You’ve probably had no bake oatmeal cookies before, but I can guarantee none have tasted as good as this very special recipe! 
Although I’d sure like to, I can’t take credit for the world’s best no bake oatmeal cookies. My sweet Papa David has been making these for YEARS and learned from his Mama. I’ve grew up on these cookies but I’m not the only one. My Papa enjoys making batches for several lucky individuals in town such as the employees at our local Kroger as well as some of the banks.
You may think I’m bias but I can assure you that they are indeed the worlds best!
I’ve been telling Papa for 5 years now that I need to learn how to make these so I can stop asking him for more. Ha! Truthfully, I can’t let his recipe fall off the face of the earth because it’s just THAT GOOD.
Recently, I finally made a special trip for him to teach me his ways and I’m so glad I did. Not only did I learn a thing or two but it was well worth it anyway to spend time with the best Papa and Granny I know!
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World’s Best No Bake Oatmeal Cookies Video
Ingredients
3 cups of Quaker one minute oats
2 cups of Jiff’s Extra Crunchy Peanut Butter
2 cups of sugar
1/4 cup of Hershey’s Cocoa
1/2 cup of milk
1 stick of Blue Bonnet original butter
Instructions
To begin the recipe you’ll need to measure out 2 cups of oats into a large bowl. Using a spoon you’ll make a good sized pit. (This is optional, but just a tip my Papa does to help keep the peanut butter from sticking to the sides of the bowl)
Add the 2 cups of peanut butter to the pit and sprinkle the 3rd cup of oats on top.
In a medium sauce pan combine 2 cups of sugar, 1/4 cup of cocoa, 1/2 cup of milk and one stick of butter. To help melt a bit faster, it’s helpful to chop up the butter.
Turn the burner on high heat and start stirring. This step is so crucial and where many mess up the recipe. Some will over cook and others not cook long enough but to get the cookies just right they need to boil for exactly one minute.
I asked my Papa when a good time was to start the timer because I’m always a bit confused on that myself. Does it count when it’s just starting to simmer or does it mean a full rapid boil? My Papa says to start timing as soon as you see the first bubbles. It will turn to a rapid boil very quickly afterwards.
It does splatter a bit so be sure and use a long wooden spoon and be careful!
When the full minute is up remove from heat and add to the peanut butter and oats mixture.
Stir, stir stir!
Spoon out the cookies onto wax paper and let them firm up. If you want perfectly even cookies I’d recommend using an ice cream or cookie scoop. If you are like me and Papa though, they taste the same whether they are all even or not!
Special Notes
You may not be aware that these cookies do not set up right in high humidity. It makes total sense but the first time I heard about this I thought my Granny was joking! In other words if it’s raining then I’d hold off on making cookies that day.
This recipe will yield about 15-20 cookies. If you make them really small bite sized cookies then you could probably even get 25-30!
This is such an easy, quick and cheap recipe to whip up. They make the perfect dessert to bring to family gatherings or drop off with a friend just because.
Of course there’s no shame in making them for yourself either as long as you bring me one too 😉
Print World’s Best No Bake Oatmeal Cookies
World's Best No Bake Oatmeal Cookies
Ingredients
- 3 cups Quaker one minute oats
- 2 cups Jiff extra crunchy peanut butter
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/4 cup Hershey's cocoa
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 stick Blue Bonnet Butter
Instructions
- Combine the oats and peanut butter in a large bowl.
- In a medium sauce pan combine sugar, cocoa, milk and butter over high heat.
- Once the mixture begins to boil time for one minute.
- Add the cocoa mixture to the oats and peanut butter and stir until well combined.
- Using a medium sized cookie scoop, drop individual cookies onto parchment or wax paper. If you don't have a cookie scoop then a large spoon works too.
- Allow cookies to set up and then transfer into an airtight container.
Notes
More Recipes Posts
Kid Friendly Smoothies For The Chocolate Lover
What’s Your Favorite Cookie?
Let me know in the comments below what you’re favorite cookie is! For a long while mine was a classic sugar cookie but the more I’ve aged the more I love chocolate.
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These look so good! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks, Amy!
Brittany,
This looks like a fun recipe to do with the twins! Yummy too:) Great post!
Thank you! Yes, kids love to make these!
This recipe looks delicious but I loved the sweet story behind it even more!
Aww, thank you! I’m a bit partial to the story.
These look delicious!! Such a great recipe!
Thanks, Elise!
I’ve never had no bake oatmeal cookies before, but now I want to try them. They look delicious!
They are SO good!
These look so delish and easy to make! Thank you so much for sharing a family recipe!!
Thanks, Anja!
Love a great family recipe that has been passed down like this… That’s how you know it is well loved!
Definitely!
You have the best Papa and his cookies are delicious.
He is awesome! I love both him and his yummy cookies!
I’ve made my share of chocolate no bake cookies in my 60 years but this is by far THE BEST RECIPE I’ve ever made. Many thanks for sharing your papas recipe with us.
Thank you! Glad you loved them!
Have you made them with old fashioned, not quick, oats, and if so did you adjust anything? Thanks for the recipe and sharing your family love!
Thank you! I have only tried them with quick oats. I’m not sure if old fashioned would work as well but if you try them I’d love to know how it turns out!
I’ve made these with regular oats before. They are crunchier and more solid, but still good.
These cookies are amazing. I was wondering if we could substitute the sugar for a reduced sugar substitute? Or can we make them without sugar? What’s your thoughts on that?
Thank you so much, Wendy! I have never made them without sugar or with a substitute but it may be worth a try. I’m not sure if they would set up right but please let me know if you try it. I’d love to know how they turn out!
I used old fashion oats a little chewy
I used old fashion once by accident and had the same result. Quick oats give a much better texture I think!
Tell papa they were delish! So easy to make !
Thank you! I sure will 🙂
Hi! I’m wondering what a stick of butter might convert to? Is that like 1/2 cup? : )
Hey! Yes, one stick of butter is equivalent to 1/2 cup.
Does it have to be blue bonnet butter? I have everything to make right now?
No, it doesn’t have to be! That’s what my Papa uses but I just use what I have on hand a lot of the time and it’s been great!
Some margarines have more water content than others. I used to use Parkay, but they’ve changed its composition too. I use regular butter for a creamier cookie.
What’s the purpose of mixing up the oats with the peanut butter? Does it soften the oats a little bit? I make these often from my mother’s recipe as they are a favorite of my family.
My papa says he does it this way just to keep from making as big of a mess.
Can you use creamy peanut butter and is it the same amount?
I use a bit less if I am making them with creamy peanut butter. Instead of 2 cups I do about 1.5. Totally up to you though!