No time to bake this holiday season? Try these easy No Bake Cookie Butter Cookies. Chilled and chewy, they taste like gingerbread and come together in minutes—no oven required.
2024 Update: This recipe was first shared in December 2015 and has been updated with clearer measurements, new photos, and extra tips. I hope you love it!
I’ll admit it: when I first developed this recipe, my husband and I devoured nearly the whole batch ourselves. We’d been active all weekend—walking the dog and hauling a Christmas tree—so a sweet, quick treat felt entirely justified.
What is cookie butter?
Cookie butter is a spread made from ground Speculoos or Biscoff-style cookies. The cookies are processed into crumbs and blended with fat and sugar to form a smooth, spreadable paste that tastes like spiced gingerbread. Popular jarred versions include Biscoff spread and Trader Joe’s cookie butter.
Why I love this recipe
These no-bake cookies are richly flavored, chewy, and ready without an oven, peanut butter, or eggs. Cookie butter is the star: it brings a warm, slightly gingerbread-like flavor that’s not overpowering. Rolled oats give the cookies a satisfying chew, and optional colored sugars make them festive for holidays.
They’re made entirely on the stovetop in one saucepan, then scooped onto a lined sheet and chilled until set. Quick, easy, and crowd-pleasing.
The Sweetest Season and Cookies for Kids’ Cancer
The Sweetest Season is an annual holiday cookie week where food bloggers share cookie recipes to celebrate the season and raise funds for Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, a nonprofit dedicated to pediatric cancer research. Donations to the campaign are often matched during special windows, making contributions go further.
What you need
Tools: rimmed sheet pan, parchment or silicone mat, 1-tablespoon cookie scoop, and a medium saucepan. Scroll to the recipe card for exact measurements.
Ingredients you’ll likely have or can find easily:
- Unsalted butter (or a neutral oil such as refined coconut oil)
- Cookie butter (Speculoos/Biscoff-style spread; this is essential for the signature flavor)
- Maple syrup (you can substitute honey)
- Milk (dairy or nondairy)
- Pure vanilla extract
- Powdered (confectioners’) sugar
- Rolled oats (old-fashioned oats for chew)
- Colored sugars or sprinkles (optional, for decorating)
Substitutions and variations
- Add chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, or chopped cookie pieces for extra texture.
- Stir in a pinch of cinnamon or ground ginger to boost warm spice notes.
How to make No Bake Cookie Butter Cookies
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat and set aside.
- Melt 2 tablespoons unsalted butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
- When melted, add 3/4 cup cookie butter, 1/4 cup maple syrup, 2 tablespoons milk, 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and 1/2 cup powdered sugar. Stir until everything is combined and smooth.
- Remove the pan from heat and stir in 2 cups rolled oats until evenly coated and a sticky dough forms.
- Use a 1-tablespoon scoop or spoon to drop rounded mounds onto the prepared sheet.
- Quickly sprinkle with colored sugars or sprinkles so they adhere while the mixture is still warm.
- Chill in the refrigerator for about an hour to set. Keep chilled until serving.
How to store
Store these cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. At room temperature they become very soft and sticky, so keep them chilled. They also freeze well in a freezer-safe container for longer storage.
Entertaining tips
- Make them ahead: these keep well in the fridge for several days, so prepare in advance.
- Double the recipe for larger gatherings.
- Transport and serve them cold to prevent them from getting too gooey.
Expert tips
- Don’t skip the chill—refrigeration is necessary for the cookies to set and hold shape.
- Add decorating sugar or sprinkles immediately after scooping while the mixture is still warm.
- Keep the cookies cold when serving; warm temperatures make them too soft to handle.
More no-bake treats to try
These cookies pair well with other easy no-bake favorites like avalanche cookies, scotcheroos, or peppermint bark cookies for a festive platter.
No Bake Cookie Butter Cookies
Servings: 32 (1-tablespoon cookies)
Prep: 10 mins | Cook: 10 mins | Total: 20 mins
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 3/4 cup cookie butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 2 cups rolled oats
- Colored sugars or sprinkles, for decorating (optional)
Instructions
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Add the cookie butter, maple syrup, milk, vanilla, and powdered sugar. Stir until smooth and combined.
- Remove from heat and stir in the oats until evenly coated.
- Scoop heaping tablespoons of the mixture onto the prepared sheet.
- Sprinkle immediately with colored sugar or sprinkles so they stick.
- Chill in the refrigerator for about an hour to set. Serve cold.
Notes
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week. Freeze for longer storage.
Nutrition (per cookie)
Calories: 89 kcal | Carbohydrates: 12 g | Protein: 1 g | Fat: 4 g