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The EASIEST recipe for 3 ingredient no bake peanut butter cookies!

Just a few minutes of prep for chewy ‘n satisfying vegan no bake cookies packed with rolled oats and creamy peanut butter. The best 3 ingredient no bake cookies! Easy to make like my peanut butter granola bars and cookie cups.

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How are you today? Hungry, tired, and perhaps ready for the easiest snack ever? What great timing… I’ve just revved up my easy no bake cookies engine and am about to share…

The best 3 ingredient no bake cookies! Nay, the best 3 ingredient no bake peanut butter cookies! Er… the best healthy no bake peanut butter oatmeal cookies. Oh, boy.

Okay, fine… I may have had one or three too many no bake cookies while testing recipes, but it’s all for the greater (yummier) good, ya know?

So are you ready for the best vegan no bake cookies ever? All you need are 3 ingredients, a few minutes of prep, and an appetite for something healthy and delicious! Let’s no bake these cookies!

3 ingredient no bake cookies in a stack on a cooling rack

What are no bake cookies?

No bake cookies are, quite simply, cookies that are made without any baking involved. Specifically, no bake cookies are made without the use of an oven.

Traditionally, no bake cookies [1] are made with stovetop heating. In traditional no bake cookies, you’d heat sugar, milk, butter and cocoa to create a sticky mixture for your cookies. Here’s one example of classic no bake cookies.

Then, you’d add oats, vanilla and peanut butter into that sticky mixture, thereby creating a cookie dough. You’d let them set, voila, no bake cookies! Here’s another example of no bake cookies.

Today, we’re making an easier, healthy & vegan version of no bake cookies. Today’s no bake cookies don’t require butter or cocoa powder. They’re peanut butter focused and made with just 3 simple ingredients. Check it out below.

Photo of Ingredients to Make Vegan Healthy No Bake Cookies

3 ingredients for no bake peanut butter cookies

These 3 ingredient no bake peanut butter cookies are made with just 3 simple ingredients. Check it out:

  • Peanut butter
  • Rolled oats
  • Maple syrup

how to make 3 ingredient no bake peanut butter oatmeal cookies

Today, we’re gonna learn how to make no bake cookies without milk, no banana and dairy free. These 3 ingredient peanut butter oatmeal cookies are so easy!

Remember, the photo tutorial below is just an overview. You’ll want to scroll to the bottom of the post to see exact instructions and ingredients in the recipe card.

First, line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper. You can even use a plate!

Second, whisk together peanut butter and maple syrup in a large bowl.

Two photos showing How to Make 3 Ingredient No Bake Cookies – stirring peanut butter and maple syrup

You want to make sure the peanut butter and maple syrup are thoroughly whisked together, creating a cohesive mixture that’s like soft frosting. ⬇️

closeup of sweetened peanut butter mixture

Third, heat this sweetened peanut butter mixture until warm, fragrant, and just a bit dried out.

Check out the teeny, tiny bubbles that appear when the mixture is ready.

Two photos showing How to Make 3 Ingredient No Bake Cookies – heated peanut butter mixture with bubbles

Fourth, add rolled oats to that same bowl. Then, stir and fold until well-mixed.

Two photos showing How to Make 3 Ingredient No Bake Cookies – stirring oats into peanut butter

Fifth, scoop and drop balls of peanut butter oatmeal cookie dough onto a prepared baking sheet.

Then, grab a fork and flatten no bake cookies to desired thickness. Make a crisscross pattern.

Two photos showing how to make No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies – scooping cookie dough

Lastly, chill peanut butter oatmeal cookies until firm. Then, enjoy the best vegan no bake cookies!

Don’t forget to try my Cinnamon Oatmeal Cookies and my Oatmeal Cookie Bars, too!

