No Bake Cookies

It's been too hot to turn on the oven but we were craving some homemade sweets. I turned to an old favorite recipe - No Bake Cookies!

I've eaten these things for as long as I can remember. My elementary school even served them for lunch in the cafeteria. They showed up regularly in our house while I was growing up, too.

And best of all, they're no bake! No turning the oven on! Perfect for this heat wave we've been enduring.

Here's what you need:

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup cocoa
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 1/2 cups quick oats
2 teas vanilla

In a large saucepan, melt the butter. Stir in the sugar, milk and cocoa. Whisk until smooth.

Bring to a boil. Get a timer ready because it's very important to cook this for exactly 1 and a half minutes.


It's starting to bubble nicely. But not boiling. We want a full rolling boil before we start the timer.


Now we're talking!


Start timing at this point.


When the time is up, remove from the heat and add the peanut butter and vanilla. I just love this Pampered Chef measuring cup for peanut butter. It shoves it all right out into the pan! Keep stirring until the peanut butter has melted into the chocolate mixture.


Stir in the oats. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and allow to harden. It is so hard to leave them alone while they're cooling!


Store in an airtight container. You don't want them to dry out!

I simply adore eating these! They bring back so many good memories! How about you? Do you have a special treat that takes you back to your childhood?