No-Bake Chocolate Oat Cookies
In short: Fudgy no-bake cookies made by boiling a quick chocolate syrup for one minute, then stirring in peanut butter and oats. Set in 30 minutes. It takes about 16 min in total and makes 20 servings.
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 6 min
- Resting
- 30 min
- Total
- 16 min
- Servings
- 20
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 155 kcal
No-bake chocolate oat cookies sit halfway between a candy and a cookie. A quick chocolate syrup of sugar, butter, milk and cocoa is boiled for one minute, mixed with peanut butter and oats, and dropped onto parchment to set. They take about 15 minutes of work plus 30 minutes to set, need no oven, and are popular with children and in summer when no one wants to bake. Timing the boil is the one thing that matters: too short and they stay wet, too long and they turn crumbly.
Instructions
- Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Measure the peanut butter, vanilla and oats and set them next to the stove, because the next steps move quickly.
- Put the sugar, milk, butter, cocoa and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir until the butter melts, then bring to a full rolling boil.
- Boil for exactly 1 minute, stirring constantly, then take the pan off the heat.
- Stir in the peanut butter and vanilla until smooth. Add the oats and stir until all of them are coated.
- Working quickly, drop heaped tablespoons of the mixture onto the parchment, about 3 cm (1 in) apart. Flatten them slightly with the back of the spoon.
- Leave the cookies to set at room temperature for 30 minutes, or in the fridge for 15 minutes, until firm.
Tips
- Start timing when the whole surface is bubbling, and boil for 60 seconds. On a humid day, boil for 75 seconds so the cookies set.
- Use sunflower seed butter instead of peanut butter for a nut-free version, and a splash of extra milk if the mixture seems stiff.
Questions and answers
Why won't my no-bake cookies set?
The syrup was not boiled long enough, or the air is humid. Chill them for 30 minutes, and next time boil for a full minute after a rolling boil starts.
Why are my no-bake cookies dry and crumbly?
The syrup boiled too long and lost too much moisture. Cut the boil to 45 to 60 seconds, and stir in 1 tablespoon of milk if the mixture looks dry.
Should I use quick oats or old-fashioned oats?
Either works. Quick oats give a smoother, more even cookie, and old-fashioned oats give a chewier one with more texture.
How long does it take to make No-Bake Chocolate Oat Cookies?
About 16 min in total: 10 min of preparation and 6 min of cooking.
How many calories are in No-Bake Chocolate Oat Cookies?
About 155 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 18 g of carbohydrates and 8 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 155 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 18 g |
| Fat | 8 g |
| Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 11 g |
| Sodium | 60 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
