Classic No Bake Cookies

Okay this is a recipe that brings back some serious memories for me. I can remember clear as day my mom stirring the ingredients for these cookies over the stove, and then spooning them on wax paper, and me waiting impatiently for the cookies to set so I could eat them (although to be honest they are super yummy while they are hot still, you just have to eat them with a spoon!).

If you've never had no bake cookies, you are missing out. They are awesome because, well, they taste yummy! Peanut butter, oats, and chocolate. And I add a little coconut too! You don't have to slave over baking batches and batches. Waiting for one to finish cooking, spooning more dough on a pan, and waiting again. You cook over a stove for like five minutes, spoon onto wax paper or foil, and wait for them to set. That's it. It's like magic!

These cookies are easy to make, but a little tempermental if you over or under cook them. But no worries! They are yummy either way - and if you overcook them and they get hard and crumbly? Crumble them over ice cream or in yogurt. Add them to trail mix. Something! Did you undercook them, and now it's runny and won't set? Spoon it over ice cream (see a theme??) or do what I do...grab a spoon and a bowl, and eat way too much.

But don't you fret!! I will tell you how to make these perfect EVERY TIME- and you will only over or under cook your no bake cookies if you want to. You know, because you want to eat them with a bowl and spoon. I do it all the time, so it's perfectly okay!

Combine the sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa powder in a pan over medium-ish heat.

I love Hershey's Special Dark cocoa powder. For a while I couldn't find it and my world starting crumbling...but then it reappeared on my grocery store aisle and all is well now in Celeste World!

Anyway, you stir the first four ingredients until they boil. Wait for it to be at a FULL boil (not just a pretty simmer) and set your timer for 1 minute 30 seconds. Remove from heat and add vanilla, peanut butter, and oats (and coconut if you choose to use it). Stir well.

Spoon your mixture onto foil or wax paper into little mounds (the size is completely up to you!)

Serve with a glass of milk and will power - because it's very possible to eat the whole batch!

Classic No Bake Cookies

by Girls in Aprons

1 3/4 cups white sugar

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

4 T unsweetened cocoa powder

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter (you can use creamy if you prefer)

3 cups quick cooking oats

1 tsp vanilla extract

Optional: 1/3 to 1/2 cup shredded coconut

In a medium saucepan combine the sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa powder. Bring to a full boil, and cook for one and a half minutes (set the timer!). Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the peanut butter, vanilla, and oats. Also, if you are using coconut, stir it in at this time as well. Drop by spoonful onto wax paper or foil. Let is set until cool, about one hour.

**Tip - to measure peanut butter and other sticky foods, spray your measuring cup with cooking spray. The peanut butter will slide right out!