Everyone loves a good cookie. We all know that a good cookie lasts for multiple days without losing its iconic crispy or chewy texture and buttery flavor.
But can no-bake cookies survive just as long as regular ones?
The answer is yes. No-bake cookies can, for the most part, be stored at room temperature. In this case, they last about as long as baked cookies do. Unlike baked cookies, though, no-bake cookies can be stored in the fridge or freezer for up to three weeks and retain their good flavor and texture.
What is a no-bake cookie?
As the name suggests, no-bake cookies are indeed cookies that… get this… aren’t baked. This means you don’t have to turn your oven on during a hot summer day, and there’s no issue with over baking or under baking your cookies.
Because no-bake cookies aren’t cooked, most recipes do not include eggs as an ingredient (although some do, with the risk that a raw egg brings).
Instead of eggs, recipes use things such as dates, peanut butter, or condensed milk to bind the cookies together. Many recipes also require either freezing or refrigeration of the dough, although some do not.
Why would you want to make a no-bake cookie?
- It’s a hot day and you don’t want to turn your oven on.
- You don’t have access to an oven.
- You want to make a simple cookie that can be made, shaped, and stored.
- You want a cookie that has a crispy or creamy texture.
Did you know it’s possible to bake cookies without an oven?
Examples of types of no-bake cookies:
- Peanut butter chewy cookie with a chocolate coating (filling uses condensed milk)
- Chocolate peanut butter cookies (crunchy with rice crispies and bound together by peanut butter and chocolate)
- Oatmeal cookies
If you have a peanut allergy, you can make no-bake cookies without using peanut butter.
Benefits of making no-bake cookies
- Usually quick to make- just mix the ingredients together, form the shape of the cookie and you’re done!
- Doesn’t require an oven- saves you from having to heat your house up during the summer.
- Fun to make with kids- these cookies are so simple to make and risk-free due to no “raw” ingredients (i.e. eggs), so they make the perfect baking project to have with young kids.
- There are many variations to no-bake cookies (this includes making more fudgy cookies, crispy cookies, and creamy cookies), and you can create any texture you desire (with regular cookies you only really get the one texture of cookie, so for instance you couldn’t really make a creamy cookie by using a cookie recipe that requires the cookie to bake in the oven).
Drawbacks of making no-bake cookies
- They’re messy- most no-bake cookies either have a sticky dough that you need to work with your hands to form the perfect shape, or they require dipping into chocolate or some other mixture which can get a little messy.
- No-bake cookies are hard to store- due to their sticky consistency or chocolate coating that easily melts with the heat, no-bake cookies are hard to store cleanly and efficiently.
- You can never really attain that “classic” cookie texture and taste.
Recipe for no-bake chocolate peanut butter cookies:
Ingredients:
- 2 cups sugar
- ½ cup whole milk
- ½ cup cocoa
- pinch salt
- ½ cup butter
- ¾ cup peanut butter (creamy)
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 2 ¾ cup rolled oats
Directions:
Combine sugar, milk, cocoa, salt and butter in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and stir constantly for one minute.
Remove pan from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla.
Add the oats and let the mixture cool until it’s cool enough to handle.
Form cookies into balls using the palms of your hands, and place them on a parchment lined baking sheet.
Let cookies cool to room temperature (if it’s a hot day, put the cookies in the fridge).
Store the cookies in an air-tight container and let them sit at room temperature (in the fridge or freezer if you want them to store longer).
These cookies will last up to three weeks!
Can no-bake cookies be stored so that they last a long time?
The answer is it really depends on the cookie. If a no-bake cookie recipe calls for the cookie to be frozen, it will last a long time (up to a few months!).
Otherwise, most are similar to regular cookies in that they can be stored for up to a week. If put in the fridge, no-bake cookies will last up to three weeks, which is a little while longer than baked cookies.
If you’re in a time crunch, or just don’t want to turn on the oven, no-bake cookies are perfect for you. Whip up the batter, stick them in the fridge (or let them sit at room temperature) and you’ve got yourself a cookie that can last up to three weeks.
While no-bake cookies are a great way to make cookies, keep in mind they can get a little messy!
Sarah is the founder of Baking Kneads, LLC, a blog sharing guides, tips, and recipes for those learning how to bake. Growing up as the daughter of a baker, she spent much of her childhood learning the basics in a local bakery.