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 20 minutes!
Jump To
About these 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 these delicious Avalanche Cookies!
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!
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! 😊 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!
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.
- 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.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make This Recipe
1. Heat a small sauce pan to low-medium heat. Add white chocolate chips. Stir constantly 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. When the chocolate is melted, turn off the stove and add peanut butter. Stir the peanut butter and melted white chocolate until combined.
4. Stir Rice Krispies together with the marshmallow mixture. NOTE: The texture is supposed to be a little runny.
5. Using a cookie scooper, plop cookies onto a parchment lined baking sheet (in an "avalanche" like fashion). If you don't have a cookie scooper, you can also use a spoon. Top each cookie with a few holiday M&Ms.
6. Then, put the tray in the the refrigerator for 5-10 minutes or until each cookie has hardened. Serve chilled and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs
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 for up to 3 months.
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 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.
Use granola butter (code COURTNEY15 saves you $) or cookie butter here. Sunbutter or tahini would also work. If only trying to avoid peanuts, almond or cashew butter are great options too.
More Recipes You'll Love
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟rating in the recipe card below & if you really like the recipe consider leaving a comment further down. Thanks for visiting!
Recipe
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
- 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? 😉
- 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
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!
Lily says
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!
Alis says
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!
Chelsea Coretti says
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!
Deirdre says
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.
Makenna Hornsby says
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!
Lily says
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
Jenna says
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!
Jenna says
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!
Katrina McLean says
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
Tayler MacVey says
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.
Cassie Mitchell says
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.
Charlotte says
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!
Molly Wooten says
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!
Katherine powers says
So easy and delicious!!!
Paula Valacak says
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!!
Courtney Paige says
My family and I are obsessed with this recipe. They're SO easy to make!
Charlotte says
These cookies are a fan favorite at our house. The are so delicious and super easy to make.
Alexis says
These cookies are a HIT in my family! I make them all year round since they are so easy and quick to bake.
Judy says
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?
Sydney Van Acker says
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
Diana says
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.
Taylor says
Has anyone made these with vegan marshmallows?!
Sydney Van Acker says
Yes! I used Trader Joe's vegan marshmallows, but cut them up (because they're full size) and the cookies turned out great.
Diana says
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.
Lisa says
This are seriously a 100/10! Going to make for my family Christmas gathering, easy and DELICIOUS!