 10mg