Overhead view of vegan no bake cookies on a black background

q&a for healthy no bake peanut butter oatmeal cookies

  • How do I store these 3 ingredient peanut butter oatmeal cookies?
  • Store your no bake cookies in an airtight container for up to 1 month in the fridge or at room temperature.
  • Can I freeze these 3 ingredient no bake peanut butter cookies?
  • Yes! Store your vegan no bake cookies in a freezer-friendly container for up to 2 months. Just make sure to thaw cookies before enjoying.
  • Are there stovetop directions for these healthy no bake peanut butter oatmeal cookies?
  • Yes! Check out the Notes section of the recipe for directions.
  • Why are these no bake cookies made without milk?
  • Because I can! Lol. J/K! I wanted to reduce the amount of ingredients in these 3 ingredient no bake cookies to as little as possible. Milk is just not needed in this recipe.
  • Can I reduce the amount of maple syrup in these no bake cookies?
  • Yes, you can reduce the maple syrup a bit. Just make sure to balance that out by reducing the oats as well—play around with it! You can also use my Easy Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies, which is made with less sweetener. ๐Ÿ™‚
  • What can I do to reduce the amount of sugar in these no bake peanut butter cookies?
  • Try substituting some or all of the maple syrup in this recipe with this low-carb, low sugar liquid monkfruit sweetener. I’ve used it in a number of keto recipes and had wonderful results.
  • Can I use quick oats in these no bake vegan cookies?
  • I wouldn’t recommend it. Some readers have tried using quick oats with varied success. Stick to old-fashion oats for the best results.
  • Can I use other types of nut or seed butter in these no bake cookies?
  • Yes! If you’re nut-free, use sunflower seed butter. If you’d like to use another nut butter, try almond butter, cashew butter or even pecan butter! 

The best 3 ingredient no bake cookies: delicious no bake peanut butter cookies packed with oatmeal, made with healthy vegan ingredients.

3 ingredient no bake cookies in a stack of 3

📸 Did you make this 3 ingredient no bake cookies recipe? Take a pic and share it on Instagram with the hashtag #beamingbaker & tag @beamingbaker. I’d love to see it! 📸

no bake recipes & more

3 ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies: super easy recipe for healthy no bake cookies without milk—the best gluten free vegan peanut butter cookies! #PeanutButter #NoBake #Oatmeal #Vegan #GlutenFree | Recipe at BeamingBaker.com
4.96 from 69 votes
Servings: 20 cookies

3 Ingredient No Bake Cookies (Vegan) – Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookies!

The EASIEST recipe for 3 ingredient no bake peanut butter cookies! Just a few minutes of prep for chewy ‘n satisfying vegan no bake cookies packed with rolled oats and creamy peanut butter. The best 3 ingredient no bake cookies!
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 25 minutes
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Ingredients 

Instructions 

  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper. Set aside.
  • In a large, microwave-safe bowl, add peanut butter and maple syrup. Whisk together until well mixed. *Stovetop instructions in Notes.
  • Heat in 20-second increments in the microwave until warm and fragrant, and the mixture begins to dry out (about 4-7 rounds). Whisk in between heating increments.
  • Add oats to the peanut butter mixture. Stir and fold until thoroughly combined.
  • Using a medium cookie scoop, scoop and drop balls of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, evenly spaced apart. Using a fork, flatten cookies to desired thickness.
  • Chill in the freezer for 15-25 mins, until firm. Enjoy! Storing instructions below.
  • Looking for a lower sugar version? Try this –> Easy Peanut Butter No Bake Cookies

Notes

*Stovetop Instructions: In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, add peanut butter and maple syrup. Whisk until well incorporated. Stir occasionally, heating until this mixture begins to bubble. Remove from heat and carefully pour over the dry mixture.
Storing Instructions: Store in an airtight container, such as these reusable zip bags, in the refrigerator or at room temperature for up to 1 month. After the first day, you can store them at room temperature—they’ll be more firm.
Freezing Instructions: Store no bake cookies in freezer-friendly container or bag for 1-2 months. Allow to thaw at room temperature for 5-15 minutes before enjoying.
Nutrition Information: is an estimate based on the best-selling, most common brands per ingredient. Also, it’s estimated based on 22 servings per recipe.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 115kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 4g, Fat: 6g, Saturated Fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 6g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Course: Dessert, Snacks
Cuisine: American
Like this? Leave a comment below!

Alright, so I may have lost control of the introduction to today’s no bake cookies recipe… forgive me. ๐Ÿ˜‰ Wanna make some cookies? ๐Ÿ™‚ I can’t wait to hear what you think of today’s vegan no bake cookies! Thanks for stopping by…

Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️

This post may contain affiliate links, which allow me to make a small commission for my referral, at no additional cost to you.

Photo of Demeter, author of the Beaming Baker blog.

