If I were to pick one iconic cookie from my childhood, it would have to be chocolate no-bake cookies. This was one of the first recipes I learned to make by myself and it seemed like we always had some around. My mom taught my big brother to make them and then he taught me a few years later. (By the way, the unnamed witness in this story was my big brother. He’s such a good guy — and not just because he taught me to make these!)
When I moved into my first apartment and had to cook for myself, I asked my parents to send me this recipe right off. My diet in those early years of young adulthood consisted of grilled cheese sandwiches, salads, Noodle-roni, bean soup and these cookies. Healthy, no? Oh and gin and tonics too.
I actually forgot about this recipe for years and years, and then just the other day I saw a variation of it on Pinterest and I suddenly had to make it again.
This recipe is so straightforward that we had all the ingredients in the house. You’ll need:
- 1 stick butter
- 1/2 cup milk
- 6 tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 cups of sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
Start by putting a saucepan over medium high heat. Plonk in the butter, let it melt for a bit and then add in the milk, sugar and cocoa. Mix well and heat the mixture to boiling.
Once it’s at a full, rolling boil stir it frequently and let it boil for 2-3 minutes. This is my favorite part because it looks so cool. My brother and I used to call it “chocolate lava” when it was in this state which is pretty accurate.
After the 2-3 minutes of boiling, remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla and oatmeal.
Drop by spoonfuls onto a piece of parchment or waxed paper.
Make sure you save the last little bit aside in a bowl. Once it’s no longer molten, you can eat it with a spoon. It’s chocolatey and gooey and delicious. This is the second best part.
Try to eat these up the same day you make them before they harden completely and they’re still a little chewy. Once they sit overnight, the sugar crystallizes and they’re not nearly as good.
Is there a food that sends you right back to childhood?
