If the yellowed index card doesn’t give it away, the “White Karo Corn Syrup” ingredient must.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies I howsweeteats.com

It’s another gem from the depths of Mother Lovett’s never ending recipe collection.
And you can imagine my excitement when I found this, for they are made with an ingredient I absolutely adore: graham cracker crumbs.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies I howsweeteats.com

True story: sometimes I melt butter in the microwave, add graham cracker crumbs, add marshmallows, then add chocolate chips and microwave again for a “s’mores bowl.” I’m sort of embarrassed to admit that. But not really. And then I somehow convince myself that it is a healthy snack. I can work wonders.
I have never seen a non-cheesecake cookie, let alone a no-bake cookie, that is made with graham cracker crumbs. And there are a plethora of no-bake cookies making their rounds. My heart was singing as I rolled the dough into balls.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies I howsweeteats.com

As we all know, there is only one way to make peanut butter better…

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies I howsweeteats.com

The best part of the graham cracker crumbs is that they cause these cookies to be a bit salty. If you know me, you know that chocolate + peanut butter + salt is my kryptonite.
And if you don’t know me, well… just look in the dictionary under the word “bacon” and there will probably be a picture of my face.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies I howsweeteats.com

So since we have some salty, peanut buttery goodness going on here, you can only imagine how fabulous a drizzle of chocolate is on top.

The cookies are not super sweet, so the chocolate is perfect. Not too rich… they are just right.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies I howsweeteats.com

I find that the cookies are best when cold, just coming out of hibernation in the fridge with a thick, cool layer of fudge drizzle on top. I adapted that original recipe a bit due to what I had on hand and through some trial and error. I’m not ashamed to say that I ate the rejects too.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies I howsweeteats.com

I’ll take ten please.

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies I howsweeteats.com
No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

makes about 20 cookies

1 1/4 cups graham cracker crumbs

1/2 cup + 1 tablespoon cup creamy peanut butter

1/3 cup brown rice syrup (you can sub corn or maple syrup)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

pinch of ginger

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix together. Dough will be very crumbly, but continue to mix. Form 1 inch balls with hands – if dough is too crumbly to stick together, add a bit more peanut butter or syrup until it comes together a bit more. Just continue to work with it. Flatten balls and press with a fork to create indentations.

Melt chocolate in a double boiler and drizzle over cookies. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies I howsweeteats.com

Santa better leave diamonds under the tree.