Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies are a classic, childhood treat made with oatmeal, peanut butter, and Reese’s candy!
Love easy cookie recipes? Be sure to try our 3 ingredient peanut butter cookies next! Our no bake Cheerio Bars are perfect as a treat or breakfast!
Why these Cookies are Best
I love the simplicity of a no-bake cookie.
As the weather gets warmer, no bake desserts are awesome to have on hand for summer. You know, when you need something sweet but don’t feel like turning on your oven!
These peanut butter no bake cookies are just the thing. Unlike traditional no bake cookies, there is no chocolate in this recipe.
I have a family of peanut butter cookie lovers and we needed full peanut butter flavor. Plus, should I remind you they have oatmeal? Peanut butter + Oatmeal = health food. Breakfast. Yeah, I know it’s a stretch, but go with it.
Ingredient Notes
Scroll all the way down for complete no bake cookie recipe.
- Granulated Sugar
- Milk
- Unsalted Butter
- Vanilla Extract
- Salt
- Creamy Peanut Butter
- Quick Cook Oatmeal
- Reese’s Pieces Candy
How to make Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies
STEP 1: In a large saucepan over medium heat, add sugar, milk and butter. Bring to a boil and continue to boil for one full minute.
STEP 2: Remove from heat. Add vanilla, salt and creamy peanut butter. Stir until smooth.
STEP 3: Fold in quick oats, stirring until completely combined. Add in Reese’s Pieces candy.
STEP 4: Lay out a large piece of parchment paper on counter. Using two spoons, drop cookie dough by large tablespoon onto paper. Allow to set (about 20 minutes). Store in a covered, airtight container. ENJOY!
Substitutions
Milk: I always have fat free milk in our refrigerator, so that is what I use. You can use other varieties of milk as well, 1%, 2%, and whole milk all provide similar results! You can also use almond milk in this no bake cookie recipe!
Butter: Typically I use unsalted butter so that I can control the salt in a recipe. If you opt for salted butter, remove the extra pinch of salt from the cookies.
Peanut Butter: Can you make peanut butter no bake cookies without peanut butter? Actually you can! Try our biscoff no bake cookies next.
Oatmeal: I always opt for quick oats in my no bake cookies. It results in great texture and flavor. While you can use old-fashioned oats, you’ll get a chewier texture, if you’re okay with that!
Reese’s Pieces Candy: The sky is the limit (or maybe it’s your pantry is the limit). Chocolate Chips, peanut butter morsels, M&M’s, you decide. Or leave it all out and keep them as plain no bake oatmeal cookies!
No Bake Cookie Dilemmas
You either have the dilemma of cookies being too gooey? Or your cookies are hard rocks. Wondering where you went wrong and why your cookies won’t set?
For Dry Cookies:
- When you bring your mixture to a boil for one full minute, you have likely overheated your sugar. Overcooking the sugar can result in a crumbly mess.
- If this is something you struggle with, try using a different saucepan or turn your stove top heat source down!
For Gooey Cookies:
- Most common cause of gooey no bake cookies is not boiling your mixture long enough (see? it’s the opposite of dry cookies).
- Rain and humidity! The moisture in the air can keep your cookies from setting. If it’s an exceptionally humid day, add a little time to your boiling mixture. Or avoid making these cookies on humid days!
- Also, I have found that natural peanut butters can result in gooey cookies. Be sure to stir your peanut butter really well before using, and you may need to add more boiling time.
Recipe FAQs
You do not need to refrigerate no bake cookies. Keep them in an airtight container at room temperature. However, they are delicious when chilled, so feel free to store them in the fridge.
You CAN freeze no bake cookies! Slide cookies into a freezer safe ziploc bag (or airtight container). Freeze cookies for up to two months.
More No Bake Recipes
- Healthy No Bake Cookies
- No Bake Oatmeal Scotchies
- Bunny Chow
- No Bake Cookies without Peanut Butter
- Avalanche Cookies
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Ingredients
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- 2 ½ cups quick cook oatmeal
- 1 ½ cups Reese’s Pieces candy
Instructions
- In a large pot, add sugar, milk and butter. Bring to a boil over medium high heat. Boil for one full minute. Remove from heat.
