Not a baker? These No Bake Avalanche Cookies are the perfect holiday cookie for you! Chocolatey, peanut buttery, and crispy, these cookies come together in just 15 minutes!
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the Christmas cookie for the non-baker
I get it. Not EVERYONE loves to bake Christmas cookies. It requires time that not everyone has. And some people just don't like to bake! However, if you find yourself falling into one of those categories, I encourage you to try these delicious Avalanche Cookies!
These chocolatey, peanut buttery, crispy cookies come together in just 15 minutes and require NO BAKING! The most intensive part is melting some chocolate, and all you have to do for that is stir until you achieve a smooth consistency. They're easy, delicious, and a crowd favorite!
My aunt brought these cookies to a Christmas party a few years ago, and now they're our go-to for cookie exchanges, work parties, and more. They're also yummy to just snack on at home! 😊
Ingredients for these No Bake Avalanche Cookies
White Chocolate Chips: I used one bag, which is approximately 12 ounces.
Peanut Butter: Who doesn't love peanut butter in cookies?
Marshmallows: Ooey gooey marshmallows are such a treat!
Rice Krispies: Snap, crackle, and pop! These add such fun texture.
M&Ms: I used the holiday ones. Feel free to use whatever you'd like here, however.
Kitchen equipment & tools needed
To make these No Bake Avalanche Cookies, you will need a sauce pot, rubber scraper, measuring cups and spoons, baking pan, cookie scoop, and parchment paper.
How to make No Bake Avalanche Cookies
- Heat a small sauce pan to low-medium heat. Immediately add white chocolate chips. Stir constantly to prevent burning.
- When melted, turn off the stove and add peanut butter. Stir the peanut butter and melted white chocolate until combined.
- Next, pour in mini marshmallows. You can do this in the same sauce pot. If your pot isn't large enough, pour the marshmallows into a mixing bowl and then drizzle the white chocolate peanut butter sauce over them. Fold together until marshmallows are covered. NOTE: The marshmallows are supposed to be almost whole, not melted.
- Stir in Rice Krispies. NOTE: The texture is supposed to be a little runny. We want them to kind of flood out on the pan like an avalanche. See where the name comes form now? 😉
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Make sure the baking sheet is small enough to fit in the refrigerator. We'll chill the cookies prior to serving.
- Using a cookie scooper, scoop cookies onto baking sheet. If you don't have a cookie scooper, you can also use a spoon.
- Top each cookie with a few holiday M&Ms. Then, put in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes or until each cookie has hardened.
- Serve chilled. You can also allow them to come to room temperature again. You won’t lose a tooth on them if you eat them chilled, rest assured!
No Bake Avalanche Cookies FAQs
How do I store these cookies?
Store them in the refrigerator. You can also store them chilled on the counter. However, these cookies don't last very long to have leftovers!
Do these Avalanche Cookies freeze well?
Yes, they do. 😊 They're also great to give as a gift in a holiday basket or just to take over to someone' house.
Why is my white chocolate so stiff after melting?
It’s likely your chocolate has burned or “seized." This is why you need to stir it constantly while heating and immediately remove it once melted. If you catch the burning chocolate early enough, you may be able to save it by whisking in a tablespoon of water and mixing gently in an attempt to loosen the seized clumps.
Can I use a different kind of cereal?
Of course! You can use another version of Rice Krispies, something like “rice puffs” or “krispie rice.” But, if you want to switch it up completely, try Chex, Cheerios, or Cap’n Crunch. Cocoa Krispies would also make a great chocolate version of these Avalanche Cookies.
What if I want to make these nut-free?
Use granola butter or cookie butter here! Sunbutter would also be fine. If only need to avoid peanuts, however, almond or cashew butter would work.
Can I mix the holiday M&Ms in before scooping the cookies?
Sure! It’s just a matter of preference. I was making this batch for some people who don’t like chocolate and wanted them to be easy to remove if needed.
What other mix-ins can I try?
Follow your heart! I think chopped Reese’s, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, chopped pretzels, or sprinkles would be delicious. The possibilities are endless!
