No Bake Oatmeal Cookies
This post may contain affiliate links. See my disclosure policy.
My family is obsessed with these no bake oatmeal cookies. They need just 3 ingredients to make and use wholesome and simple ingredients.
No Bake Oatmeal Cookies in minutes.
My family and I always need a post-dinner sweet treat, and these 3 ingredient no-bake oatmeal cookies have become a savior. Unlike other no-bake cookies, these skip out on the butter and sugar but are still thick, chewy, and stable at room temperature. They take minutes to make and are so fun to customize.
Love no bake cookie recipes? Try my unicorn cookies and chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies.
Key Ingredients
- Rolled oats. Also called old-fashioned oats, they provide the chewy texture we love in a good oatmeal cookie! If you’d prefer a softer texture, quick oats work well.
- Peanut butter. Smooth and drippy peanut butter works best, as it is the easiest to mix into the dough. Try to avoid peanut butter with added sugar or ones with a crunchy texture.
- Maple syrup. A refined sugar free sweetener that not only adds sweetness but helps bind the cookies together. I’ve tested this with honey and agave syrup and both worked just as well.
How to make no bake oatmeal cookies
I’ve included step-by-step photos below to make this recipe easy to follow at home. For the full printable recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Make the batter. Start by adding your oats into a large mixing bowl. Add the peanut butter and syrup and mix well until combined. Fold through your mix-ins of choice using a rubber spatula.
Shape. Next, lightly wet your hands. Form small balls of the cookie mixture and place them on a lined plate. Press down to form a cookie shape and refrigerate them for 20 minutes to firm up.
Arman’s recipe tips
- Boil the mixture. Sometimes, peanut butter can be a little firm, so I like to combine that and the maple syrup in a saucepan and bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add the oats, mix, and shape into drop cookies.
- Add mix-ins. Like any good no bake cookie, be creative by adding in nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, vanilla extract, coconut flakes, or even candy buttons.
- Wet your hands. My secret trick to shaping the cookies and preventing the oats and syrup from sticking to your fingers!
More no bake desserts to try
No Bake Oatmeal Cookies (3 Ingredients!)
Video
Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats Can use quick oats
- 1 cup peanut butter * See notes
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips of choice optional
Instructions
- Line a large plate with parpchment paper and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add all your ingredients and mix well, until combined. Fold through your mix-ins of choice.
- Using your hands, form into 12 small balls and place on the lined plate. Press each ball into a cookie shape.
- Refrigerate for at least 20 minutes, before enjoying.
Notes
Nutrition
Originally published January 2016, updated April 2023, and republished April 2024
I’m very excited about all the different recipes I’ve been checking out. As soon as I start making these recipes I will let you know how they worked out for me and probably how much I liked them. My kids are all grown up and obviously I’m that much older,but I enjoy good food and some easier recipes. Thanks for the recipes. Keep them coming! 😊
How can these be sugar agree if there’s maple syrup in it
Hi Tracy, this recipe is free of refined sugar but definitely still contains maple syrup.
These turned out delicious, but I had an issue with the peanut butter and the honey burning while they boiled. I followed all of your instructions and the cookies are wonderful. I’m just not sure what I did wrong.
Hi Melissa, the trick is to take the mix off the heat as soon as it reaches this point. It may have just become too hot, too quickly. Basically as soon as it’s soft enough to work with you can add the oats, if you’d like to take it off a bit sooner next time 🙂 Hope this helps!
Nice
Thank you!
Fuyoih!
Thank you Roger!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I have a question… If I give them as presents, in a tin or as a cookie platter, how do I keep them firm?
Hi Leiann, these will hold their shape as long as it’s not too hot, weather wise. I would just make sure you store the platters or tins in the fridge before handing them over to their new owners 🙂
Hello and one more question, if I may…
May I use pancake syrup instead of maple syrup? I sure hope so! Around here, maple syrup is very expensive.
Thank you so much!
Hi Leiann, you can use pancake syrup but you might find the cookies are a little loose. You may need to chill them for a bit longer to make sure they firm up, or add a little extra nut butter.
Thankyou , it was exactly what I was looking for 👍😊
You’re very welcome Karie! Glad you liked them 🙂
ok, what am I doing wrong??? I used the correct amounts of everything, except the syrup. I only used 2 TB, as I’m trying to cut back on sugar. BUT they were SO hard to put together! Kept crumbling apart. Didn’t even get to use half the bowl.
I did use Organic PB, with just peanuts, so I don’t know if that makes a difference? If so, I’m going to keep using it, as it’s healthier, and will just pass on these. I find that hard to believe though.
Please help! (if you can) thanks! 🙂
Hi L- that makes sense, because the maple syrup helps with binding everything together and keeping everything soft and chewy. Using just 2 tablespoons would result in them crumbling apart. I totally get cutting sugar, but when you cut a liquid ingredient, it affects the end outcome. You could try using 2 tablespoons regular maple syrup and the rest using sugar free maple syrup.
Would they taste better if I bake them for few minutes?
Delicious –I count 4 ingredients!
Hi there! Yes, you are counting the optional ingredient (mentioned throughout the post that it is optional). Enjoy these 3 ingredient cookies!
Thank you for a terrific base recipe for no-cook oatmeal cookies, exactly what I needed!
I used tahini as I’m allergic to peanuts. I also included vanilla paste, shredded coconut, & dried orange zest. (I meant to include ground flaxseed and forgot lol)
I also left them as spheres, and put them in a plastic bag in the fridge. Perfect yummies for breakfast or snacks! Thank you so much!
Great recipe.
Make this recipe every couple of weeks, everyone loves it!!!
Love that, Anna!
First time heard that you dont nees to bake cookies. Amazing.
Delicious.
Wow without baking. Going to try this!