No-bake oatmeal cookies are easy summertime treats

Who says summertime desserts must be fruity or pale? Just because the weather is warm doesn’t mean you have to hold off on enjoying rich, chocolatey desserts, like these no-bake oatmeal cookies from Cooking Classy. They’re easy to make (no need to turn on the oven!), yet they offer up an indulgent chocolate-peanut butter flavor. Plus, every bite is filled with oats for a chewy, satisfying texture.

In addition to the convenience of these being no-bake treats, you can also rope in some older children to help you make them, if you have any kiddos at home who are feeling restless during summer vacation. Of course, they’ll also love devouring their finished products!

Jaclyn, the blogger behind Cooking Classy, writes that these no-bake oatmeal cookies offer a throwback to her childhood. She used to call them “uncooked cookies” (even though they are, in fact, cooked!). But now she thinks “summer cookies” is a better moniker, since these are ideal for whipping up during the warm summer months when you don’t want that oven on and heating up your kitchen.

The list of ingredients includes staples you probably already have on hand, like sugar, butter, cocoa powder, quick oats and a few others. After cooking some of the ingredients together on the stovetop, you’ll mix in the rest of the ingredients and then scoop the mixture onto parchment paper. The cookies will then chill in the refrigerator for a while to set.

Once chilled, you’ll be able to indulge in some chewy, fudgy, no-bake oatmeal cookies while lounging by the pool or enjoying an outdoor movie night in the park. The cookies are easy enough to tuck into a cooler for a road trip or a day at the beach.

Everyone will be so impressed with your summertime cookies that are light and cool, yet full of chocolate-peanut butter decadence.

If you’re looking for more recipes like these no-bake oatmeal cookies that don’t require the use of the oven, there are plenty of summery treats you can make on a hot day without breaking a sweat.

The queen of down-home recipes that manage to be both easygoing and elegant, Joanna Gaines, has a fantastic recipe for a no-bake strawberry pie that’s bursting with berry flavor. It’s a cinch to whip up.

Featured in her cookbook “Magnolia Table, Volume 2,” the recipe calls for making whipped cream, folding that into a mix of a handful of other ingredients and then pouring the combination into a graham cracker crust. Then, you’ll chill the pie in the freezer for at least six hours or overnight.

For a no-bake recipe that’s chocolatey and creamy, check out this super-simple no-bake eclair cake from the blog The Country Cook. You mix together a few ingredients, like instant pudding and whipped topping, and then layer everything together in a baking dish on top of graham crackers.

This dish requires some time in the fridge to fully set, and then it’s ready to be spooned up at your next backyard barbecue.

Of course, you can always turn to one of the great classics in the world of no-bake recipes: cheesecake! For a tangy, citrusy, ultra-summery spin on the traditional cheesecake, look no further than this no-bake key lime cheesecake recipe from Brown Eyed Baker.

Using white chocolate and key limes in the cake and vanilla wafer cookies in the crust, this is a sweet and zesty take on the cheese-based dessert.

Will you be trying out a new no-bake dessert recipe this summer?