No Bake Oatmeal Cocoa Cookie Recipe

This recipe is adapted from one I grew up with. These no-bake cocoa cookies were a staple of my childhood and I vividly remember struggling to wait for them to cool on the counter before I could have one. They are packed with whole grain oats and a little healthy fat and protein from the peanut butter.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 stick of butter

  • Or sub 1 small ripe mashed banana

• 1/2 c. creamy peanut butter

• 1/3 c. cocoa

• 2 c. sugar

• 1/4 tsp. salt

• 3 1/3 c. quick oats

• 2 tsp vanilla

• 1/2 c. milk

Melt butter (or banana) with peanut butter in a medium size pot. Mix in milk, cocoa, salt, and sugar. Turn up the heat and boil for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla then oats. Drop spoonfuls (approx 1/3 c. each) onto wax paper to let set. Makes approx. 24 small cookies.