Dad’s Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

If you love chocolate and a simple to make cookie, these Chocolate No-Bake Cookies are the dessert for you! The basic ingredients and easy steps make this family favorite such an amazing cookie recipe, and you don’t even have to bake them. So easy, tasty, and quick!

Kitchens are made for bringing families together.

-Unknown

When I was little, my dad only really entered the kitchen to cook a few of his family favorites. One of these favorites was what my sisters and I called Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies, or what the rest of the world knows as Chocolate No Bake Cookies.

Growing up, my parents taught us how to bake and cook, and they each had their own unique style and taste for food. They were often pretty creative, and it has definitely influenced my own cooking style (to read more on this, check out my post The Taste of Creativity). When it came to my father, his creations tended more toward the sweet side, which is where I get my sweet tooth.

My dad is a man of spur of the moment (“hmm that sounds good”, “let’s make that”, “I want some…”) kind of cooking. You could never really predict when he was going to step into that kitchen, but when he did, all of us girls got really excited. Cooking with Dad meant quality time with him, and my sisters and I loved every second of it. With this recipe in particular, my dad was always willing to have us help him because he knew all of the ingredients and steps by heart, and we loved getting the opportunity to be his sous chefs. Every time he stepped into the kitchen to make these cookies, he made lots of memories with us as well. As a result, these cookies are one of my favorites to this day, and I consider this to be the best chocolate no bake cookie recipe around!

Do you need peanut butter to make chocolate oatmeal no-bakes?

Heads up for all traditional No Bake lovers! Most No Bake recipes contain peanut butter. This recipe does not because that was how my dad’s family always made it, sans peanut butter. (In fact, I didn’t know they normally had peanut butter in them until high school.) In honor of my family’s tradition, I will post our recipe for you to use, and I hope you enjoy! However, if you are a peanut butter fan, you could definitely add it. Just know it will change the texture of the hardened cookies slightly.

Are no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies healthy?

Just like most cookies, chocolate oatmeal no bakes are not really “healthy” for you, but they are made of oatmeal and other simple ingredients. As a result, they don’t have all the preservatives that are in store-bought cookies, and while they are a dessert, my motto with food is “Everything in moderation!”

What causes no-bake cookies not to harden?

The oatmeal you choose is everything for this. The times that my family has ended up with soft, not quite set cookies has been when we used quick-cooking oats. These oats do not soak up enough of the liquid to fully harden up. They will still taste great, but generally, they won’t harden up. When we use the rolled or old-fashioned oats, there hasn’t been the same problem because they soak up more of the liquid and will harden up into a nice, solid cookie instead of a sloppy mess.

How long do chocolate no bake cookies last?

In our house, these cookies almost never last longer than a couple days, but if needed, you could place these in an air-tight container for around 3 days. The older they get though, the more crumbly they will be. Still tasty, but their cookie integrity starts to die as they get older.

How do you make chocolate no-bake cookies?

Dad’s Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (No Bakes)

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter, unsalted
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 tbsp cocoa powder
• 3 cups oatmeal, old fashioned or rolled oats
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

1. In a pot over medium heat on the stove, place milk and butter until butter melts completely.
2. Add sugar and cocoa powder, and mix until combined.
3. Bring mixture to a boil for one minute. Then take off heat. Let cool slightly.
4. Add vanilla and mix in.
5. Then add oatmeal, and mix until oats are completely coated.
6. Spoon oatmeal mixture onto waxed paper, and let set. Eat when hardened.

Dad’s Chocolate No-Bake Cookies

Easy & delicious classic no-bake cookie recipe!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 20 cookies

Course: Dessert

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Method

Ingredients

  

• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup butter unsalted
• 2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 tbsp cocoa powder
• 3 cups oatmeal old fashioned or rolled oats
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Method

 

1. In a pot over medium heat on the stove, place milk and butter until butter melts completely.
2. Add sugar and cocoa powder, and mix until combined.
3. Bring mixture to a boil for one minute. Then take off heat. Let cool slightly.
4. Add vanilla and mix in.
5. Then add oatmeal, and mix until oats are completely coated.
6. Spoon oatmeal mixture onto waxed paper, and let set. Eat when hardened.

I hope you enjoy this family favorite of mine! I would love to see how your cookies turn out or answer any questions you might have. Have a wonderful day, and keep creating!

Hi there! I’m Chelsey!

Welcome to my blog God’s Gift of Creativity! Join me as I share my love for crochet, crafts, and cooking and show you how you can do it too!

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