From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...It took longer to trace this recipe to its original online source than it did to make the cookies. The recipe, which is quite old, has appeared in many places over the years, but I think it was first published online by the Food Network in 2004. It ended up in my kitchen because I was on the prowl for recipes that could be made by children, and these cookies seemed perfect. Was I right? Kinda. While the cookies are no-bake, they are not no-cook. There is a point where a hot mixture containing sugar bubbles away on the stove, and I think some supervision is in order to prevent spills and serious burns. The recipe is definitely within the realm of possibility for kids over ten, but certainly not for anyone younger. The cookie, which is actually more of a confection, is delicious and, despite my concerns about hot sugar, it is very easy to make. There's just one trick; you have to make sure that the sugar mixture boils hard for at least one minute, otherwise the cookies will be sugary instead of creamy. If you are very patient, these cookies can be formed and set within cookie cutters, but I tend to follow the line of least resistance and simply dropped them on to waxed paper to cool. If you are looking for a rainy day project for children, this would be a perfect way to spend an hour or two. Here's the recipe.
No-Bake Peanut Butter, Chocolate and Oatmeal Cookies...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Helen Ostrosky and the Food Network
Ingredients:
2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 stick butter
1/2 cup milk
1 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant)
Directions:
In a heavy saucepan bring to a boil, sugar, cocoa, butter and milk. Let boil for 1 minute then add peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. On a sheet of waxed paper, drop mixture by teaspoonfuls, until cooled and hardened. Yield: 24 to 36 cookies depending on size.
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I'm going to try this today evening, too tempting and too good.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great recipe! I have to try these some day! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI'll need to make these, they are so easy, and look so good! The girls would love them.
ReplyDeleteBoiled biscuits. Sounds awesome!
ReplyDeleteThese look absolutely amazing. All my favourite foods - chocolate, peanut butter and oatmeal - in one gorgeous little cookie. Yum.
ReplyDeleteI've been wanting to try a no-bake cookie recipe for some time now and I think I've found the one! Bookmarked! I love peanut butter so this is a definite winner in my book already :) Hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day!
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure about the 2004 date, because we made these in Girl Scouts over 50 years ago!!! They are absolutely delicious, but I just HAVE to know how you made them so perfect. Did you use a ring mold? How did you do it?
ReplyDeleteMary....these cookies are certainly mouth watering and I am drooling already. Happy Valentine's Day to you and have a sweet one with your loved ones :)
ReplyDeleteI think these go way back. My mother made a similar cookie when I was a child (hence the "way" back). She called them "preacher cookies". If the preacher stopped by unannounced, you could have these ready to serve by the time he got his coat off. I don't ever recall that happening but we enjoyed the tasty treats.
ReplyDeleteBest,
Bonnie
One of my favorite cookies, but I know it goes beyond 2004. My aunt made them all the time when I was a kid, and that was at least 35 years ago!!
ReplyDeleteNo-bake is my favorite kind of baking :)
ReplyDeleteYou know I have a special file for Little Man recipes! ;)
ReplyDeleteHope your Valentine's Day is filled with love and laughter, Mary! blessings ~ tanna
Simple AND chocolate... how could anyone not want to make these??
ReplyDeleteSo simple and I bet so yummy!A must try!xxx
ReplyDeleteLove these really! It's quick ans so tasty!
ReplyDeleteThese remind me of "haystacks" from my childhood.
ReplyDeleteMy twin sister used to make these when we were kids and we called them "rabbit tracks". I'm not quite sure why, but you sure brought back memories again today. Happy Valentine's Day Mary.
ReplyDeleteI love this combination and all the variations. We also made these when young - but not exactly the same - I'm sure we didn't boil the sugar hard for a minute or two. These would be creamier than my days of yore and even more delicious.
ReplyDeleteWe have made these for decades and they are very good. Yours look so round and perfect. How did you do that? Thanks.
ReplyDeleteMy sisters and I used to make these almost every Saturday. There was spirited debate about when to start dropping onto the waxed paper, and disappointed when they were too soft to set up, what we called "spoon cookies". A sweet memory indeed.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you posted that old recipe. I remember them serving that to us in elementary school. It's a keeper, time loved, and shared. Happy Valentine's Day.
ReplyDeletePerfect flavors for kids and adults who still enjoy a childhood treat. I remember making different types of peanut butter and chocolate confections when I was a kid as part of family kitchen projects.
ReplyDeleteThe fact that these are SO easy to make is both so awesome and So dangerous.
ReplyDeleteI've never had a cookie like this before. Will add it to my list of recipes to try!
ReplyDeleteI've made something similar with cereal, but with oatmeal sounds even better. The nice thing about no-bake recipes that you still have to cook is that there is a point where they are too hot to eat, preventing you from stuffing your face :).
ReplyDeleteThese cookies go back a lot longer than the Food Network. I remember my mother and grandmother making these when I was a child. I'm 67 years old.
ReplyDeleteYUM! I loove these cookies. They're so dangerous because I almost always have all of these ingredients laying around the house. Delicious!
ReplyDeleteThese truly made my mouth water. Absolutely fantastic!
ReplyDeleteI certainly did not mean anything unkind about my comment on the No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookie. So many of our recipes go back years. I have no idea where these cookies originated, I posted the same recipe a few days ago. The only people I've ever seen make them were my mom and grandmother. I have no idea where they got the recipe. I love your recipes and blog. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteThese are perfect for kids to make. I made them when I was a kid in grade school, way back, almost 50 years, sigh.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I still love them-yours look perfectly formed Mary!
Wow, like the combination of oatmeal and peanut butter...looks delicious these cookies.
ReplyDeleteHappy Valentine's Day Mary :)
Mary,
ReplyDeleteI visited your blog today and I found it very pleasing to the eye. It made me want "One Perfect Bite." Thanks for sharing. Thank you for visiting my blog too.
Blessings,
Shelia
I think they look pretty perfectly formed... and absolutely delicious! I would love to try this one :) Thanks for sharing, Mary!
ReplyDeleteThese were the very first cookie I learned to make as a child! :-) Thank you for the wonderful walk down recipe memory lane - and for the reminder to fix them again soon! :-)
ReplyDeleteI bet the no-bake cookies would work with rice-krispy cereal, too instead of the oats (although they probably wouldn't be as healthy). I hope that you have a lovely day!
ReplyDeleteNow, this is what I call a quickie snack!
ReplyDeleteKristy
These little fellas sure looks delicious! This is now on top of my to-do list :)
ReplyDeletewow. I totally remember no-bake cookies. I haven't made them in ages. What a great idea, and fun with the kiddos.
ReplyDeleteThis is one of my favorites. I remember eating them at Bible school when I was little... now I like to make them when we need a quick treat.
ReplyDeleteWe used to have these in grade school clear bake in the '60's. They had lots of helpful, clean up volunteers on those days. We called them 'Fudge Gems'. Been looking for a good recipe for them for some time. Yours are always good.
ReplyDelete