• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Worn Slap Out

  • Home
  • Recipe Box
    • Breakfast
    • Sides + Appetizers
    • Soups + Salads
    • Weeknight Dinners
    • Make Ahead Meals
    • Desserts
  • Meet Kathryn
  • Say Hey!
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • Breakfast
  • Sides + Appetizers
  • Soups + Salads
  • Weeknight Dinners
  • Make Ahead Meals
  • Desserts
  • Meet Kathryn
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
  • ×

    Home » Cookies

    No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

    July 11, 2018 by Kathryn Leave a Comment

    137 shares
    • Share
    • Tweet
    • Email
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    These no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies are the classic ones childhood dreams are made of. They're the easiest cookie to make...and one of the most delicious.

    **This post was updated with new copy and pictures in May 2020**

    'Memba these from back in the day?  There isn't one particular memory associated with these no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies, but they give me a general sense of nostalgia for the seemingly endless summer nights I was lucky enough to experience as a child.  My best friend's mom used to make these and they were SO GOOD that I don't even think I realized they had healthy oats in them until I was much older (and let's not get it twisted -- these are very much an indulgent dessert, complete with butter and chocolate -- but also healthy oats and peanut butter, so I think those two things cancel each other out, right?).

    Reliving your own childhood is one of the greatest joys of having kids (if it was a good one, that is). You get to vaguely remember what caused all that wonder and wild sense of freedom. C doesn't necessarily have a sense of what "summer" is per se -- but he knows it's fun to eat dinner outside, go to the pool, and stay up a little bit later than normal.

    Back to the cookies.

    side picture of stack of three cookies with other cookies blurry in the background

    Ingredients You Need to Make These Cookies

    I made them a few days ago and every time I walk by the refrigerator I have to grab one.  They're little.  There's also only EIGHT ingredients, too, all of which you probably have in your pantry right now.

    • sugar
    • milk
    • unsalted butter
    • unsweetened cocoa powder
    • salt
    • vanilla extract
    • creamy peanut butter 
    • 3 cups 
    flat lay picture of ingredients needed to make no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies  on granite background - peanut butter, sugar, butter, milk, cocoa powder, vanilla extract and oats.

    How to Make No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

    In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, milk, butter, cocoa powder, and salt until butter has melted. Bring to a boil for one minute. Remove from the heat and add vanilla extra and peanut butter. Stir until combined.

    Next, pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the oats you have in a large bowl. Stir with a spoon until oats are completely covered.

    Using a cookie scoop or regular spoon, drop 1-1 ½" cookies on a parchment lined baking sheet (one that you can stick in the refrigerator so you may have to do two smaller sized ones if you're refrigerator is like mine). Let cookies set for about 30 minutes before gobbling up.

    4 picture collage showing butter and cocoa powder melting in sauce pan with bowl of peanut butter and vanilla nearby (pic 1), chocolate mixture poured over bowl of oats (pic 2), mixture all stirred up (pic 3) and cookies placed on parchment paper (pic 4).

    Some Quick, Useful Tips

    • Use good quality oats.  I like McCann's quick cooking oats because they taste like actual oats rather than cardboard.  And they keep forever. 
    • Use good quality cocoa powder. I'm in love with Valhrona cocoa powder...and I promise good quality chocolate takes these cookies up a notch from being for kids to being suited for adults, too.
    • Plan ahead. Leave at least 30 minutes for the cookies to set in the refrigerator.
    • Stick to the script. These no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies won't harden if you go rogue and don't follow the exact ingredients.
    • Make them vegan. You could add coconut oil instead of butter for the fat and almond milk instead of regular milk to make these cookies vegan.

    Storing the Cookies

    Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. These cookies are really dangerous every time you open the refrigerator door, but they keep their shape in the refrigerator much better than at room temperature.

    flat lay of cookies on parchment lined baking sheet with white cloth in background

    Check Out These Other Cookies

    Got a cookie craving? How about these other beauties?

    • Lemon Crinkle Cookies that only require FOUR ingredients!
    • Soft and Chewy Oatmeal Butterscotch Cookies
    • Classic Chocolate and Peanut Butter Buckeyes
    • Classic Peanut Butter Blossom Cookies
    • Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

    And you can't really eat just one.  Just a heads up.

    xox,

    kathryn

    As always, if you make anything from the blog, be sure to let me know! I love hearing from you in the comments on this post below or find Worn Slap Out on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

    No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

    These no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies are the classic ones childhood dreams are made of. They're the easiest cookie to make...and one of the most delicious.
    No ratings yet
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dessert
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: chocolate oatmeal, no bake cookies
    Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
    Fridge Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 24 cookies

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ cups sugar
    • ½ cup milk
    • ½ cup unsalted butter (1 stick)
    • ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
    • pinch of salt
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • ⅔ cup creamy peanut butter don't use the natural kind because it's too greasy
    • 3 cups quick cooking oats

    Instructions

    • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
    • Place the oats in a big bowl to be used in a few minutes
    • In a medium-sized saucepan over medium heat, combine sugar, milk, butter, cocoa powder, and salt until butter has melted. Bring to a boil for one minute. Remove from the heat and add vanilla extra and peanut butter. Stir until combined. Pour the chocolate/peanut butter mixture over the oats and stir until combined.
    • Using a spoon or cookie scoop (I use this one to make them all uniform), drop cookies onto the prepared parchment paper-lined baking sheet.
    • Refrigerate until firm.

    Notes

    The cookies will stay fresh in an air-tight container in the fridge for about a week!

    More Cookies

    • Flat lay picture of polar bear Oreos on parchment lined baking tray.
      Polar Bear Oreos
    • flat lay photo with 3 plates of bourbon ginger molasses cookies next to plate of sugar where dough ball is being rolled
      Bourbon Ginger Molasses Cookies
    • stack of snickerdoodle cookies on white square plate.
      Snickerdoodles Without Cream of Tartar
    • Chocolate Covered Oreo Reindeer Cookies

    Reader Interactions

    Let Me Know What You Think! Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    picture of kathryn, owner of worn slap out food blog.

    Hi, I'm Kathryn! Welcome to Worn Slap Out, a Southern-inspired recipe corner for busy people on the go. As a mom of two littles who also loves food, I need meals on the table ASAP but I also want to eat well. Here, you'll find quick, easy, and reasonably healthy meals you can make in a flash. Other loves include Georgia football, cake of all kinds, and elastic waistbands.

    More about me →

    Popular

    • Up close scoop of Oreo cookie ice cream in front of container of the same ice cream.
      Oreo Cookie Ice Cream
    • aerial photo of rigatoni al forno in large baking dish next to fresh basil and a red oven mitt.
      Rigatoni Al Forno (Baked Rigatoni)
    • two white bowls with salad and smaller bowls of tomatoes, cheese, breadcrumbs, and dressing are scattered around the two bowls.
      Copycat Sweetgreen Chicken Pesto Parm Salad Recipe
    • za'atar bread crumbs on a spoon over a clear bowl of breadcrumbs.
      Za'atar Bread Crumbs

    What do you have a hankerin' for?

    Let's Be Social!

    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Tumblr
    • Twitter

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms & Conditions

    Get Updates!

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Get in touch

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 Worn Slap Out on the Foodie Pro Theme