These 3-ingredient no-bake Ritz Cracker Cookies are the easiest cookie recipe made with Ritz crackers, peanut butter and vanilla candy coating. Decorate them for any party or event throughout the year!
Sometimes the most simple recipes are the most delicious! These Ritz Cracker Cookies are quick to make, store well, and have the perfect balance of sweet and savory.
Just Ritz Crackers, peanut butter, and vanilla candy coating are all you need for this impressive cookie recipe. Feel free to customize them to your liking with different fillings or a regular chocolate coating. A popular spin on these cookies is the filling combination of peanut butter and marshmallow cream. These are often called Fluffernutter cookies and are super delicious as well!
I happen to be pretty experienced making these easy treats as I make them every year for my Christmas goodie bag menu. A big box always makes the long journey from Texas to Kentucky for Christmas and they’ll forever be a part of our cookie exchanges.
Table of Contents
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- MINIMAL Ingredients: With just 3 ingredients and maximum satisfaction, these easy treats require minimal shopping and preparation.
- No-Bake Treat: No oven needed so these can be made anywhere and they store well for weeks!
- Incredibly Easy: Great for cooks of all levels, these are quick and easy recipe to make!
- Versatile for Celebrations: Customize the filling or festive sprinkles on top of the coated peanut butter sandwiches for any holiday or special occasion. They’re the perfect treat for birthday parties, Valentine’s Day…really any holiday. Add red and green sprinkles and add them to your holiday cookie tray.
- Perfect Combination of Flavors: This sweet and salty treat has the best combination of flavors! With a creamy peanut butter filling, crunchy salty buttery cracker crust, and sweet candy exterior, they’re an instant winner!
Ingredients for Ritz Cracker Cookies
Scroll down for specific ingredient amounts in the recipe card.
- Ritz Crackers: Provides a buttery, salty base for the cookie.
- Smooth Peanut Butter: Adds richness, flavor, and a creamy texture to the cookie. It also enhances the overall nuttiness.
- Vanilla Candy Coating: Adds sweetness and a smooth, glossy finish to the cookie.
- Optional: Sprinkles and Food Coloring as desired
Best Type of Coating or Chocolate for Dipping
Vanilla candy coating is easy to melt and requires no tempering. Both candy coating and white chocolate contain sugar, milk powder, lecithin and vanilla, but white chocolate uses cocoa butter for its fat while coatings and chips use palm oil.
The palm oil is hydrogenated to make more solid at room temperature and more like cocoa butter. You can substitute the candy coating with any kind of chocolate, it just won’t be as crisp of a bite.
How to Make Chocolate Covered Ritz Crackers
- Making these cookies is very simple! First, prepare a countertop with some parchment or wax paper long enough for the amount of cookies you’re planning on making (note: plan on making more than you think will be eaten…they’ll be gone fast!)
- Spread 1-2 teaspoons of peanut butter between 2 crackers, the salted side of the crackers facing outward. Any more peanut butter than than makes for a difficult time dipping.
- Once all the peanut butter crackers are made, microwave and stir vanilla candy coating in 20-30 second intervals until smooth.
- Dip each peanut butter and cracker into the coating, shaking off any excess coating and scraping the bottom side on the side of the dish before placing on the wax paper.
- With the remaining vanilla coating, stir in your desired food coloring. You can drizzle the colored coating on top with a spoon or fill a ziploc bag with it. I find it much easier with a bag and snipping the corner for even drizzling.
- Once the cookies harden, after about 10-15 minutes, gently lift them from the wax paper and break off any excess coating.
Recipe Tips and Substitutions
- Assembly and Cleanup Tips: Wear gloves or use 2 forks for peanut butter cracker dipping. With the fork method, you’ll use 1 fork to dip the crackers in melted coating and the other to gently slide it off the first fork onto parchment paper or wax paper.
- Melting White Chocolate or Vanilla Candy Coating: Melt gently using a double boiler or in short bursts in the microwave to prevent burning. Stir frequently for even melting.
- Even Coating: Ensure each cracker is evenly coated with peanut butter and candy coating or white chocolate for a balanced flavor in each bite.
- Chill for Setting: Allow the cookies to set completely on parchment paper before transferring to a storage container. Chill in the refrigerator or freezer for them to set faster.
- Peanut Butter Alternatives: If needed, substitute peanut butter with almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter. Each will provide a slightly different flavor profile. Nutella (hazelnut spread) or cookie butter are also delicious fillers. Mixing equal parts peanut butter and marshmallow fluff is also super yummy!
- Vanilla Candy Coating Substitutes: Candy Coating Substitutes: Chocolate almond bark or melted chocolate can also be used for dipping. You can use white chocolate chips, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or a combination for a different chocolatey twist. Chocolate wafers tend to melt more easily.
- Cracker Variety: Experiment with different crackers or cookies as a base. Graham crackers or buttery shortbread can be an yummy alternatives.
- Nut Additions: Mix in chopped nuts such as almonds, pecans, or walnuts for added crunch and flavor.
- Flavor Enhancements: Add a dash of vanilla extract, cinnamon, or a pinch of sea salt to enhance the overall flavor of the filling.
