One of the best things about December is that, whether you celebrate Christmas or not, it’s really just a time to go all-out on the homemade goods. Maybe you’re baking for the annual cookie swap or just like the excuse to spend extra time in a warm kitchen with the oven pumping out buttery treats. Either way, cookies are likely at the top of your prep list.
Cookies are beloved this time of year for many reasons, but ultimately because most of them are “gateway baking” projects: you don’t need to be a baking expert to make them, they’re extremely shareable, and they’re absolutely delightful. Who doesn’t love a small and buttery sweet treat that can be devoured in one to three bites?
While we’ve published a huge variety of holiday cookie recipes, our no-bake cookies without peanut butter stand out as the most popular by far. Over the years, this recipe has consistently skyrocketed in popularity each December, and there are plenty of good reasons why.
Kristina Vanni
The Most Popular Cookies Are Also the Easiest
While most cookies are fairly easy to make, the stakes are even lower with this recipe because, as the name clearly says, they don’t even require baking. So if you’re in the mood to make something sweet but don’t fancy the baking sheet shuffle that most cookie recipes require, no-bake cookies are just the thing.
Another reason to love these cookies? They only require five ingredients, and you probably already have them in your pantry and fridge: sugar, butter, milk, cocoa powder, and quick-cooking oats.
Use the Right Kind of Oats
The oats give these cookies texture and bulk, which would otherwise be difficult to attain without the full entourage of flour, baking powder, baking soda, and more. Using quick-cooking oats is key because, again, these cookies are not baked, so old-fashioned rolled oats could lend too much of a fibrous character. We want chewy results but not that chewy.
Let’s Talk About What’s NOT in These Cookies
Even if you haven’t made these cookies yourself, they’re a staple at cookie swaps and potlucks so you’ve likely seen or tried them. But you’ve probably had the version made with peanut butter. The really great thing about this recipe is that peanut butter is not required, meaning this cookie is safer for large groups, where you never know who might have a peanut allergy. Even better, these cookies are egg-free and—if you make sure to use gluten-free oats—gluten-free.
Kristina Vanni
How Long Does It Take To Make These Cookies?
If you can’t possibly see how this recipe could get any better, I have a pleasant surprise for you: the active prep time is under 15 minutes. All you have to do is boil the sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa powder for three minutes, stir in the oats, spoon the mixture onto a sheet pan, and wait for them to set up. This goes faster if you put them in the fridge to set, but they’ll set at room temperature, too.
Add Your Own Twist
Finally, if you’re the type of baker who can’t resist putting your own spin on every recipe you try, there’s plenty of room for improvisation here. Stir your favorite mix-ins into the cookie mixture for extra flavor and texture: toasted coconut or walnuts, sprinkles, and chocolate (or white chocolate) chips are some easy and tasty options to get you started. Or just melt some white chocolate and drizzle or pipe it over the cookies in a zig-zag pattern once they’ve fully set for a little extra visual flair.
