Life's great journey is made up of day by day delights.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

A Family Favorite

Mmmmmm!
I’m sure some of you are familiar with these little morsels of chocolately goodness but just in case you’re not, these are (drum roll please)........NO-BAKE COOKIES!!!


I’ve grown up with these delicious treats. If cookies could be a family crest, no-bakes would be ours! We all know and love no-bakes. Aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, nieces, nephews, brothers, sisters….Everyone. Loves. These. Cookies. If there is a plate of no-bakes out on a table, you can bet your bottom dollar my family will find them!

I <3 these cookies for a few reasons:

1. They are amazingly good!!! They’re kind of a cure-all when one is feeling blue. I personally use them to tame the raging hormonal beast within. Hubby also loves these cookies (probably for the same reason!) ;-)
2. Sugar, butter, peanut butter….just a few of the ingredients that one typically has around the house. No need to scramble yourself together to the grocery store to buy ingredients that you will use for this one recipe. Whenever the craving hits, you’ll most likely be ready!
3. EASY, EASY, EASY! They take all of 5{ish} minutes to make and then TADAH! you’re done.

Everyone makes them a little different but today, I’m sharing how I make these scrumptious little goodies!

NO-BAKE COOKIES

1 stick of butter
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tsp. salt
½ c. Half & Half or cream
3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
2 c. sugar
½ c. peanut butter
2-3 c. quick rolling oats

In a medium pan, place all ingredients except the peanut butter and oats. Turn on High heat, mix together, and let the butter melt, stirring continually. Let this get to a boil and once it does, stir it constantly for 1 minute solid. Do not let it go longer than that because it can dry out if on the stovetop. After one minute, remove from heat and add the peanut butter till it is perfectly incorporated. Quickly add the oats but to your taste. I probably do about 2-2 ½ cups but the recipe actually calls for 3. I find that if I do 3 cups my cookies are a little crumbly and dry. By doing half and half or cream and using less oats, I end up with a fudgier cookie which seems to be more universally appealing. Once the oats are mixed in, drop by spoonful onto waxed paper. Do within 5 minutes or so otherwise it will harden into the pan. Allow to cool and solidify and POW! YUMMY COOKIES!!!

So if a chocolate craving hits or you need a quick goodie and a trip to the store isn’t in your game plan, head to your kitchen! Whip up a batch of these. Believe me! NO one will complain! ;-)

Have you had these before? Does your recipe differ from mine?

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