Chocolate no bake cookies recipe without peanut butter

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The best No Bake Cookies without Peanut Butter are all done with just 15 minutes of actual baking. Made with staple ingredients, these cookies are loaded with chocolate flavor, coconut, and a hint of salt. A perfect treat for any party, but beware - no one will be able to have just one!

• Why you will love this recipe
• What you need to make them
• Can you make No Bake Cookies with old fashioned oats?
• How to make No Bake Cookies without Peanut Butter
• Tips & tricks
• How do you fix No Bake Cookies that didn't set?
• Recipe FAQ
• More quick & easy cookie recipe
• Recipe

These cookies have been the go-to cookie in my family since I was a kid. I finally got mom to share her secret no bake cookie recipe, and after a few of my own tweaks (as always) I'm so excited to share it with you.

It's still one of my absolute favorite cookie recipes!

Why you will love this recipe

• So easy to make - just a few simple steps
• It's quick - 15 minutes of actual work and all done in 45 minutes
• They're delicious loaded with chocolate flavors, deepened by a pinch of salt
• Simple ingredients that you probably already have at home
• Highly addictive - no one has ever been able to have just one
• No oven needed so it's perfect for making even on hot summer days!
• No peanut butter means less allergens and perfect for parties

What you need to make them

Ingredient notes & substitutions

• Milk - I always use whole milk or 2% milk
• Oatmeal - I find this recipe works best with quick oats or instant oats, but you can also use old fashioned / rolled oats. The latter option makes the cookies chewier, and a bit wetter, which means they will turn out a little bit flatter.
• Butter - I use salted butter, but you can use unsalted as well, just add an extra pinch of salt
• Vanilla sugar can be swapped for vanilla extract or vanilla powder in the same amount
• Makethem gluten free by making sure to use gluten-free oats
• Add nuts for extra crunch - ½ cup of chopped * nuts (I prefer hazelnuts) is delicious

Can you make No Bake Cookies with old fashioned oats?

Yes, you can make them with old fashioned oats. I find that they don't absorb liquid as well as quick oats or instant oats, which means the cookies come out a little bit flatter and can take a bit longer to set.

Old fashioned oats also make the cookies a bit chewier, which can be a good or bad thing, depending on your preferences.

1. Place cocoa powder, vanilla sugar and salt in a large bowl
2. Mix well
3. Add shredded coconut
4. Add oatmeal, then mix until everything is well combined

1. Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium heat
2. Add sugar and milk
3. Mix well
4. Bring to a simmer, then stir once, and boil for 3 minutes without stirring

1. Pour the sugar mixture in the bowl with the chocolate mixture
2. Mix until well combined
3. Place a parchment paper on a heat resistant surface (for example, a baking sheet), and use 1-2 spoons or an ice cream scoop to drop the mixture onto the parchment paper. You want to create about 30 cookies.
4. Allow to rest and set for at least 30 minutes befor serving

Tips & tricks

• Quick oats will make the cookies higher and they will set a bit faster
• Old fashioned oats or rolled oats will give the cookies a chewier texture. They will also be a bit flatter and might take a bit longer to set.
• Do not mix the butter, sugar and milk mixture while it's boiling, to avoid sugar crystals
• Do not boil less than 3 minutes or the cookies might not set - when in doubt, it's better to add an extra minute
• Do not boil too long or your cookies can become crumbly. 1-2 minutes extra is usually fine though.
• Change the size as you like - you can make the cookies bigger or smaller. Just keep in mind that larger cookies will take longer to set.
• If your cookies haven't set after 30 minutes, cover them and leave for longer - usually they've set by the next morning
• Store leftovers in room temperature in an airtight container, with wax paper or parchment paper in between layers. They are best eaten within a few days.

How do you fix No Bake Cookies that didn't set?

If your no bake cookies didn't set, you can just cover them and leave them for longer. In my experience, unless the sugar was simmered for a far too short time, they have set by the next morning.

Another option is to refrigerate the cookies, which can help them set quicker.

Recipe FAQ

What makes no bake cookies harden?

No bake cookies harden if the sugar is allowed to reach a high enough temperature. This is the same reason candy and fudge harden. But, it you cook the sugar to too high a temperature the results will be dry and sandy instead of just firm.