- Add vanilla, salt and peanut butter. Stir until smooth. Fold in oats, stirring until completely combined. Fold in candy.
- Lay out a large piece of parchment paper on counter. Using two spoons, drop cookie dough by large tablespoon onto paper.
- Allow to set (about 20 minutes). Store in a covered, airtight container. ENJOY!
Notes
- When you bring your mixture to a boil for one full minute, you have likely overheated your sugar. Overcooking the sugar can result in a crumbly mess.
- If this is something you struggle with, try using a different saucepan or turn your stove top heat source down!
- Most common cause of gooey no bake cookies is not boiling your mixture long enough (see? it’s the opposite of dry cookies).
- Rain and humidity! The moisture in the air can keep your cookies from setting. If it’s an exceptionally humid day, add a little time to your boiling mixture. Or avoid making these cookies on humid days!
- Also, I have found that natural peanut butters can result in gooey cookies. Be sure to stir your peanut butter really well before using, and you may need to add more boiling time.
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See all Cookies recipesPeanut Butter No Bake Cookies are the quick and easy dessert everyone loves!
I love no bake cookies but I’ve never thought of making them non-chocolate. These look great and they would be the perfect thing to satisfy an intense peanut butter craving! I love the addition of Reese’s pieces!
Thanks Megan!
No bake cookies without chocolate?! Yay! I love chocolate but I feel like I’ve done tons of no bake chocolate stuff and I’m kind of tired of it. Love the Reese’s addition. They just wouldn’t be the same without them!
Thanks Erin, they were a delicious twist to an old favorite!
I so enjoy no-bake cookies as well 🙂 there is something so fun about it to me! These looks tasty, I love Reese’s pieces!
will definitely have to try these
As much as I love baking I love whipping up in a heart beat some no-bake goodies to surprise my family. Great recipe Aimee!
Thanks Roxana, I feel the same way 🙂
I love that there’s peanut butter AND Reese’s Pieces. They’re our favorite candy!
Thanks Anita, one of my favorites too!
With summer approaching much too quickly, I’m always excited to see a recipe that doesn’t involve me turning on my oven. Throw some peanut butter in the mix and you’ve stolen my heart. Can’t wait to try these.
Thanks Renee. I love making cookies, but when the weather is warm I dread turning on the oven. Enter no-bakes!!
I know I am probably in a minority with this but I’ll actually take Reeses Pieces over PB cups any day. These no-bake cookies look fantastic!
Nope not in the minority with me! I too would choose the Reese’s Pieces over the cups!
I haven’t made no bake cookies in awhile – I’m pretty sure I need these!
Dude, these are too fun. So dangerous…but SO good!
very dangerous…
All peanut butter and no bakes that are loaded with Reese’s Pieces?! I need at least a double batch!
Goodness these sound right up my alley. My problem with no-bake cookies is that the are too easy …. so I just want to make them all the time … and then eat them all : ) haha no good for my hips!
I feel your pain! good thing I have a gaggle of kids with all their friends who can help a girl out!
Peanut butter + no bake = yep, pretty sure these are my heaven 🙂
Yeah, you would fit right in with my family, you peanut butter addict you!!!
The pb addict in me approves. 😉
haha, glad to hear it Carrian 🙂
These look amazing, Aimee! Love your apple nachos, too!
Thanks Georgia, those apple nachos have been a family favorite for two years now!!
Oh yum! No-bake cookies are so good!
Fun!! This sounds lovely!
I would love to eat these for breakfast-what a great idea!!! I can’t believe I’ve never made a no bake cookie-this should be my first!
NEVER?? Oh Tanya you are missing out. Seriously!!
these cookies look fantastic! I love reeses pieces and definitely feel like they get neglected. I love to put them in with hot popcorn at the movie theather so it’s like i have PB popcorn, yum!
PS. Could you delete where I somehow accidentally posted my comment with my email address visible?
Ooooh, IN hot popcorn? LOVE that idea! (email deleted 🙂
yumm…gotta try some in my popcorn…lovin sweet and salty 🙂
No Bake and Reese’s? Sold! Love no-bake recipes especially in the summer!
Thanks Trish! I love how easy no-bake cookies are to make!