These No-bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies are a chocolate lover’s dream. A quick and easy recipe for a delicious cookie in record time!
No-bake cookies are a game-changer for people that love eating cookies but don’t necessarily love baking them! Dropping a simple cookie mixture onto a tray to set in the fridge doesn’t get any easier than this. No Bake Granola Bars are another no-bake dessert you’ve got to try. Talk about kid-friendly recipes the whole family will love!
Table of contents
Oatmeal No Bake Cookies
These easy 5-minute drop cookies are an old-fashioned favorite! They’re thick, chocolatey, chewy, and come together without any need to turn on the oven. They’re naturally gluten-free and the best part is it’s never been easier to satisfy a chocolate craving with an irresistible classic cookie!
I love a good old-fashioned chocolate cookie, baked and warm out of the oven. I mean, who doesn’t?! But who also doesn’t love a quick delicious cookie at their fingertips? Especially when the holidays come around. Making a dessert that doesn’t take up any room in the oven? Yes, please!
Why we love this recipe
- A quick and easy no-bake recipe for chocolate oatmeal cookies will come in handy for all sorts of occasions!
- Easy clean up. There’s no major appliances to clean, no mixers, rolling pins, or cookie cutters!
- No need to turn on the oven. During the holidays this saves space and during the summer doesn’t heat up your kitchen.
- Chocolate cookies are so yummy but the thicky, chewy texture takes it over the top.
- A few simple flexible ingredients. These cookies are made without peanut butter but use Nutella rather for that chewy decadence. Feel free to make other swaps along the way!
Simple Ingredients / shopping list
- Butter – You’re going to be melting this butter, so no need to worry about having it softened. You can also decide whether you want to use salted or unsalted, keeping in mind there is no added salt in this recipe.
- Sugar – BOTH white and brown sugars will be used in these cookies. Brown sugar gives it a little more depth of flavor as well as it adds moisture. White sugar gives it the sweetness it needs.
- Milk – The liquid portion of these cookies needed to add richness but also combine all the other ingredients together.
- Unsweetened Cocoa powder – Will add a dry chocolate flavor which will help to bind everything together. The added sugar will help to add a sweet flavor to the cocoa.
- Oats – I use quick oats for this recipe as they are softer in texture.
- Nutella – A popular chocolate spread made mostly of sugar, cocoa, and hazelnuts.
- Pure vanilla extract – The finishing touch to round out the flavors!
How to Make this Recipe
This recipe will come together in 4 easy steps. No cookie cutters and no baking make this one of the easiest cookie recipes around!
Step 1: Prepare two cookie sheets by lining them with parchment paper or wax paper.
Step 2: Combine sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa powder in a medium saucepan over medium heat for about 3-4 minutes until it comes to a boil.
Step 3: Remove from the heat and stir in the oatmeal, Nutella, and vanilla. Mix well until all oats are completely coated.
Step 4: Using a cookie scoop, spoon out the batter and drop mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and place the cookies to set in the fridge for 15 minutes.
Once they are set, dive in!
Variations/ Substitutions
1: Substitute old-fashioned oats for quick-cooking oats if desired for a heartier texture.
2: Substitute creamy peanut butter (or crunchy peanut butter), almond butter, or sunflower seed butter instead of Nutella. You’ll still get the same chewy cookie with a slightly different flavor.
3. Top or mix with chopped nuts like chopped pecans, walnuts, or hazelnuts before placing them in the refrigerator to set.
4. Top with coconut flakes or salt flakes for a little extra something.
5. Add ½ cup mini chocolate chips and/or raisins. Chocolate and oatmeal always pair well with both.
Tips
- My first tip would be to follow the directions as listed. As easy as these cookies are, it’s also easy to have them not turn out. This is a proven method for success, so follow along!
- Use any milk of choice (whole milk or low-fat). Non-dairy milk like almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, etc.
- Be sure to heat the chocolate mixture for at least 1-1 ½ minutes after it comes to a full rolling boil so that the cookies will set and harden in the refrigerator.
FAQ’s
These cookies will stay fresh in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. I have a feeling this will be a non issue and they’ll all be gone way before then!
To make sure your no-bake oatmeal cookies are set, be sure to boil the mixture for at least one minute after it mixture comes to a rolling boil in the pot.
You also want to make sure you’re not making them too big. If they’re too thick, they won’t set as well and may become crumbly.
Other Favorite Cookies
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No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter
- ¾ cup white sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup milk
- ⅓ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 cups quick-cooking oats
- ½ cup nutella
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- In a medium pot, add the butter, sugars, milk and cocoa powder,
- Heat over medium heat for approximately 3-4 minutes until it comes to a boil.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the oatmeal, nutella and vanilla.
- Mix well until all oats are coated completely.
- Using a cookie scoop, spoon about 2 tablespoons of the batter onto the prepared baking sheets.
- Place the cookies set in the refrigerator for 15 minutes to allow them to set.
- Enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.
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Roxanna Dill
I lost my old recipe When I found this one I did the happy dance. It’s better than my old recipe Thank you.
Your friend from Tn
Connie
An old favorite. Lost my recipe, so glad I found this! Going to make this for my son‘s 40th birthday. His favorite cookie of all time. Thank you so much.
Sherri
You’re so welcome!
Melinda
Cduncan, it’s all the way at the bottom.
Cduncan
I don’t see the measurements on the ingredients