Other sweet treats you might like
Chocolate Chip Pretzel Peanut Butter Cookies
Shortbread Christmas Cookies with Icing (Emmy's Angel Cookies)
Mint Brownies with Cream Cheese Frosting
No Bake Avalanche Cookies Recipe
Equipment
- Sauce pot
- Rubber scraper
- Baking pan
- parchment paper
- Cookie scoop
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 12 oz white chocolate chips, 1 bag
- ⅔ cup peanut butter
- 1½ cups mini marshmallows
- 3 cups Rice Krispies
- ½ cup holiday M&Ms
Instructions
- Heat a small sauce pan to low-medium heat. Immediately add white chocolate chips. Stir constantly to prevent burning.
- When melted, turn off the stove and add peanut butter. Stir the peanut butter and melted white chocolate until combined.
- Next, pour in mini marshmallows. You can do this in the same sauce pot. If your pot isn't large enough, pour the marshmallows into a mixing bowl and then drizzle the white chocolate peanut butter sauce over them. Fold together until marshmallows are covered. NOTE: The marshmallows are supposed to be almost whole, not melted.
- Stir in Rice Krispies. NOTE: The texture is supposed to be a little runny. We want them to kind of flood out on the pan like an avalanche. See where the name comes form now? 😉
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Make sure the baking sheet is small enough to fit in the refrigerator. We'll chill the cookies prior to serving.
- Using a cookie scooper, scoop cookies onto baking sheet. If you don't have a cookie scooper, you can also use a spoon.
- Top each cookie with a few holiday M&Ms. Then, put in the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes or until each cookie has hardened.
- Serve chilled. You can also allow them to come to room temperature again. You won’t lose a tooth on them if you eat them chilled, rest assured!
Notes
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. It’s my passion to create dishes that can be shared with others. Tell me something you loved, something that you think it might need, or just say hi!
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These are the best cookies!! They are extremely easy to make and taste delicious. When I’m craving a little treat I whip these up in under 15 mins. I have also done a mix of 1/2 white chocolate and 1/2 chocolate with chocolate chips and they were also delicious!
Wow these look delish! Excited to try these with my family—love how they are chocolatey version of a Rice Krispie minus all the butter… plus who doesn’t love peanut butter!
These were so easy + quick! Plus, they were perfect for my toddler to help with 🙂 I’ve already eaten three since making them… I don’t know that these will make it to anyone else!
I made these last night for a last-minute treat for a holiday party today and they were insanely easy to make but still absolutely delicious. Would definitely recommend if you’re short on time/want something low-effort.
These cookies are so easy and so good. I used milk chocolate instead of white and they were perfect for me and my family of chocolate lovers. I also used fudge brownie m&ms which made them even better!
Run!! Don’t skip on this recipe it is not only so easy (with little clean up) it is so tasty and the perfect combination of chocolate and peanut butter
YUM. First of all, these took me less than 15 minutes to make. Second, so delicious! And such a good texture. Like soft, crunchy, just amazing! I used Holiday Rice Krispies for a little added holiday touch. So good!
Came back to say that the second time around, these were just as delicious! Also, can confirm that Cheerios work as a replacement for the Rice Krispies!
For someone who has allergen restrictions these cookies made it so easy for me to participate in the holiday fun! I was able to make these with gluten free crispies and dairy free chocolate. Still so delicious and so easy! Thanks court for sharing this
Easy, peasy and so. dang. delicious. We could not walk past without grabbing one and start to finish in 15 minutes, I will absolutely be making again.
We’ve made these twice now and they are awesome! Great one to make with a toddler too😊. Christmas m&ms we’re all sold out, so used minis.
We made these several times before and on Christmas and they were very enjoyable!! Our family loved making them together and they were super easy. We didn't have all the ingredients, so we substituted semi-sweet chocolate and rice Chex in and they still turned out amazing!
These cookies were amazing! I made them for coworkers as a holiday treat and many asked for the recipe, which I so gladly passed along!! Super easy and delicious!!! Highly recommend making them!
So easy and delicious!!!
These were a huge hit at Christmas and I am making them again with Valentine's Day M&Ms. I like to double the batch and found that a combo of half white chocolate and half butterscotch chips is amazing!!
My family and I are obsessed with this recipe. They're SO easy to make!
These cookies are a fan favorite at our house. The are so delicious and super easy to make.