No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies: a weeknight method

A sheet pan with no bake peanut butter cookies on it.

These no bake peanut butter cookies are chewy peanut butter oatmeal cookies topped with candy. They take just minutes to make and are reliable for any special occasion!

When I need dessert recipes in a hurry, I turn to quick and straightforward options like haystack cookies, buckeye balls, avalanche cookies and these no bake peanut butter cookies.

Sometimes you just don’t feel like turning on the oven to bake! These no bake peanut butter cookies taste just as memorable as something that would come from the oven, but they’re ready start to finish in just minutes. These cookies are similar to the popular classic peanut butter chocolate no bake cookie recipe, except we’re skipping the chocolate and adding a second dose of peanut butter in the form of coated peanut butter candies (such as Reese’s Pieces). The candies add a pop of color and a nice crunch, they’re really the reliable addition to this cookie.

No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies Ingredients

To make this recipe, you will need sugar, butter, milk, silky peanut butter, quick cooking oats and peanut butter candies such as Reese’s Pieces.

How Do You Make No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies?

Place the sugar, butter and milk in a pot on the stove over medium heat. When the butter melts, bring the mixture to a boil and cook for exactly one minute. Take the saucepan off the heat and add the peanut butter and stir until smooth. Next, stir in the oats. Drop dollops of the dough onto parchment paper or waxed paper on a baking sheet, and use a spoon to flatten them into cookie shapes. Quickly press the candies on top of the cookies. Cool completely until the cookies are firm, then serve and enjoy.

A plate with a stack of no bake peanut butter cookies.

Tips For The Reliable Cookies

Be sure you’re standing at the stove watching because this mixture needs to cook for exactly one minute. If you overcook the sugar mixture the cookies might turn out crumbly.
The beauty of these no bake peanut butter cookies is that you can make them as big or as small as you like. I do 2 tablespoons of dough for my cookies.
This recipe calls for quick oats, which can also be called 1 minute oats. Do not use rolled oats or old fashioned oats, as the texture will be overly chewy.
No bake cookies will stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Quick Tip

I prefer to use 2% or whole milk for cookies with the creamiest texture.

A sheet pan full of cookies with candies on top.

Recipe FAQs

Do you have to flatten peanut butter cookies?

You do need to flatten no bake peanut butter cookies, because they will cool in whatever shape you make them in. If you prefer a thicker cookie, you could leave the dough in dollops on the sheet pan and skip the flattening step.

What type of peanut butter is finest for peanut butter cookies?

Use a brand of silky peanut butter such as Jif or Skippy for cookies. Natural style peanut butters may separate when they are cooked, which can make your cookies greasy.

FOLLOW ME

Flavor Variations

While this recipe is tasty as-is, you can add other ingredients to customize the flavors to your tastes.

Flavorings: You can add 1/4 cup of cocoa powder for a chocolate peanut butter cookie. Another great option is to use Nutella instead of peanut butter. You can also add a little vanilla extract.
Toppings: Instead of peanut butter candies, top your cookies with M&M candies, chopped peanuts, a drizzle of melted chocolate, coarse sea salt, or make your cookies smaller and add a chocolate kiss on top to make no bake peanut butter blossoms.

More Great Dessert Recipes

A pile of strawberries inside a graham cracker crust, topped with a shiny red glaze, whipped cream and mint.

Fresh Strawberry Pie

1 hr 35 mins

Chocolate Fruit Dip

6 mins

Rocky Road Fudge

12 mins

Red Velvet Cookies

35 mins

Haystack Cookies

10 mins

Love This Recipe?

Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.

Add as Google preferred source Authorthe Makdob kitchen A sheet pan with no bake peanut butter cookies on it.

These no bake peanut butter cookies take just 10 minutes to make, a super straightforward recipe with tasty results! Time Prep Time9 minutes
Cook Time1 minute
Total Time10 minutes

Course Dessert
Cuisine American
Serves 16

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sugar
6 tablespoons butter cubed
6 tablespoons milk
3/4 cup peanut butter
2 1/4 cups quick cooking oats also called 1 minute oats
1 cup coated peanut butter candies

Instructions

Place the sugar, butter and milk in a saucepot over medium heat. Stir until butter is melted. Bring to a boil and boil for 1 minute exactly.
Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the peanut butter until smooth. Add the oats and stir until thoroughly combined.
Drop 2 tablespoon sized dollops of the dough onto parchment paper, waxed paper or a silicon nonstick baking mat. Quickly press the candies onto the tops of the cookies.
Cool completely until cookies are set. Cookies may be stored at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Notes

Be sure you’re standing at the stove watching because this mixture needs to cook for exactly one minute. If you overcook the sugar mixture the cookies might turn out crumbly.
This recipe calls for quick oats, which can also be called 1 minute oats. Do not use rolled oats, as the texture will be overly chewy.