This is a yummy cookie which does not require an oven, but does require boiling of a portion of the ingredients. Therefore, a responsible adult must be involved in the creation. As if you would want it any other way – this is fun! So, grandmas, parents, and caregivers, pull out your aprons and let's go.

I have made this in a childcare center with mixed groups of kindergartners through third graders. I have also made it at home with preschoolers. It is a marvelous way for children to see how food is made and to hear mathematical words such as “one half, “ “two,” “ tablespoons,” and “cups.” Further benefits are the child’s use of motor skills and eye-hand coordination in dumping the ingredients into the mixing bowl. (Yes, I am an educator!)

Essential to the kid-friendliness of this recipe is safety.  In order to do this it uses a few more bowls or pots than the procedure adults use, BUT it eliminates the need for any child to be stirring a heated saucepan.  Safety keeps the process fun and worry-free.   Therefore, any time you can use non-breakable utensils, that also is recommended. 

2 and ½ cups of uncooked oatmeal

½ cup of soynut butter* or peanut butter

1 teaspoon of vanilla extract

4 Tablespoons of dry cocoa powder (the unsweetened, strong stuff)

½ cup of milk (whatever kind and fat percentage you like)

2 cups of white sugar

                                               *soynut butter has a little less fat

You choose - 

Aprons   

Measuring cups in one cup and one-half cup sizes

Measuring spoons in one teaspoon and one Tablespoon sizes

Large mixing bowl (about 12 inches diameter)

Large stirring spoon (wooden or about 15 inches long)

About 3 table knives and 2 soup spoons 

Waxed paper

Spatula

Stovetop and small saucepan OR Microwave oven and 4-cup sized glass bowl or measuring cup

Once again, you choose - 

(All this pouring can be done by a child.) Pour dry oatmeal into the big bowl.  Add the nut butter to the bowl in little hunks.  Then, use the table knives to stir, pound, slice, and mix the nut butter into the oatmeal.  If you think these knives are not good for your child, go with large spoons.  The result will be nut butter coarsely cut throughout the oats, but certainly not a totally uniform mixture.

If using stovetop, the child can put the milk, sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla extract into a room temperature saucepan over at the counter or the table.  Stir well.  Now the ADULT takes the saucepan to the stovetop and brings it to a boil.  While watching it and adjusting the heat level to prevent a “boiling over event,”  boil for one minute.  PLEASE stay by that pot!  I ignore my own advice frequently and then have my husband yelping to come quickly.  I think it must be like the flashpoint for a fire: one moment all is calm; the next moment things are erupting and expanding.

If using microwave oven, the child can put the milk, sugar, cocoa powder and vanilla extract into the room temperature glass microwave-safe bowl.  Stir well.  Now the ADULT takes the bowl and places it in the microwave.  Then WATCH CAREFULLY as you bring to a boil in microwave and boil for half a minute.

(CHOCOLATE MOUNT VESUVIUS can happen!  It has to us when using a microwave.)

Under either heating method, the adult brings the melted cocoa mix to the large bowl and pours it into the oatmeal ingredients.  The child and adult may take turns to stir it well.  The heat of this cocoa mix melts the nut butter and helps it spread throughout the batter.

Drop the batter by spoonfuls onto waxed paper.  They will cool at room temperature, however if you want to cool them faster because you JUST CAN’T WAIT TO TASTE THEM, you can put them in the refrigerator or freezer.  To do this, use a cookie tray or other hard, flat dish under the waxed paper so that you can lift it and carry it without dropping all the cookies on the floor.

Enjoy!

Copyright 2009 Maren E. Morgan-Thomson

Enjoying food is one of the gifts of being alive. Maren has had many a special moment, not only in eating with friends and family, but especially in preparing foods with her sons which always included adding that special ingredient: love.