How To Make Chocolate No-Bake Cookies
Chocolate No-Bake Cookies
No-bake chocolate cookies are a quick and easy treat that can be made with the minimum of fuss. As they're so simple to make, you might want to get the kids involved. These were one of the first foods I taught my daughter to make when she was younger and, although you have to keep a careful watch over your kids when there are hot liquids involved, they can help out with measuring and stirring.
These cookies don't contain flour or eggs, so are great for people who have allergies to those. You can also omit the peanut butter if you are unable to eat nuts. In fact, you can adapt these cookies in lots of different ways to suit your own tastes.
I have included a classic chocolate no-bake cookie recipe and there is also a recipe for my favorite white chocolate and cranberry no-bake cookies which is also incredibly easy to follow. Hope you enjoy!
Cook time - includes time for cooling
Ingredients
- 2 cups white sugar
- 1/2 cup butter, unsalted
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1.5 oz chocolate
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup peanut butter, chunky or smooth depending on preference
- 3 cups oatmeal
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
To make chocolate no-bake cookies
- Take a baking sheet and line it with baking parchment. Set this aside for later.
- Put the sugar, butter, cocoa powder, chocolate and milk into a large saucepan and place over a medium - high heat. Stirring occasionally, bring to the boil. When the mixture reaches the boil, let it continue to boil for 2 minutes. Now remove from the heat.
- Stir in the vanilla - watch it will sizzle - along with the peanut butter and oatmeal.
- Drop spoonfuls of the cookie mix onto your parchment-lined baking sheet and allow to cool for at least 30 minutes.
Alternative Suggestions
If you prefer not to use peanut butter, you can simply leave this out. Instead, add an extra 1/2 cup of oatmeal.
You can substitute the oatmeal for dried coconut for a different flavor. Try using 1.5 cups of oatmeal and 1.5 cups of coconut.
If you like, you can add raisins or chopped nuts instead of the peanut butter.
You could eat the cookies before they've cooled completely as a nice dessert, by breaking them into small pieces and serving with vanilla ice cream.
White Chocolate and Cranberry No-Bake Cookies
These are a really fudgy treat. They are quite sweet with the sugar and white chocolate, but the tart cranberries cut through this nicely. If you wanted, you could substitute cherries for the cranberries. They are really great served with a cup of tea.
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups sugar
- 3.5 oz white chocolate
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3 cups oatmeal
- 1 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- First put a piece of baking parchment on a sheet tray and set aside for later.
- Now place the sugar, white chocolate, butter and milk into a large saucepan. Bring to the boil and allow to boil for 2 minutes (no more, no less).
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the vanilla - be careful, it will splutter when the cold liquid hits the hot. Now stir in the oatmeal until everything is well combined. Finally, add in the cup of dried cranberries. Stir well - this will give your arms a bit of a work out.
- Drop the mixture onto the baking parchment using a spoon or ice-cream scoop. You should get around 12 good sized cookies. Leave to cool for a minimum of 30 minutes.
