The perfect little snack, these No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls are a sweet little treat that take minutes to make. They are great for when you don’t want to turn on the oven, and are a fun treat to make with kids.
Beat the heat with no bake cookies! These cookie balls are a family favorite, along with these No Bake Cookies and these Haystack Cookies.
If you love cookies that require no baking – whether it’s for when the weather gets too hot to turn the oven on, or if you are just looking for something easy to make – then I have the recipe for you!
Not a typical cookie, these little balls of goodness are so easy to make, and are perfect for popping into your mouth when you need a sweet treat.
Plus, they are super easy to make with the kids, so it’s a great activity that gets everyone involved, as well!
INGREDIENTS
- Old Fashioned Oats: I have only tested this recipe with old fashioned oats, but I’m guessing quick cooking oats would work. They might not stay together as well, though.
- Sugar: This is regular, granulated sugar.
- Butter: The butter needs to be at room temperature. Too soft or not softened enough and the cookies won’t roll together properly.
- Cocoa Powder: I used regular unsweetened cocoa powder.
- Peanut Butter: For even more peanut butter flavor, you could try replacing more of the butter with more peanut butter.
- Water: The dough will be a bit dry, and this little bit of water helps to bring it all together.
- Vanilla: Gives you lots of flavor!
- Powdered Sugar: I like to roll these in enough powdered sugar to coat the outside, but not a super thick layer. Otherwise, they just get messy when you go to eat them.
HOW TO MAKE THEM
These No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls are a breeze to make – they only take minutes and a couple bowls!
- Combine all of the ingredients except the powdered sugar. Mix it together until you have a dough. You could use a mixer, but I just use a bowl and a spatula.
- Roll the dough into tablespoon sized balls. I think it’s easiest to use a cookie scoop to make them uniform, then use clean hands to roll them into a ball.
- Roll the balls in the powdered sugar to coat them. Then place them on a plate.
- Refrigerate the cookies until they are set up, about 20 minutes.
TIPS AND TRICKS
You could technically make these a little bigger, but I find them pretty sweet, so a tablespoon sized ball is perfect for me.
I store them in the refrigerator. You can eat them straight from the refrigerator, but they are a little easier for the kids to eat if you let them sit out for about 10 minutes.
You can customize this recipe, as well! Some of the commenters on this recipe used mini chocolate chips, coconut, nutella, sunbutter – get creative!!
More Cookie Recipes the Kids Love
Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
Cake Mix Cookies
Meringue Cookies
Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Looking for more free recipes?
Subscribe to my free recipe newsletter to get new family friendly recipes in your inbox each week! Find me sharing more family-friendly inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.
No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 22 balls 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: No Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
The perfect little snack, these No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Balls are a sweet little treat that take minutes to make. They are great for when you don’t want to turn on the oven, and are a fun treat to make with kids.
Ingredients
- 2 cups old fashioned oats
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine the oats, sugar and cocoa. With clean hands, mix in the water, vanilla, butter and peanut butter to form a dough.
- Wash hands, then roll the dough into balls 1 to 2 inches in diameter. Roll balls in confectioners’ sugar until thickly coated.
- Chill 20 minutes before serving.
Recipe Notes:
adapted from allrecipes
Nutrition information provided as an estimate only. Various brands and products can change the counts. Any nutritional information should be used as a general guide.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie ball
- Calories: 113
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 7 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 11 mg
Keywords: No bake peanut butter oatmeal balls, peanut butter oatmeal balls, cookie balls, no bake
Kait says
Too easy! I’ve already eaten far too many of these.
★★★★★
Samantha says
Amazing! Thank you! I rolled the balls in unsweetened Coconut flakes, came out Really good!!!!!!!
Kim says
My mother made these when I was a little girl. I have continued the tradition and I am now 55.However, we never put peanut butter in ours. I recently missed placed my recipe and I’m so glad I found this! These remain my favorite dessert! My son doesn’t like them so more for me!
