Last Updated on December 11, 2024 by Kimberly Stroh

Creamy peanut butter and white chocolate flavors come together with the crispy texture of Rice Krispies cereal and the finishing touch of chocolate chips. Everyone enjoys these No-Bake Avalanche Cookies and they’re so easy to throw together. Skip the oven and skip the stovetop. Avalanche cookies are prepped in the microwave. The end result is a delicious treat that quickly disappears.

Why We Love This Recipe

Avalanche Cookies are so easy to throw together. Don’t heat the oven or worry about burning ingredients over the stovetop. They’re great for beginners that want a delicious cookie without much effort. The creamy peanut butter and white chocolate flavor goes so well with the chocolate chips. They melt in your mouth, with a little bit of crunch! Even my kids can throw these cookies together.

Make them for the holiday season – see below for some festive variations. Or during the summer season when you don’t want to heat the kitchen. They’re so versatile.

The name “Avalanche” comes from the appearance of the dessert—it’s a big, piled-up mixture, which might remind someone of an avalanche. 

How To Store Leftover Avalanche Cookies

The cookies keep well at room temperature for up to five days, but also freeze well for up to three months. Store your cookies in an airtight food storage container and keep them away from direct heat. When I place them in the freezer, I just toss them into a freezer bag. Store them in the back of your freezer where the temperatures are more stable. Let them thaw to room temperature on the countertop.

Recipe Variations

For the white chocolate I like to use the vanilla candy coating that comes in a microwave safe tray for easy melting. Any white chocolate meant for melting will do, but white chocolate chips or white chocolate bars meant for eating as candy do not work because they burn too quickly and do not melt well.

If you want to make a festive Avalanche Cookie for the holiday season, use mini red and green M&M Candies instead of chocolate chips. Or you can use a seasonal Rice Krispies cereal, then add white chocolate mini chips.

More No-Bake Cookie Recipes You’ll Love:

• No-Bake Penguin Cookies
• No-Bake Bourbon Balls
• Bourbon Pecan Pie Balls

Avalanche Cookies Ingredients:

• White Melting Chocolate: Find this in the baking section of your grocery store – it comes in a tray for easy microwave melting.
• Creamy Peanut Butter: Opt for Jif or Skippy brands. Stay away from natural peanut butters.
• Rice Krispies Cereal
• Miniature Marshmallows
• Mini Chocolate Chips: Opt for miniature because full-size will not stick as a topping.

How To Make No-Bake Avalanche Cookies

Prepare a large cookie sheet by covering it with parchment paper; set aside. Melt the white chocolate according to the package instructions. In a large bowl, combine the melted white chocolate and creamy peanut butter. 

Stir in the Rice Krispies, mini marshmallows, and ¾ cup of the chocolate chips.

Scoop the cookies out onto the prepared cookie sheet, then top with the remaining chocolate chips. Chill the cookies in the refrigerator until set, about 20 minutes.