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How To Make Cookies Without An Oven

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The traditional way to make cookies is to bake them in the oven. But what if your oven isn’t working (or you don’t have one) and the craving for freshly baked homemade cookies kicks in?

Do you have to suppress your desire or is there a way around it? Let’s find out!

So, how to make cookies without an oven? There are several easy ways to make cookies without an oven. You could use a crockpot, the microwave, a pressure cooker, your stovetop, or an air fryer, or you could opt for no-bake cookies that require no baking at all!

Read on to find out more about the multiple methods you can use to make cookies when you don’t have an oven!

Best Ways To Make Cookies Without An Oven

Making cookies at home is so much fun. Not only does it mean that you get to enjoy the gooey goodness of freshly baked warm cookies, but also the irresistible aroma that fills up your home!

You can make them yourself, or invite your family or friends over for a nice group activity.

While traditionally prepared in an oven, there are ways you can make cookies without one. This comes as great news if you do not own an oven, or if your oven is broken and you’re not getting it fixed any time soon!

Although unconventional, these alternative methods yield impeccable results, and if you weren’t to tell anyone, we promise no one would even be able to tell that they weren’t baked in an oven!

Here are some of the best ways you can make cookies without an oven.

1. Crockpot

A crockpot, also called a slow cooker, is an electrical cooking appliance that cooks food slowly on the countertop. Not only is it great for making stews and other meat dishes, but also for making cookies and other sweet treats!

Making cookies in the crockpot is super easy, and the best part is that you won’t have to adjust the ingredients in your recipe.

The only drawback is that you won’t have cookies in their typical small shape unless you cut them from the large cookie made in the crockpot.

Here’s what you need to do to make cookies in the crockpot:

  1. Use a sheet of aluminum foil to line the bottom of your crockpot and create a bowl-like shape.
  2. Spray or grease it properly so that the dough doesn’t stick.
  3. Spread the cookie dough evenly over the foil.
  4. Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 4 hours.

Note: The total time it takes to bake the cookie depends on the size of the crockpot — 4 hours is ideal for a 6-quart crockpot!

You can adjust the time if you have a bigger or smaller crockpot; just make sure to regularly keep an eye on the cookie as it cooks.

2. Microwave

Microwaves are incredibly convenient kitchen appliances that serve a wide range of functions. From heating your food to cooking it, microwaves can also be used to make cookies!

Microwave cookies are just as good as oven-baked cookies, but for best results, you will need to adjust your cookie dough recipe a bit.

Although microwaves save a lot of time, they don’t always distribute heat evenly — ingredients such as eggs, chocolate chips, and flavored candies don’t fare too well in a microwave and tend to separate.

For this reason, it is best to eliminate them from the recipe altogether.

This doesn’t at all mean that you have to make plain cookies that lack flavor when using the microwave — you can add flavor by adding ingredients such as cocoa powder, sugar, and cinnamon!

Here’s what you need to do to make cookies in the microwave:

  1. Mix the wet ingredients in one bowl and the dry ingredients in another.
  2. Mix them until you have the right cookie dough consistency.
  3. Form the dough into your desired shape and place it on a microwave-safe plate.
  4. Turn on the microwave for 3–5 minutes.

Note: The total time it takes for the cookie to bake will depend on the microwave you are using. It is best to refer to the manufacturer’s instructions and keep a close eye on the cookies.

3. Pressure Cooker

On the opposite end of the spectrum from slow cookers, pressure cookers cook food much quicker using pressure, while also being countertop appliances.

All you have to do is toss everything in the cooker, set the timer, and wait for the pressure to build up and cook the food!

There are so many things you can make in a pressure cooker, and it also serves as a great alternative to an oven for making cookies.

Here’s what you need to do to make cookies in the pressure cooker:

  1. Prepare the cookie dough like you normally would.
  2. Take a springform pan and grease the base and sides of the pan.
  3. Cover the base of the pan with parchment paper and grease it as well.
  4. Transfer the cookie dough to the pan and press it evenly.
  5. Cover the pan with aluminum foil to protect the cookie from moisture during cooking.
  6. Add some water to the pressure cooker.
  7. Place a trivet inside the pressure cooker and rest the foil-covered pan over it.
  8. Secure the lid of the pressure cooker and let it cook.

