Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies
“Creamy, sweet, peanut buttery old fashioned peanut butter oatmeal no bake cookies! A classic, old school recipe that makes the best no bake cookies ever! They stay soft and creamy for days!”
O to tha M to tha freakin G!! Shut the front door alllllllll the way!!! I can’t believe I almost forgot about these old fashioned peanut butter oatmeal no-bake cookies!! These were like….EPIC in my elementary school cafeteria. Please tell me you remember these??
There wasn’t much good that came from our public school cafeteria (besides that cheese pizza with the square pepperoni) but about once a week they got it right!! The day they made the from- scratch peanut butter oatmeal no bake cookies!!!!! Ohhhh yeaaaaaaah!
When that mean ol cafeteria lady plopped one of these down on your lunch tray it was like receiving a hunk of gold wrapped in plastic wrap! Kids went crazy over these cookies. I couldn’t wait to crack open my milk carton and indulge in that creamy, sweet peanut buttery goodness.
Was I the only one that tried to sit next to the kid with the peanut butter allergy just to get first dibs on his cookie???…. Probably so. I was just as food obsessed then as I am now! Sad. Oh well.
My mother always made the kind with chocolate which is great, but there is just something about the plain peanut butter that I will never get tired of. Its been YEARS since I made these no bake peanut butter cookies. I’m talking over 15 years!!
Isaac didn’t have a clue what I was talking about so of course I just HAD to use this rainy afternoon to create a batch of good ol fashioned peanut butter oatmeal cookies! What mother wouldn’t want their child to be well versed in cookie knowledge.
There is something magical about baking with kids on rainy days. I love it!! We spent most of the afternoon lounging, reading books, & eating cookies (waaaaay too many cookies) *sigh*.
These peanut butter no bake cookies are sweeeeeeeet, creamy and packing in all that peanut butter flavor. Did I say sweet? They’re amazing and addictive and one of my favorite cookies ever, ever, ever!! If you love peanut butter then please, you must make these. Like today! Because they are super easy and did you see that part that said “no bake”?
Yeah you don’t even have to turn on the oven. Just plop them onto wax paper, let them set and them get to enjoying them. A double win since I didn’t even have to go to the store for ingredients. I had everything right there!
It’s ALL about the peanut butter!!!
Because I wanted them to taste as old fashioned as possible I went with Skippy peanut butter! Even as an adult I still love that peanut butter! Now if you really want to get the real, authentic taste of these peanut butter oatmeal no bake cookies get your hands on some of that government peanut butter!! I kid you not, that’s the kind we had in the cafeteria. It was AWFUL on a choke sandwich (peanut butter sandwich) but throw that extra thick, pasty stuff in some cookies and my God!!! Talk about good!!
Watch me make these Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Oatmeal No Bake Cookies from start to finish!
Get the Recipe: Old Fashioned Peanut Butter Oatmeal No-Bake Cookies
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, chopped
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup warm whole milk or evaporated milk, divided
- 1/8 teaspoon cream of tartar
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 3 cups 1-minute quick oats, divided
Instructions
- Place 2 sheets of parchment paper on a counter or flat surface. Set aside.
- In a large nonstick pot or deep skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
- Stir in sugar and 1/2 cup milk until combined.
- Add in cream of tartar just when mixture begins to bubble slightly.
- Bring to a rolling boil and as soon as it comes to a roiling boil continue cooking for 2 MINUTES while stirring constantly. See note.
- Remove from heat.
- Stir in peanut butter and vanilla extract.
- Add half of the oats and stir until well combined.
- Stir in just enough of the remaining milk to create a thick and creamy batter. (may not need all of the milk)
- Stir in remaining oats.
- Working quickly, drop batter by the spoonful onto the parchment paper. Make them as big or as small as you'd like.
- Let the cookies sit for 20-30 minutes to set.
- Once set, wrap individually in plastic wrap and store in an airtight container.
Video
Notes
I am a school cook and it always tickles me to hear people talk about their favorite school foods! Unfortunately we can’t give the kids wonderful treats like this because of the current government guidelines, but these will make their way to my family and friends! Thank you for this recipe your enthusiasm for cooking and sharing. You are delightful!
Great recipe. Be careful adding the milk. Like she says in the video you really may not need it all. I used it all and realized too late it was too much and mine did not set. I had to freeze them (and they were still creamy and yummy). I went light on the sugar too and they were plenty sweet.
Hi! Love your channel and I just made these for my siblings but halved all the ingredients and I was unable to get my hands on some creme of tartar. The cookies have been setting for around an hour now in the fridge after they failed to set outside and it’s still not fully set that I’m able to pick them up. Help!
Holy Cow, I’m in love with Philip Schultz from 5th grade all over again!!! He used to shyly give me his ( peanut allergy ) every fri. Love love your recipe!!! I used truvia instead of sugar.
Totally awesome! Thanks Monique and love your site.
Tara
I would like JUST PLAIN oatmeal recipe please with a video….Thanks Monique ♥
Oh my, these are one of my favorites! You are so right that we used to have these in elementary school. I thought that as soon as saw this post. So my 7 year old daughter & I just came across your cooking page & videos. She is obsessed with watching cooking videos. As we were watching you, my daughter said you sounded like the way her aunt spoke. I had no idea where you were from but being a fellow North Carolinian, I told her that is where it sounded like you were from. It was fun to find out I was right when I looked on your website. 🙂 We currently live in Colorado & I’ve lost my accent but it comes back quickly when I visit home or talk to my sister! Love your site & fun recipes! I learned to cook from my Southern grandmother as well! 🙂