No Bake Oatmeal Peanut Butter Cookies

‘Tis the season for baking sweet things that taste like memories! During this time of year, so many of us bring out those old recipe cards or whip up something we know by heart, something that might have even been passed down through the family that reminds you of Christmas past. Those are my favorite cooking stories to read and my favorite type of recipes!

This no bake oatmeal peanut butter cookie recipe got passed down to me from my step-mom. I always loved these growing up, always going back to the fridge, where these were kept, for another. These are also one of my dad’s favorites, so the apple really doesn’t fall far from the tree! You know what other type of recipes that are my favorite? Easy ones, just like this one!

What You’ll Need:

2 cups sugar
4 tablespoons cocoa
1 stick butter
1/2 cup milk
1 cup peanut butter
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups oatmeal
parchment/wax paper

In a heavy saucepan, bring to a boil sugar, cocoa, butter, and milk. Let it boil for one minute.

I cut the butter into smaller pieces so it would melt faster.

About to add the milk to the pot…

Mmmm….Smells like cocoa…boiling away! Now take it off the burner after one minute and add the peanut butter, vanilla, and oatmeal.

I always add the peanut butter first while the pot is still hot, stirring it until it melts and incorporates with the cocoa mixture.

Adding the vanilla…

And in goes the oatmeal…Then stir away until it’s all combined.

I got out my cooling racks and covered them with parchment paper to dish out the batter.

The kitchen table turned into my festive work station while making these cookies! You can bet I had Christmas music playing…

On your parchment/wax paper, drop cookies by the teaspoonful and leave them until they’re cooled and hardened. I personally use an ice cream type of scoop for any cookies. It makes it so much easier! I think these turned out to be about a tablespoon, actually. And because I was busy taking pictures for the post, the batter began to cool and harden a little in the pot, giving this batch a bit more shape. Yours might be a little bit more flat at home.