Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar

These chewy and delicious Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies are made with creamy peanut butter, vanilla, brown sugar, butter and rolled oats. Ready in less than 20 minutes, they couldn't be any easier to make - just mix, set, and enjoy! 

Grandma’s No-Bake Cookies are so simple to make! Packed with chocolate flavor and oatmeal for a satisfying and easy treat that everyone loves! 

If you have never had these delicious cookies before, you are absolutely missing out. Grandma's No Bake Cookies are a timeless classic that spans generations. They are super simple to make with easy, pantry staple ingredients. If you want the perfect gift giving cookie this year, or just want an easy to whip up treat, then you need to make Grandma's No Bake Cookie recipe.

Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar
Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

What are no bake cookies made of?

Cocoa, peanut butter, butter, sugar, milk and quick cooking oats. Every traditional no bake cookie is made with some variation of these ingredients.

What causes no bake cookies to harden?

Boiling. The boiling process is what is needed to thicken the chocolate mixture. This is why it is important to boil the mixture long enough. Once your mixture starts to boil you will want to keep it at a boil for 60 seconds. This is the amount of time needed to make sure that your cookies set up properly. It is ok to slightly go slightly over that time, but going under might cause your cookies to not set up properly.
Then, as the butter and chocolate and peanut butter cool, it will then take on a firmer, chewy texture.

Can you put no-bake cookies on aluminum foil?

Yes. These can cool on aluminum foil but you will need to make sure it is non-stick foil or spray the aluminum foil with nonstick spray or they will stick to the foil as they cool. I recommend using parchment paper or wax paper for best results.

How long are no bake cookies good for?

If they are unrefrigerated, no bake cookies are best eaten within 3 days. Just make sure to keep them in an airtight container. If they are refrigerated in an airtight container, they will last about 10 days.
No Bake Cookies can be frozen by placing in a freezer bag and separating layers with wax paper so they don't stick together. They will keep for up to 3 months. Defrost on the counter top or in the refrigerator.

Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar
Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar

INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR GRANDMA'S NO BAKE COOKIES: (FULL RECIPE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE POST)

  • unsalted butter 
  • brown sugar 
  • unsweetened cocoa powder 
  • milk 
  • vanilla extract 
  • creamy peanut butter 
  • quick cooking oats 
  • salt 
Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar
Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar

HOW TO MAKE NO BAKE COOKIES:

Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or wax paper and set aside. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat melt butter.

Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar
Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar

Add brown sugar and  stir to combine. 

Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar
Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar

Add cocoa, milk, and vanilla extract and mix to combine. 

Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar
Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar

Allow the mixture to come to a rolling boil and cook for 1 minute. 

Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar
Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar

Remove from the heat and add the peanut butter and stir until it melts in and is combined.

Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar
Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar

Next, add the oats and stir to combine with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula. 

Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar
Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar

Use a medium cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop batter 1 inch apart on the cookie sheet about 15 cookies per sheet. 

Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar
Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar

Allow the cookies to cool and set. You can also set them up in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes if you would like them to cool quickly.

Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar
Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar

WANT MORE DELICIOUS RECIPES?

  • GRANDMA'S POTATO CANDY
  • HOMEMADE STAR CRUNCH
  • GRANDMA'S CORNFLAKE COOKIES
  • GRANDMA'S TEXAS SHEET CAKE
  • HOT CHOCOLATE NO-BAKE COOKIES
  • GRANDMA'S SOFT SUGAR COOKIES
  • AVALANCHE COOKIES
  • NO-BAKE PREACHER COOKIES

Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar
Peanut butter no bake cookies with brown sugar

Grandma's No-Bake Cookies

Grandma’s No-Bake Cookies are so simple to make! Packed with chocolate flavor and oatmeal for a satisfying and easy treat that everyone loves!

5 from 2 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Grandma's No Bake Cookie Recipe, Grandma's No Bake Cookies, No Bake Cookie Recipe, No Bake Cookies

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 3 minutes

Cooling:: 30 minutes

Total Time: 43 minutes

Servings: 30

Calories: 121kcal

Author: Brandie @ The Country Cook

Ingredients

  • ½ cup salted butter
  • 1 ¾ cups brown sugar
  • 4 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
  • ½ cup 2% milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup creamy peanut butter
  • 3 cups quick cooking oats

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Instructions

  • Line 2 baking sheets with parchment or wax paper and set aside. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat melt butter.

  • Add brown sugar and stir to combine.

  • Add cocoa, milk, and vanilla extract and mix to combine.

  • Allow the mixture to come to a rolling boil and cook for 1 minute.

  • Remove from the heat and add the peanut butter and stir until it melts in and is combined.

  • Next, add the oats and stir to combine with a wooden spoon or silicone spatula.

  • Use a medium cookie scoop or tablespoon to drop batter 1 inch apart on the cookie sheet about 15 cookies per sheet.

  • Allow the cookies to cool and set. You can also set them up in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes if you would like them to cool quickly.

Notes

  • Easily double this recipe to have more on hand or to give out as gifts.
  • Only use quick cooking oats (not old fashioned oats). Please pay attention to the packaging as they are very easy to confuse one for the other.
  • Make sure that you use unsweetened cocoa powder and not dutch process.
  • You can quicken your set up time by placing these in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
  • These can be frozen, see my tips above.

Nutrition

Calories: 121kcal | Carbohydrates: 17g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 8mg | Sodium: 38mg | Potassium: 76mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 200IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 38mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

Why do my No bake cookies turn out gooey?

Most recipes online say to cook for 1 minute, but this always produced overly soft, sticky, gooey cookies for me that never firmed up. You really need to cook the sugar mixture at least 2 minutes. Humidity can also affect the boil time. So, if your cookies are too soft, boil the sugar an extra 15-20 seconds next time.

What makes no bake cookies harden?

Use the Refrigerator The peanut butter, butter, and chocolate might take a long time to set up when you just put the cookies on the counter. The cookies should set up and harden eventually, but it can take quite a bit of time. Refrigerating the cookies can help them to harden significantly faster.

Why are my No bake cookies always dry?

If you don't boil it long enough, the cookies will not set up. If you boil it too long the cookies will be dry and crumbly.

Why won't my chocolate no bake cookies harden?

This means that you've baked too long. The dough should NOT be super sticky when it comes out of the oven. If the cookies are still too moist after you've removed them from the oven, then just pop some of them back in for another 10 minutes at a lower heat.