No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
1/2 cup milk
2 cup sugar
1/4 cup baking cocoa
3 cup uncooked oatmeal
1/2 cup peanut butter (plain or crunchy)
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 Tbsp. espresso powder (optional)
1/2 cup nuts (your choice/optional)
Have oatmeal, peanut butter, and vanilla measured out and ready to go in
separate containers. I like to use extra crunchy peanut butter and skip the
optional nuts.
In heavy pan, melt butter. Stir in sugar, cocoa, and milk. Bring to boil and
boil for exactly three minutes.
Remove from heat and quickly stir in peanut butter, espresso powder, and
vanilla. As soon as the peanut butter is mixed in, fold in the oatmeal.
Spoon out chunks onto wax or parchment paper (or aluminum foil). Allow to cool
completely -- they will firm up and even change from a candy consistency to a
cookie consistency right before your eyes. They can be stored in air tight
container outside of fridge.
Makes 20 - 60 cookies depending on who is spooning them out. ;-)
Prep time: 7-10 minutes (incl. spooning them out)
Cooling: ~20 minutes (and, yes, I've whipped up a batch in less than 30 min.)