Not a baker? These No Bake Avalanche Cookies are the perfect holiday cookie for you! Chocolatey, peanut buttery, and crispy, these cookies are the ultimate easy treat that come together in just 20 minutes!
Why You’ll Love These No Bake Cookies
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 this delicious Avalanche Cookie recipe!
These chocolatey, peanut buttery, crispy cookies come together in just 20 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 no bake treat!
My aunt brought these no bake 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! 😊 Also try these Buckeye Balls with Rice Krispies, these White Chocolate Dipped Peppermint Cookies, these Peanut Butter Crinkle Cookies or these Oatmeal Monster Cookies, which take less than 30 minutes to make too! These Pretzel Hershey Kiss M&M Bites are a simple treat I think you’ll love, as well!
FEATURED COMMENT
This is one of my most popular recipes around Christmas time! They went viral on social media and everyone seems to love them. Check out a few of the reviews of this sweet treat:
“Not to be dramatic but these are probably the best cookies I’ve ever had.” – Melissa
Recipe Ingredients
These cookies are just 5 ingredients! Here’s what you’ll need:
- White Chocolate Chips: I used one bag, which is approximately 12 ounces. Candy melts work too which are usually easy to find during the holiday season.
- Peanut Butter: Who doesn’t love peanut butter in cookies?
- Marshmallows: Ooey gooey, soft marshmallows are such a treat! Use mini marshmallows instead of full sized.
- Rice Krispies: Snap, crackle, and pop! Rice Krispie cereal adds such fun texture.
- M&Ms: I used the holiday ones. Feel free to use whatever you’d like here, however. Have leftover candy? Use it in these Kitchen Sink Christmas Cookies.
See the full recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make This No Bake Recipe
1. Heat a small sauce pan to low-medium heat. Add white chocolate chips. Stir constantly with a rubber spatula to prevent burning and allow them to melt.
2. When the chocolate is melted, turn off the stove and add peanut butter. Stir the peanut butter and melted white chocolate until combined.
2. Pour in mini marshmallows with the creamy peanut butter mixture. 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.
4. Stir the crispy rice cereal with the marshmallow mixture. NOTE: The texture is supposed to be a little runny.
5. Using a cookie scoop, plop cookies onto a parchment paper lined large cookie sheet. Do so in an “avalanche” like fashion, don’t worry about perfect cookie form. Top each cookie with a few holiday M&Ms.
6. Then, put the cookie tray in the the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes or until each cookie has hardened. Serve chilled and enjoy the final product!
Storage
These cookies are best chilled, so store them in the refrigerator. However, these cookies don’t last very long to have leftovers!
You can also freeze them in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months.
Serving suggestions
Stick with the no-bake theme! Assemble a festive Charcuterie Wreath and make a Cream Cheese Caramel Apple Dip for dipping.
Recipe FAQs
It’s likely your chocolate has burned or “seized.” This is why you need to stir it constantly while heating and immediately remove it from heat it once melted. If you catch the burning chocolate early enough, you may be able to save it by whisking in a tablespoon of neutral oil (avocado, coconut, or cultured oil) and mixing gently in an attempt to loosen the seized clumps.
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. I suggest maybe adding miniature chocolate chips to these, too!
Use granola butter (code COURTNEY15 saves you $) or a cookie butter spread here. Sunflower butter or tahini would also work in place of the peanut butter. If only trying to avoid peanuts, almond butter or cashew butter are great options too.
more of our favorite Cookie Recipes…
- Easy Peanut Butter Cookies
- Oatmeal Snickerdoodles
- Chocolate Chip Cherry Cookies
- Lucky Charms Cookies
- Halloween Candy Cookies
- Kit Kat Cookies
- No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookie
- Funfetti Cookie Recipe
- Easy Peppermint Chocolate Cookies
- Avalanche Cookies (No Bake)
- Christmas Shortbread Cookie
- Pretzel Cookies
- Ricotta Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Pistachio Chocolate Chip Cookies
More Christmas Cookie Recipes You’ll Love
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating and comment in the recipe card below. Thanks for visiting!
No Bake Avalanche Cookies
Equipment
- Sauce pot
- Rubber scraper
- Baking pan
- parchment paper
- Cookie scoop
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 12 oz white chocolate chips, 1 bag
- 2/3 cup peanut butter, creamy
- 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 from now? 😉
- Using a cookie scooper, scoop cookies onto a parchment lined 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 and enjoy!
Nutrition
Video
Notes
Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?
If you’re using MyFitnessPal, search ‘A Paige Of Positivity’ and find Avalanche Cookies calories and nutrition facts. Disclaimer: for most accurate macronutrients and caloric breakdown, it is recommended that you input each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal food diary.
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 or just say hi!
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.
These cookies are a HIT in my family! I make them all year round since they are so easy and quick to bake.
What can I substitute the peanut butter with? My family is not a fan of pb- I was wondering if you could add hot fudge or caramel sauce or does it need to be thicker like marshmallow fluff?
Hey Judy! I’ve made these by using 18 oz the white chocolate and they turned out great. I also suspect you could try cashew butter which has a more neutral flavor as compared to peanut butter
You can use cookie butter or any other nuts and no nuts butter. Look in peanut butter aisle and there’s insurmountable of choices. Even Nutella.
Has anyone made these with vegan marshmallows?!
Yes! I used Trader Joe’s vegan marshmallows, but cut them up (because they’re full size) and the cookies turned out great.
Dandies only made big marshmallow I found in store. You just need to cut into pieces. They are good. I had it for s’mores.
This are seriously a 100/10! Going to make for my family Christmas gathering, easy and DELICIOUS!