Easy No Bake Avalanche Cookies

Avalanche Cookies are a delicious no bake cookie recipe! Loaded with crispy rice cereal, creamy white chocolate, marshmallows, and peanut butter – every bite hits that perfect mix of chewy and crunchy. They’re quick to whip up in the microwave and one bowl, irresistible for anyone with a sweet tooth, and can easily be made for any holiday by using festive sprinkles on top. 

No Bake Avalanche Cookie Recipe

This avalanche cookies recipe is the ultimate easy treat – it’s completely no bake (only the microwave), you only need one bowl, and only 5 simple ingredients! 

These peanut butter marshmallow cookies are the perfect treat with so much crunch and texture in each bite. You get the creamy white chocolate base, soft marshmallows, Rice Krispies cereal for the ultimate crunch, and creamy peanut butter in each and every bite.

How To Make No Bake Avalanche Cookies (Printable Full Recipe Card)

In a microwave-safe large bowl or glass measuring cup, add the white chocolate chips and creamy peanut butter. Microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring each time, until the mixture is completely melted and smooth. 

Immediately mix the Rice Krispies cereal and mini marshmallows into the melted white chocolate mixture, and stir until combined. 

Drop heaping spoonfuls onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet and sprinkle some mini chocolate chips (m&m’s or sprinkles, whatever you are using) on top of each cookie. 

Allow the cookies to set at room temperature (about 1 hour). Serve & enjoy!

Substitutions & Ingredient Notes

• Creamy Peanut Butter : If you want more crunch then use crunchy peanut butter. I also recommend only using regular creamy peanut butter and nothing that says ‘all-natural’, ‘no stir’, or anything with a thick oil layer on top. Those more natural peanut butters are thicker and have a denser consistency that does not melt as perfectly creamy. Of course you can experiment and see what you prefer. 
• White Chocolate Chips : White vanilla almond bark is an acceptable substitute. I recommend using a high quality brand of white chocolate chips such as Ghirardelli or Guittard, as the flavor really shines through and is the base flavor for the no bake cookies. 
• Mini Chocolate Chips : Get creative with the garnish on top! Use mini m&m’s, mini peanut butter m&m’s, red and green Christmas mix mini m&m’s are perfect for Christmas time, or use chopped up Reese’s peanut butter cups, festive sprinkles, rainbow sprinkles, really anything works here. 

Recipe FAQs

Can I Use Chocolate To Give Them More Of A Reese’s Taste?

Yes, try using milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, or even dark chocolate chips instead of white chocolate chips. You could also do half white chocolate + half chocolate chips. For the garnish on top, use mini Reese’s or chopped up Reese’s peanut butter cups. Another option is to melt some additional peanut butter and drizzle it over top of the avalanche cookies. 

What Do I Do If My Mixture Sets Up As I Scoop The Cookies?

If for some reason the mixture seems to be thickening and get harder to scoop, like it sets up before you’re done scooping, you can microwave it to soften it again. Microwave for 5-10 seconds at a time until it is loose enough for you to scoop again. I have never had this problem, but if you take awhile to scoop out the cookies, or you don’t do it immediately once the mixture is ready, then you could possibly have this problem.

Can I Make These For The Holidays?

Yes. This simple treat is perfect for the holidays because there is minimal time needed to make them and only 5 ingredients. Use Christmas sprinkles, Easter sprinkles, Halloween sprinkles, etc for the tops of the cookies depending on the holiday. You can also use the red & green Christmas mix of mini m&m’s for the tops of the cookies if making them for cookie exchanges or just a sweet treat during the holiday season. 

Why Are They Called Avalanche Cookies?

They’re called avalanche cookies because the mixture of white chocolate, peanut butter, rice krispies, marshmallows, and chocolate chips creates little mounds that look like snow-covered rocks or boulders tumbling down, resembling a mini avalanche in the snow. The white chocolate would be the “snow” while the rocks and mounds are the texture made from the marshmallows and cereal. 

Pro Tips From The Test Kitchen

• For more even-sized cookies, and just a cleaner look, use a small cookie scoop to scoop out the white chocolate peanut butter mixture onto the parchment paper. You can make the cookies as large or small as you want, so use the correct size for what size of cookies you want. A 2 tablespoon cookie scoop is what I use but you could use a 1 tablespoon or even a 3 tablespoon cookie scoop for larger cookies. 
• For the best creamy taste I highly recommend using real white chocolate chips – such as Ghirardelli brand or Guittard brand – rather than the vanilla flavored chips from Nestle brand. 
• Try melting some additional peanut butter in the microwave and drizzle it over top the cookies for an added garnish. Or use milk chocolate or more white chocolate for a drizzle on top.