No Bake Cookies have been a tradition in my family for as long as I can remember.  Perfect for when you’re absolutely dying for chocolate and peanut butter but are too lazy to put things in and out of the oven (read: PMS).  Also perfect for when you’re craving the absolute unhealthiest cookie ever.  It happens sometimes.  Everything in moderation, right?

We were having one of those days, and my sisters were kind enough to do the “hard work” while I took photos. See if you can tell whose hands are whose…or whom’s…or hoooos…

Lots of sugar

And butter

Cocoa powder

And melting

This is making me hungry

Oh man, and the peanut butter

And then the peanut butter melts in the chocolate, and it smells amazing

And then it gains volume

Vanilla just makes everything better

Oh goodness. I know what I’m doing later.

This is too easy

They even make your refrigerator smell good

If you have the patience to wait for them to cool, they peel right off the parchment. I don’t always have the patience. It’s chocolate and peanut butter! Don’t judge, you know you do it too 🙂

I like looking at the bottoms, because they’re so perfect compared to the haystack-like tops

And in my mouth it goes!

1 3/4 cups Sugar
1/2 cup  Butter
1/2 cup Milk
4 tbsp Cocoa Powder
1 cup Peanut Butter
3 cups Oats
1 tbsp Vanilla

In a saucepan, combine the sugar, butter, milk and cocoa powder.  Bring this mixture to a gentle bowl, then add the peanut butter and stir until just combined.  Remove from heat and add remaining ingredients.  Drop spoon fulls of batter onto parchment paper and place in the refrigerator or freezer until chilled.

Happy no-baking!