Last Updated on February 11, 2022 by Kimberly Stroh

Like a little hybrid crossover dessert, these No-Bake Butterscotch Oat Cookies are almost like a candy and cookie combo. They’re perfect to throw together in a pinch and I love to add them in my holiday cookie trays. It’s a foolproof recipe that anyone can make and they’re cheap too. They’ve got an intense butterscotch flavor that can’t be beat and a chewy oat texture. Once you’ve made an easy no-bake dessert- there’s no turning back. You’ll be hooked on the simplicity!

I’ll be quite honest here. When it comes to my holiday cookie trays that I pass out to friends and family members, they look very impressive. It looks like I put hours of hard work into my baking. My secret? I don’t do that! I add a few no-brainer easy recipes, like these No-Bake Butterscotch Oat Cookies, and they’re my “filler” on the tray. They take up space, so I can add an impressive amount of items, but they don’t take up my time in the kitchen.

My Grandmother taught me to have go-to recipes that you can always depend on. This quickly became one of my favorite dependable recipes. You just mix together the “batter” and drop them by the tablespoonfuls onto parchment-lined paper to set. If you’re feeling fancy, serve them in holiday candy wrappers for a festive touch. It doesn’t get any easier than that!

No-bake Christmas recipes are perfect for the busiest season of the year! Here are some of my top-rated recipes that readers love:

• No-Bake Bourbon Balls
• No-Bake Penguin Cookies
• Santa Oreo Cookies
• 4-Ingredient No-Bake Peppermint Bark

How To Make No-Bake Butterscotch Oat Cookies

No-Bake recipes are great for beginners. There’s hardly any technique involved and you can’t burn these cookies in the oven. Just stir the main ingredients together with the melting butterscotch chips. Then you just add the oats to the mix and drop it by the spoonfuls. I like to display and serve mine in candy wrappers.

When To Make No-Bake Butterscotch Oat Cookies

I love to make no-bake items in the summertime, when I’m craving something sweet but don’t want to use the oven. I’ve also made these during the holiday season when I’m giving out a bunch of treats to friends and family. They take up a lot of space without too much effort – like a decorated sugar cookie. So use them as filler for a dessert tray!

How To Keep Butterscotch Oat Cookies Fresh

Once the cookies have set, you want to store them in an airtight food storage container. Store them before adding them to candy wrappers.  You don’t need to separate them with wax paper because they’re sturdy cookies and not delicate.

Can You Freeze No-Bake Butterscotch Oat Cookies?

Yes! You can certainly freeze your no-bake cookies after they’ve set. Place them in freezer bags to prevent freezer burn. Keep them in the freezer for up to three months. Let them thaw on the kitchen counter for several hours before enjoying again. 

No-Bake Butterscotch Oat Cookie Substitutions You Can Make

If you’re not a fan of chopped pecans, you can try chopped walnuts which have a slightly stronger flavor. If you don’t want any nuts in your cookies, you can omit them. However, you’ll have a more chewy texture than chewy with crunchy. It’s just preference if you want nuts and what type to use.

What You Need From The Grocery Store:

• Sugar
• Butter
• Evaporated Milk
• Instant Butterscotch Pudding Mix
• Old-Fashioned Oats
• Butterscotch Chips
• Chopped Pecans
• Wax Paper

Step-By-Step Directions To Make No-Bake Butterscotch Oat Cookies

In a large saucepan, combine sugar, butter and milk. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring constantly, for 1 minute. Remove from the heat.

Stir in pudding mix and oats until well blended. Stir in the butterscotch chips and chopped pecans.

Drop by tablespoonfuls 1 inch apart on wax paper. Let stand until set.