Sunday, July 1, 2012

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

There's plenty of heat to go around this July.  Instead of dwelling too much on it, we refresh, we rest, we eat large bowls of salad. Until we can get out of the city, we think up new indoor activities, read stacks of library books, and sing.  This past week I made some baked granola bars and vowed not to use the oven again.  Summer needs a no-bake cookie.

Then I remembered my step-mom's affectionately termed "cow-plop" New Englander cookies, that are boiled, not baked.  I had written down her recipe last summer during a visit and had been waiting for the right time to make them.  I remember eating them on a hot, buggy night, typical of Massachusetts.  She was making them to put in a care package for her daughter (she's always doing things like that). The peanut butter and chocolate combination were so addictive and she generously ignored the furtiveness of my hand creeping back to grab another.

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

I took a few liberties by modifying her recipe.  I hope she doesn't mind.  She's been making them since the 70's.  My version has half the sugar but I added chocolate chips, whole peanuts and a dash of kosher salt.  I'm keeping mine in the refrigerator, which is not necessary, but they are quite nice slightly chilled.  Together with a cold glass of milk, this is my new summer-time cookie.

No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies

1 stick unsalted butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
1/2 cup peanut butter (I recommend using just ground peanuts, no sugar added)
1/2 cup milk
3 cups quick oats (or you can pulse regular oats in the food processor)
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup roasted, unsalted peanuts (slightly chopped)
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

In a medium sauce pan, melt the butter and add the vanilla, cocoa powder, peanut butter and milk.  Stir briefly to melt and combine all ingredients.  Remove pan from heat and stir in the oats, kosher salt, peanuts and chocolate chips (these will melt slightly.)  Roll into small balls (a bit smaller than a golf ball) and place on a cookie sheet lined with wax paper.  Cool on the counter top or refrigerate.

11 comments:

  1. these no-bakes are really terrific. I have made a similar version that I used in a cooking class at a school that didn't have a kitchen---just a sink and a microwave. Perfect (especially now) kept nice and cool in the fridge.

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    1. Hi Nancy, I can't believe it's taken me so long to discover and make these! It's the answer to my summertime woes!

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  2. Nice! Thanks for sharing this recipe. I would love to do this too :)

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  3. Considering the heatwave we are experiencing here, this sounds like it could come in handy!

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  4. That easy? To make next time we want to satisfy our sweet tooth and don't want to use the oven (so hot here now!); thanks!

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  5. Nicole: brilliant, and I think these make excellent anytime cookies for little helpers that do not need to be handling the oven even in winter (I know I have 2 of those such helpers!!!). How are you, dear? I think of you anytime the thermometer goes up and hope you are staying cool with the extra "warmth" your body is generating these days...

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  6. I've never made no bake cookies before. They look good!

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  7. These sound perfect straight out the fridge during our hot spell. enjoy

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  8. This is the perfect summer, no heating up the kitchen, dessert. Genius. Thanks.

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  9. What a great recipe - perfect for the heat. I'll be making these this week.

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  10. I've been craving peanut butter lately, and like you, I like the just peanuts type. These look the perfect summer cookie.

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