Why I made these chocolate oatmeal cookies

The other day while I was reading some of my favorite blogs, Marc happened to look over at my computer screen. “Wait. Go back,” he said, “I think those are the cookies that my mom used to make every year for Christmas.”

I scrolled back up to the picture, and he got pretty excited and started telling me how good they are. So I sent my mother-in-law a quick message asking for the recipe because I – of course – have to make these cookies for Marc, especially since he barely ever requests anything specific and usually lets me make whatever my little heart desires. I couldn’t very well deny him of his Christmas wish.

If you like this recipe, you have to try this soft sugar cookies, and this double chocolate chip cookies and this almond crescent cookies.

Searching for more no bake recipes? Try making my dairy free key lime pie, these Irish potato candies, or these yummy no bake chocolate peanut butter pretzel bites.

Close up of chocolate oatmeal cookies on parchment paper

SHOP THIS RECIPE:

A bowl of oats, a bowl of sugar and a bowl of cocoa powder.

Ingredient notes:

Oatmeal delights are pretty simple to make. You don’t even have to turn on your oven, and they require very few ingredients. The recipe calls for 3 cups of oats and 1 cup of coconut, but I couldn’t find any shredded coconut here so I substituted another cup of oats.

They turned out just fine, but I would definitely opt for the original ingredients if I had the choice. I love coconut and I think it would have added a whole extra dimension of texture to the cookies. But, if you don’t like coconut or don’t have it, feel free to just add more oats like I did.

Making changes to a recipe can result in recipe failure. Any substitutions listed below are simple changes that I believe will work in this recipe, but results are not guaranteed.

close up of chocolate oatmeal cookies on parchment paper squares

The following is a detailed overview of the recipe steps with added tips and tricks for recipe success. For a simplified and printable version, including ingredient amounts and more formal instructions, see the recipe card below.

How to make these chocolate oatmeal no bake cookies

Melt the chocolate. Combine sugar, cocoa, butter and dairy free milk in a large saucepan and over medium heat bring the contents to a boil.

Remove from heat. When the chocolate mixture comes to a boil, whisk in vanilla extract and remove saucepan from heat. Stir in oats (and coconut flakes if using) until well coated with chocolate sauce.

Form the cookies. Drop chocolate-oat mixture onto a parchment lined baking sheet in tablespoon sized balls. Place in the refrigerator to chill until cookies have set, or about 30 minutes.

More great cookie recipes: Fruitcake cookies / Pumpkin cookies / Sprinkle cookies / Brownie mix cookies.

a hand removing a chocolate oatmeal cookie from a plate.
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3.67 from 3 votes

No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

By: Melissa Belanger
These no bake chocolate oatmeal cookies are super easy to make without peanut butter, and they’re completely vegan (no dairy, no milk). 
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 dozen
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Ingredients 

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 6 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup vegan butter
  • 1/2 cup dairy free milk, we used coconut
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 cups rolled oats

Instructions 

  • Combine the sugar, cocoa, butter & milk in a saucepan bring to a boil.
  • Add vanilla extract and remove from heat.
  • Stir oats into the cocoa sauce until coated.
  • Drop the mixture by the teaspoonful onto wax or parchment paper.
  • Chill in the refrigerator until set.

Nutrition

Calories: 945kcal, Carbohydrates: 161g, Protein: 13g, Fat: 32g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Sodium: 194mg, Fiber: 12g, Sugar: 102g, Vitamin C: 1mg

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

Like this? Leave a comment below!

Hi! I'm Melissa.

I create easy, dairy free recipes because I know how hard living without milk can be. I believe you can live a completely satisfying life without dairy, and I want to teach you how.

Read more about me

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3.67 from 3 votes

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21 Comments

  1. Pat Latty says:

    In the above recipe for the No Bake Oatmeal Delights in step 3 you said to stir in oats and coconut. I cannot use coconut and want to use rice milk in step 1. Was this an error?

    Reply
    1. Melissa Belanger says:

      Yes, sorry about that. I should say stir the oats into the cocoa mixture. I updated the recipe for you.

      Reply
  2. difra says:

    1 star
    VERY dry cookies….definitely not the recipe I am looking for. ITt seemed like too mich oats, but I followed the recipe. Ended up with dry, hard clumps. I have been making cookies for over 50 years so I am not a novice baker. I will keep looking til I find Mom’s recipe,

    Reply
  3. Sheri says:

    5 stars
    I made this recipe and am really pleased with the results!
    I used flora plant based butter, 1 cup of brown sugar and 1 cup granulated sugar. I let the mixture boil for about 1 1/2 minutes before taking it off the heat. I used jumbo oats by mistake, so decreased the oats to 3 1/2 cups.
    As I used dutched cocoa, these came out just like I remember them as a child; shiny and fudge- like; minus the dairy and peanut butter!
    Thank you for a dairy free, peanutbutter free blast from the past

    Reply