Hi there!

I'm Demeter, it's nice to meet you! Here, you'll find easy recipes that are fun & approachable. I love cozy movies, a good mystery, and chocolate. Welcome!

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236 Comments

  1. Johnna says:

    5 stars
    Just tried this for the first time today…OMG amazingly easy and so delicious! Thank you for the recipe!!

    1. Demeter | Beaming Baker says:

      Yay!! It’s my #1 goal to share the easiest, tastiest recipes ever! ๐Ÿ˜‰ Johnna, I’m so happy that you enjoyed these & grateful you took the time to let me know. ๐Ÿ™‚

  2. Claudia says:

    Hiya, this looks fabulous canโ€™t wait to try it out! I have a question though. Can you use Nutella to substitute peanut butter in this recipe? Would it still work as well as the peanut butter did with the maple syrup? Thanks in advance .

    1. Demeter | Beaming Baker says:

      Hi Claudia, I’m not sure. I recommend making a small, 1/4 batch, just to see if it’ll work! Good luck! Let me know how it turns out. ๐Ÿ™‚

  3. Lisa says:

    5 stars
    Just made these with my son. They are easy and delicious! We used Jif Natural peanut butter with the same measurements and they turned out great. Thank you for this recipe!

    1. Demeter | Beaming Baker says:

      Baking is totally one of the best activities to do with family. ๐Ÿ™‚ So happy that you two enjoyed these, Lisa. Happy No-Baking! Can’t wait to see what you try next.

  4. Nichole says:

    I love adding peanut butter to my oatmeal in the mornings, so this sounds right up my alley! Wanted to bake something to go with hot cocoa tonight, and this is even better as it is no-bake. Can’t wait to try these!

    1. Demeter | Beaming Baker says:

      Peanut butter is totally the best treat to kick off a busy morning! ๐Ÿ™‚ Can’t wait to hear what you think, Nichole!

  5. Ariel Warren, RD, CD says:

    Hi Demeter, holy cow! I LOVE this idea. I have never thought of combining oatmeal in my PB cookies. Also, what a great way to sweeten PB cookies. As a Dietitian, I absolutely love your recipes. We need more bakers like you. Thank you for creating and sharing!

    1. Demeter | Beaming Baker says:

      Hi Ariel! So happy to hear that you love this idea! ๐Ÿ™‚ PB + oatmeal is absolutely one of my fave combos. Thanks for stopping by!

  6. Denise says:

    Did you use quick oats or old fashioned?

    1. Demeter | Beaming Baker says:

      Hi Denise! I used old-fashioned. Enjoy!

  7. Robin Ensinger says:

    5 stars
    I happened across your blog. You are not on my favorites! This cookie recipe will be my very first vegan recipe I am going to try! I can’t wait! Peanut Butter is a daily staple for me lol.

    1. Robin Ensinger says:

      5 stars
      I meant to say NOW one of my favorites!!!!

      1. Demeter | Beaming Baker says:

        Hi Robin! What a difference one letter makes! Lol. ๐Ÿ˜‰ Thank you for being so sweet. I’m so happy to have the honor of creating the first vegan recipe you’ll try! Can’t wait to hear what you think. If PB is a daily staple for you, you’ve come to the right place! ๐Ÿ™‚ Let me know if you ever need recipe recommendations.

  8. Patricia E Rosario says:

    5 stars
    Hi….could you use pancake syrup in place of the maple syrup….

    1. Demeter | Beaming Baker says:

      Hmm… I’m not sure, Patricia. I’ve never tried it before. If you do, let me know how they turn out! ๐Ÿ™‚ Good luck!

  9. sam gerty says:

    Hi they look amazing however I would not say they are healthy are they I mean 6g sugar in one! Considering that 25g of sugar is the most an adult should have to stay healthy daily none is better. Just 4 is pushing it. Any way to substitute the sugar .Would icing sugar be less . Maybe nutritionist could say.

  10. Rhonda says:

    Can I use applesauce instead of the maple syrup?

    1. Demeter | Beaming Baker says:

      Hi Rhonda, I’m not sure that would work. Applesauce can be a tad watery and unpredictable. Since this recipe is no bake, it might not be as suitable a replacement. If you try it, let me know how it turns out! ๐Ÿ™‚