Note: This is another method that will produce a really big cookie. Cut it into smaller pieces, or enjoy munching on a comically large cookie — it’s up to you!

4. Stovetop

You may have used your stovetop to make eggs, rice, stews, soups, and everything in between, but what about cookies? Can you make cookies on a stovetop? Of course you can!

The final result of stovetop cookies is usually a bit flatter than oven-baked cookies, but you can use the exact same ingredients and the flavor will be spot-on.

Here’s what you need to do to make cookies on the stovetop:

  1. Start by heavily greasing the pan with butter.
  2. Roll the cookie dough into balls and place them onto the pan.
  3. Using a spatula, flatten the balls of cookie dough and cover the pan with a lid.
  4. Let them cook for around 5 minutes.
  5. Flip the cookies and flatten them once more using the spatula.
  6. Cook for an additional 5 minutes.
  7. Once done, remove the cookies from the pan and allow them to dry on a cooling rack.

Note: We would recommend a non-stick pan for this method. If you don’t have one, you can also lay parchment paper in the pan and then place the cookies on top of that.

5. Air Fryer

Air fryers are small countertop convection ovens that work great as a replacement for full-sized ovens. From fried chicken to French fries, burgers, cakes, and even cookies, you can cook anything in an air fryer.

Air fryer cookies are super easy to make and have the perfect texture — crispy on the edges and soft and chewy in the middle. Yum!

Here’s what you need to do to make cookies in an air fryer:

  1. Use parchment paper to line the basket of the air fryer.
  2. Form balls of cookie dough using either a cookie scoop or your hands.
  3. Place 3–4 balls of the cookie dough into the air fryer basket, making sure there is enough space between the cookies to spread while cooking.
  4. Air fry them at 325°F for 7–8 minutes, or until the edges start to slightly crisp up.
  5. Remove the air fryer basket from the air fryer and let the cookies sit inside for 5 minutes.
  6. Remove them carefully from the basket and place them on a wire rack to cool.

6. No-Bake Cookies

Who says you have to “bake” the cookies, right? If you do not have access to an oven and do not want to opt for any of the above-mentioned alternatives, you can simply take out the baking part entirely and make no-bake cookies!

You can be super creative with the ingredients and experiment according to your taste and preference.

Here’s how you can make no-bake cookies:

Ingredients

  • Sugar
  • Butter
  • Milk
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Crunchy peanut butter
  • Quick-cooking oats
  • Vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Combine the sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa in a saucepan.
  2. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring often.
  3. Boil for 1–2 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat.
  5. Stir in the peanut butter and add the oats and vanilla.
  6. Stir until everything is well combined.
  7. Drop scoopfuls of the mixture onto waxed paper and let it cool until it hardens.

Notes

  • You can also use caramel instead of peanut butter to bind the cookies and coat the cookie mixture with nuts, marshmallows, candies, or crispy rice cereal for the ultimate flavor experience.
No-Bake Cookies

No-Bake Cookies

Who says you have to “bake” cookies? If you don't have access to an oven and don't want to go buy cookies, you can simply take out the baking part entirely and make no-bake cookies!

Ingredients

  • Sugar
  • Butter
  • Milk
  • Unsweetened cocoa powder
  • Crunchy peanut butter
  • Quick-cooking oats
  • Vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Combine the sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa in a saucepan.
  2. Bring the mixture to a boil, stirring often.
  3. Boil for 1–2 minutes.
  4. Remove from heat.
  5. Stir in the peanut butter and add the oats and vanilla.
  6. Stir until everything is well combined.
  7. Drop scoopfuls of the mixture onto waxed paper and let it cool until it hardens.

Notes

  • You may use caramel instead of peanut butter to bind the cookies and coat the cookie mixture with nuts, marshmallows, candies, or crispy rice cereal for the ultimate flavor experience.

Related Questions

Now that you know all about making cookies without an oven and some of the best ways to do so, here are a few additional questions we thought you might have.

Can you bake a cake without an oven?

Yes, if you do not have access to an oven, you can bake a cake in the microwave, air fryer, stovetop, or pressure cooker.

Can you microwave cookie dough in a mug?

Yes, you can microwave cookie dough in a mug or cup, but take extreme care to ensure the mixture doesn’t burn. Cook it in short bursts and be careful while handling it as the center will be extremely hot.

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