- Decorate for All Occasions: This easy cookie recipe is great for all special occasions! You can switch up the drizzle colors and even add sprinkles! Crushed peppermint bark, melted milk chocolate chips or chocolate candy melts, or flaky sea salt are also excellent toppers.
Storage and Freezing
Store these cookies at room temperature in an airtight container or in a cool place for up to 3-4 weeks. They are also great to store in the refrigerator, just be sure to bring them out 30 minutes prior to eating. Store the cookies between layers of wax paper.
You can also freeze the ritz cookies in an airtight container for up to one month. Thaw at room temperature for a couple of hours before serving.
FAQs
Store in an airtight container at room temperature or in the refrigerator for up to five days. Lay them in the container in a single layer with a piece of wax paper between each layer. If refrigerating, be sure to let them sit out at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.
Shake or drag the excess chocolate or candy coating off the side of the bowl prior to placing on parchment or wax paper on the counter or prepared baking sheet. Be sure to let the cookies sit and dry at room temperature for 10-15 minutes or pop them into the fridge or freezer to set as well. They should be dry to the touch when you pick them up.
You can use chocolate with a tablespoon of coconut oil instead. This works great as an alternative to melting wafers.
Use almond butter, cashew butter, sunflower seed butter, Nutella (hazelnut spread) or cookie butter instead of peanut butter as a filler for these cookies. An equal part mixture of peanut butter and marshmallow creme is excellent too!
Use gluten-free crackers and ensure the brand of vanilla candy coated used is gluten-free as well.
More Holiday Treat Recipes
Ritz Cracker Cookies (No-bake, 3-ingredients!)
Ingredients
- Ritz Crackers
- Creamy Peanut Butter
- Vanilla Candy Coating
- Red/Green Food Coloring
Instructions
- Place 1 ½ teaspoons peanut butter in the center of a cracker, spread to within a ¼-inch of the edge and place another cracker on top. (I like the salty sides of the cracker to be on the outside).
- Melt candy coating in the microwave, stirring every 20 seconds until smooth. Dip each peanut butter cracker in the coating, ensuring all surfaces are covered, slide the bottom of the cracker along the side of the dish to remove some of the excess coating, and place on wax paper.
- Once all of the peanut butter crackers have been dipped, take some additional melted candy coating and mix with food colorings in separate bowls to desired color shades. Pour each color in their own Ziploc bag. Working with one at a time, snip the corner with scissors and drizzle the coating along each cracker in lines. Repeat with the second color, criss- crossing the other color.
- Allow the cookies to harden, pull from wax paper and break off any excess coating.
Video
Notes
- Assembly and Cleanup Tips: Wear gloves or use 2 forks for peanut butter cracker dipping. With the fork method, you'll use 1 fork to dip the crackers in melted coating and the other to gently slide it off the first fork onto parchment paper or wax paper.
- Melting White Chocolate or Vanilla
Candy Coating: Melt gently using a double boiler or in short bursts in the microwave to prevent burning. Stir frequently for even melting. - Even Coating: Ensure each cracker is evenly coated with peanut butter and candy coating or white chocolate for a balanced flavor in each bite.
- Chill for Setting: Allow the cookies to set completely on parchment paper before transferring to a storage container. Chill in the refrigerator or freezer for them to set faster.
- Peanut Butter Alternatives: If needed, substitute peanut butter with almond butter, cashew butter, or sunflower seed butter. Each will provide a slightly different flavor profile. Nutella (hazelnut spread) or cookie butter are also delicious fillers.
Mixing equal parts peanut butter and marshmallow fluff is also super yummy! - Vanilla Candy Coating Substitutes: Chocolate almond bark or melted chocolate can also be used for dipping. You can use white chocolate chips, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, or a combination for a different chocolatey twist. Chocolate wafers tend to melt more easily.
- Cracker Variety: Experiment with different crackers or cookies as a base. Graham crackers or buttery shortbread can be an yummy alternatives.
- Nut Additions: Mix in chopped nuts such as almonds, pecans, or walnuts for added crunch and flavor.
- Flavor Enhancements: Add a dash of vanilla extract, cinnamon, or a pinch of sea salt to enhance the overall flavor of the filling.
- Decorate Tor All Occasions: I his easy cookie recipe is great for all special occasions! You can switch up the drizzle colors and even add sprinkles! Crushed peppermint bark, melted milk chocolate chips or chocolate candy melts, or flaky sea salt are also excellent toppers.
Cheryl Mize
Love your recipes and watching you on face book.
Laura Ashley
You’re so kind! Thank you so much! That really means so much to me!
Debbie
I made these three times over Christmas. I didn't know what the big deal was until I tasted one. They were delicious! Thank you so much for this recipe!!
Laura Ashley
That is WONDERFUL!! I'm so happy they were a part of your holiday and that they were such a bit hit! Thank you!!
Debbie Deal
I only made these because I needed one more little treat to fill a gift box. I had all the ingredients so I thought why not! What I didn't expect was to fall in love with these. After the chocolate sets good, they're just awesome! I ended up making them four more times!
Laura Ashley
Thank you so much for giving these a try! I'm so happy they won you over!