No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Drop (Printable Version)

Chewy chocolate and oat bites set quickly for a rich, satisfying sweet treat without heat.

# What You Need:

→ Wet Ingredients

01 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter
02 - 2 cups granulated sugar
03 - 1/2 cup whole milk
04 - 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
05 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

→ Dry Ingredients

06 - 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
07 - 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

# Steps:

01 - Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
02 - In a medium saucepan over medium heat, mix butter, sugar, milk, and cocoa powder, stirring frequently until a full rolling boil is reached.
03 - Maintain a rolling boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly to ensure even cooking.
04 - Remove saucepan from heat and immediately stir in peanut butter, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth.
05 - Fold in rolled oats until fully combined and coated evenly with the chocolate mixture.
06 - Drop tablespoon-sized portions onto the prepared sheets, spacing approximately 2 inches apart.
07 - Allow cookies to set at room temperature for 20 minutes or refrigerate for 10 minutes for expedited firming.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • No oven required, which means your kitchen stays cool and you get dessert in under thirty minutes from start to finish.
  • The combination of peanut butter and chocolate with chewy oats creates a texture that's satisfying in ways store-bought cookies rarely achieve.
  • Once you nail the technique, you can make these in your sleep, perfect for when you need something sweet without the fuss.
02 -
  • If your mixture seems too loose when you add the oats, you either didn't boil long enough or your kitchen is very cold—give it thirty seconds more on the heat and stir again.
  • The parchment paper is non-negotiable; these stick to bare baking sheets, and peeling them off ruins their shape and your mood.
  • Don't skip the full minute of boiling; it's the only thing that makes these set properly and not turn into chocolate soup after twenty minutes.
03 -
  • Drop the cookies when the mixture is still slightly warm but no longer actively steaming—warm enough to hold its shape, cool enough not to spread sideways on the paper.
  • If you forget about them and they set in the saucepan, don't panic; just reheat gently over low heat, add a splash of milk if needed, and start dropping again.
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