Sharon Jaque says
This recipe was incredible. Thank you for posting it.
Daphne says
This is so good. Honestly though you’ll want more sugar. And more vanilla. Also, you are going to get messy. It only makes about 14 balls though
Rosa says
I have just tryed the recipy, oowwee they are sum sweet, simple and no oven needed in this hot summer heat, yes they past my test, now tonight at dinner the family who knows it could happen. Oh you probly could substitute coco for sprinkles , thoughts with chocolate alurgies
Marlynn Arcilla-Luartes says
This is so sumptuous that my family and friends will enjoy but I have one question to ask…are the oatmeal used in this recipe raw or cooked??
Deborah says
The oats are raw.
Kimm says
Has anyone tried using quick cook oats in this recipe instead of rolled oats?
Daphne says
Yes it worked fine
Kim says
Great recipe! I tweaked it a bit, I used all natural extra smooth peanut butter with raw honey, and added golden raisins, my mouth is watering just thinking about them!
Samantha says
these sound great!!!!!
reena fleur villanueva says
Hello. I also am allergic to peanut butter. Could I use cookie spread instead? I like that it’s no bake since the oven is not functioning. Thanks!
Deborah says
I haven’t tried them with cookie butter, but I’m sure they’d be great!!
cheryl says
How long can u store them?
Deborah says
I’m not quite sure, but I’m sure they would be fine for several days up to a week.
tina says
just seen your oat choc no bake cookies what can I use in stade of coco I can have
tina says
sorry cant have coaco
Deborah says
I haven’t tried it with any substitution. You might be able to leave it out, but I’m not sure how they would turn out.
Nathalie says
Just made a practise batch (making with 126 children on Friday!) and swapped the peanut butter for golden syrup – Absolutely FABULOUS!!! Sooo easy and sooo tasty – THANK YOU!!
Deborah says
Yay – I’m so glad the substitution worked!!
Kate says
Hey! These look GREAT!
I was just wondering, do you know what I can substitute for the peanut butter? Someone said coffee to get a mocha effect but how much coffee? Any other ideas? Would love to try these, but I’m on a strict no-peanuts diet due to allergies.
Deborah says
I just had someone tell me that they used Golden Syrup in place of the peanut butter and it worked well.
Myranda says
Omy gosh these were AWESOME
Eric says
me and my sweet tooth, ran across the recipe and added nutella with the peanut butter. very nice for a quick treat.
Colleen says
I realize this recipe was posted a few years ago, but I had to comment because they are SO GOOD!! I doubled the recipe & used Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free oats (half old-fashioned rolled & half quick cook). I also subbed Sunbutter for the peanut butter due to my son’s allergies. They were a huge hit today at our family Easter, & I could not stop eating them. Easy too, we will definitely be making these again. Thanks!
Deborah says
@Colleen, I’m so happy they were such a hit!!
Colleen @ What's Baking in the Barbershop?! says
I made these this weekend, and they are AWESOME!!!!! Everyone who tried them loved them!! Thanks for a great recipe, Deborah!
Deborah says
@Colleen @ What’s Baking in the Barbershop?!, yay! I’m so glad you made them and loved them!!
sally @ sallys baking addiction says
butter, peanut butter, oats, chocolate, and powdered sugar. All of my favorites. And the fact that I don’t have to break a sweat in my hot kitchen is a major plus. I love these Deborah 🙂
Deborah says
@sally @ sallys baking addiction, they have been a favorite of mine for a couple years now. But beware – they are super addictive!
Karen says
Indeed…which is why I make the cookies super small…they still disappear pretty quickly though!
Tonja says
My 12 yr old Grand daughter and I have made these twice in the last week! They are great! I will also try making them with cold coffee as Grace said, we like mocha too. For storage, we have used a ziplock in the fridge (don’t know how long they would last, they are gone in two days:)
Deborah says
@Tonja, I’m so glad these have been such a hit for you!!
