No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate and Oatmeal Cookies

From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...It took longer to trace this recipe to its original online source than it did to make the cookies. The recipe, which is quite old, has appeared in many places over the years, but I think it was first published online by the Food Network in 2004. It ended up in my kitchen because I was on the prowl for recipes that could be made by children, and these cookies seemed perfect. Was I right? Kinda. While the cookies are no-bake, they are not no-cook. There is a point where a hot mixture containing sugar bubbles away on the stove, and I think some supervision is in order to prevent spills and serious burns. The recipe is definitely within the realm of possibility for kids over ten, but certainly not for anyone younger. The cookie, which is actually more of a confection, is delicious and, despite my concerns about hot sugar, it is very easy to make. There's just one trick; you have to make sure that the sugar mixture boils hard for at least one minute, otherwise the cookies will be sugary instead of creamy. If you are very patient, these cookies can be formed and set within cookie cutters, but I tend to follow the line of least resistance and simply dropped them on to waxed paper to cool. If you are looking for a rainy day project for children, this would be a perfect way to spend an hour or two. Here's the recipe.

No-Bake Peanut Butter, Chocolate and Oatmeal Cookies...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite courtesy of Helen Ostrosky and the Food Network

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar

4 tablespoons cocoa

1 stick butter

1/2 cup milk

1 cup peanut butter

1 tablespoon vanilla

3 cups quick-cooking oatmeal (not instant)

Directions:

In a heavy saucepan bring to a boil, sugar, cocoa, butter and milk. Let boil for 1 minute then add peanut butter, vanilla and oatmeal. On a sheet of waxed paper, drop mixture by teaspoonfuls, until cooled and hardened. Yield: 24 to 36 cookies depending on size.