It is officially munchies season, which means there must be “healthy” snacks and treats on hand at all times. Considering these cookies contain oats, milk, and peanut butter, they’re basically a hearty breakfast alternative. This recipe is no-bake and only takes about 10 minutes to throw together on the stovetop, so it’s perfect for a pre- or post-gardening session with lots of room for mistakes.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Oat Clusters Recipe
Recipe adapted from Real Food with Jessica.
Ingredients:
| 3 cups old-fashioned oats | ½ cup butter |
| 2 cups white sugar | ½ cup milk |
| ½ cup peanut butter | 1 tsp vanilla extract |
| ¼ cup cocoa powder | Parchment or wax paper |
Steps:
- Measure your oats and set them aside.
- Melt the butter in a large pan. Add the sugar, milk, peanut butter, and cocoa powder.
- Stir over medium-high heat until ingredients are combined. Don’t stop stirring!
- Once it is boiling (rolling, not just small bubbles around the edge), continue to stir for four minutes.
- Turn off the heat and add the vanilla extract, stirring to incorporate.
- Add the oats and mix until coated. Work quickly, as the mixture will harden as it cools.
- Using a greased spoon or cookie scoop, scoop two tablespoon clusters onto wax paper.
- Let fully cool for about 20 minutes.
Tips:
- Depending on how sweet you like your sweet treats, you can limit the amount of sugar to 1 cup instead of 2 cups. I find they’re on the sweeter side.
- The dining hall has peanut butter, oats, butter, milk, and sugar, so run to Tommy’s, grab some cocoa powder and vanilla, and get to cooking!
These cookies hit the spot. Chewy, peanut buttery, chocolatey—what’s better after a nice sesh? When you’re running late to class and don’t want to eat those fly-by Oreo cookies for the fifth day in a row, meal-prep some chocolate peanut butter oat clusters instead! You can make them in a communal kitchen; just make sure to store them in a tightly fitted container or they’ll lose their chew. I have yet to meet someone who doesn’t like them. For more recipes and meal inspiration, check out @almondsfooddiary on Instagram!
Alma Russell ’26 (almarussell@college.harvard.edu) swears she’s not high right now; she just really loves these cookies.