Brenda Fisch says
I added about 1/4 cup coconut but I loved them with or without the coconut! Thanks!
Celeste says
Can these be frozen? These would be a perfect toddler treat – afternoon snack!
Deborah says
@Celeste, I’ve never tried freezing them, but I think that you would be able to. If you try it, let me know!
Sherry says
I’ve made these several times. Yes you can freeze…also adding chocolate chips is yummy too.
nila says
Dont we have to toast the oats or cook the oats? the oats is used raw in this recipe and is it ok? i have been looking for some chocolate oats balls recipe like the quaker bites for a long time.Thanks!
Deborah says
@nila, they are just teh raw oats in this recipe. I haven’t tried teh quaker bites, so I don’t know how this compares. Good luck!
nila says
@Deborah,
Thankyou Deborah. I think it is crunchy becos of the raw oats. So is it ok to eat raw oats? for kids? my 2 yr old loves it though!
Thanks for the great recipe!
Elaine says
My friends Mother used to make these when we were little, however, I do not remember the peanut butter in them but they are fabulous so who cares. I am so happy to have found your recipe
Jenny Kennedy Shick says
Those are so good! And so easy!
Kim says
Thank you, thank you, thank you! My mother used to make these when I was a little girl and I recently lost my recipe. I was brokenhearted til I found yours! These are without a doubt my favorite and I can eat them all without sharing! Perhaps my son can make his own batch! 🙂
Deborah says
Emily,
I'm sure they'd be good storing them in an airtight container – but to be honest, they didn't last that long for me!
Emily says
How do you store these?
The Ordinary Vegetarian says
Thanks for this recipe. Made it, loved it, posted about it!
Katie says
These sound great and I agree with you they look pretty. Like the idea of the peanut butter in the mix.
TheKeilShpeel says
K.. I shouldn't have even tried these. They are SOOO good. I'm in trouble now.
TheKeilShpeel says
Thanks.. these are making my mouth water. 🙂 I'm going to make these tonight.
Cara says
These sound great and easy to make! I make something similar, but without the oatmeal. Love that these have oatmeal too!
Ingrid says
Those look good but sounds even better! Yay, on no cook treats! Yesterday I got into my car and it said it was 108 degrees!!! Thanks for sharing!
~ingrid
Liesl says
I have never seen the no bake cookie like this…great idea to cover it in powdered sugar!! YUM!
Katrina says
Yum! I'm looking for things to make with the kids while it's TOO hot to bake! I will try these for sure!
Sophie says
These sound ideal for summer! It's been 100 degrees here, so next time the hubby asks for a chocolatey desert, I'll be making these for him :).
kat says
Oh, I bet these were a big hit
Grace says
this is a must-make. i love easy but SCRUMPTIOUS treats, and this is that. thank you.
Fröken Vildäpple says
Ooh, these are a classic where I grew up. A very similar recipe is printed on the bag of oats. It uses cold coffee instead of peanut butter, gives the whole thing a wonderful mocha taste.
Try rolling them in sprinkles if you don't mind the crunch. 🙂
Tami Sullivan says
Would love to know how much coffee that really sounds good as well!
Karen says
That’s the recipe I was searching for!
chou says
These would be so fun to make with my nieces.
Erin says
These look so delicious! I've definitely going to make them 🙂
Claire says
These are SUPER FUN!!! I love it. Yum!
Jennifer says
YUM!!! I love to make no bake oatmeal macaroons but these balls idea are great! Will make! Thanks!
Cookie baker Lynn says
Simple, beautiful, delicious, and you don't even have to turn on the oven – I'm sold!
Maria says
I think they are very pretty! Perfect treat for summer when it is too hot to turn on the oven!
eatme_delicious says
Ooo what a perfect simple treat! Yum.
How To Eat A Cupcake says
Mmm I love those no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies. These look fabulous! 😀