No Bake Cookies

This post is in honor of Chelsea, who requested the recipe for these scrumptious treats. I hope that y'all are finally successful in making these, Chelsea!! When making these, I generally use only half the amount of sugar called for. They're a little healthier and taste a little fudgier that way, and if you like them sweeter you can put a dusting of powdered sugar on top.

---No Bake Cookies---

Ingredients:
-1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
-1/2 cup evaporated milk
-2 cups sugar
-1/2 cup cocoa
-1 tsp vanilla
-1/4 cup peanut butter
-3 cups quick oats

Directions:
Combine the butter, milk, sugar, and cocoa in a pot and bring to a rolling boil. Continue boiling for one minute without stirring. Remove from heat and add in the vanilla, peanut butter, and oats. Quickly drop rounded spoonfuls onto wax paper, or pat them out into a pan to make bar cookies and cut when cool.

Chocolate Chip Cookies

For some reason I thought that I already had this recipe here (enough people have asked for it, that's for sure!) This is my favorite ever chocolate chip cookie recipe, and I think I've made it a billion or so times. Its a good recipe if you're wanting to substitute butterscotch chips or mint chocolate chips. I imagine nuts or candy sprinkles could be added as well. Its a very workable recipe, and so basic and easy to stuff in a mixer and prepare! They can be made soft and gooey (my favorite) or hard and crispy, or anywhere in between, depending on how long you bake them. I always pull my cookies out of the oven the instant before they're really done, and leave them on the hot pan a minute or two to let them finish baking, which gives them that soft, chewy, melt in your mouth texture. Mmm writing this is making me hungry for them now...

---Chocolate Chip Cookies---

Ingredients:
-3/4 c. butter
-3/4 c. sugar
-3/4 c. packed brown sugar
-2 eggs (large)
-1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
-2 1/4 c. plus 2 Tbsp flour
-1 tsp baking soda
-3/4 tsp salt
-1 12 oz package semisweet chocolate chips (or whatever type of chips you want)

Directions:
Beat together butter and sugar until creamy. Beat in eggs and vanilla until blended. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl, and then gradually add to butter mixture while beating. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by tablespoons onto an ungreased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 8 to 14 minutes. Makes a whole bunch.


Added bonus I just thought of: it doesn't call for any grody shortening/lard!

A tip I just remembered: if you're out of vanilla extract, it doesn't actually taste all that great if you substitute lemon extract. Not that I thought it would, but it was worth a try...