Why do my no bake cookies turn out dry?

If your no bake cookies turn out dry you probably simmerered the sugar, milk and butter mixture for too long. The sugar did then reach a too high temperature, which dries out the cookies instead of just making them set.

Making no bake cookies is a delicate balance between not simmering long enough - and simmering too long.

Do no bake cookies need to be refrigerated?

No, they do generally not need to be refrigerated - but you can store them in the fridge if you want.

More quick & easy cookie recipe

Looking for more quick & easy cookie recipes?

• Chocolate Chip Cookies without Brown Sugar
• Cocoa Powder Cookies
• Cinnamon Cookies
• Butterball Cookies

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Recipe

• ▢ ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar or vanilla extract / vanilla powder
• ▢ ¼ teaspoon salt
• ▢ 3 cups oatmeal
• ▢ 1 cup shredded coconut
• ▢ ½ cup salted butter or unsalted + a pinch of salt
• ▢ 1¾ cup sugar
• ▢ ½ cup milk whole milk or 2%

• In a large bowl, combine the cocoa powder, vanilla sugar and salt. Mix well then add the oatmeal and shredded coconut, and mix until everything is well combined. Set aside for now.

  3 cups oatmeal, ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla sugar, ¼ teaspoon salt, 1 cup shredded coconut

• Melt butter in a sauce pan over medium heat, then mix in the sugar and milk.

  ½ cup salted butter, 1¾ cup sugar, ½ cup milk

• Bring to a boil, mix once, then simmer for 3 minutes without stirring.

• Pour the butter mixture in the bowl with the rest of the ingredients, and mix well.

• Place a piece of parchment paper on a heat resistant surface, then use two spoons or an ice cream scoop to drop the mixture onto the parchment paper, creating about 30 cookies.

• Allow to cool and set for at least 30 minutes.

• ▢

  Large bowl

• ▢

  Measuring cups (metric or US)*

• ▢
• ▢
• ▢
• ▢

  Ice cream scoop or 2 spoons

Ingredient notes & substitutions

• Oatmeal - I find this recipe works best with quick oats or instant oats, but you can also use old fashioned / rolled oats. The latter option makes the cookies chewier, and a bit wetter, which means they will turn out a little bit flatter.
• Make them gluten free by making sure to use gluten-free oats
• Add nuts for extra crunch - ½ cup of chopped * nuts (I prefer hazelnuts) is delicious

Tips & tricks

• Quick oats will make the cookies higher and they will set a bit faster
• Old fashioned oats or rolled oats will give the cookies a chewier texture. They will also be a bit flatter and might take a bit longer to set.
• Do not mix the butter, sugar and milk mixture while it's boiling, to avoid sugar crystals
• Do not boil less than 3 minutes or the cookies might not set - when in doubt, it's better to add an extra minute
• Do not boil too long or your cookies can become crumbly. 1-2 minutes extra is usually fine though.
• Change the size as you like - you can make the cookies bigger or smaller. Just keep in mind that larger cookies will take longer to set.
• Store leftovers in room temperature in an airtight container, with wax paper or parchment paper in between layers. They are best eaten within a few days.

Do no bake cookies need to be refrigerated?

No, they do generally not need to be refrigerated - but you can store them in the fridge if you want.

How long are no bake cookies good for?

They will be OK in room temperature (stored in an air tight container) for about a week. However, the main issue with no bake cookies is that they go dry after a few days. So I recommend eating them within 2-3 days.

How do you fix no bake cookies that didn't set?

If your no bake cookies didn't set, you can just cover them and leave them for longer. In my experience, unless the sugar was simmered for a far too short time, they have set by the next morning.

Another option is to refrigerate the cookies, which can help them set quicker.

Why do my no bake cookies turn out dry?

If your no bake cookies turn out dry you probably simmerered the sugar, milk and butter mixture for too long. The sugar did then reach a too high temperature, which dries out the cookies instead of just making them set.

Making no bake cookies is a delicate balance between not simmering long enough - and simmering too long.

Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 9mg | Sodium: 51mg | Potassium: 54mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 101IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 10mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.