Chocolate No Bake Cookies – Mama Guest Blogs!
If you’re new here, Welcome to Southern Plate! Sit down and get comfy because you are a grand addition to our table. You might want to check out our FAQ and subscribe by email so you don’t miss a thing! Gratefully, Christy
Hello, from Christy’s Mama. I thought I would give Christy a chance to enjoy her time left in New York by doing a guest post. I hope that you enjoy my post as much as I enjoyed eating the results! School is finally out again and that means trying to come up with snacks for the children. I know that most of you can use a quick, very easy and relatively cheap cookie recipe. All my kids loved these cookies growing up and it is still counted among their favorites. It was a go to recipe mainly because it was so quick, with little clean up and I usually had all the ingredients on hand. I made these cookies today while looking after four of my grandchildren. That is how easy they are!
Before I show you how to make these cookies, let me give you a little background 
on some of the ways we enjoy these cookies. When we were young, my sister and I made these cookies and ate them with a spoon right out of the pot. We didn’t have a candy thermometer, didn’t know how to use one anyway and didn’t care if they turned out or not. We loved them best hot, before they had time to set up. My son loves them with peanut butter stirred in so that they become a sort of chocolate peanut butter cup.
If you decide to make them, make sure that you taste them after you stir the dry ingredients in just to make sure they are okay for the kids to eat. In fact, you may need to try a couple of spoonfuls. I sure wouldn’t want my grand kids to eat something unfit for their consumption ~grins~. After you spoon them out onto the wax paper, make sure you scrape the remainder out of the pot and take another taste, just to be sure that it is okay for everyone to eat once they cool. After all, we all know that some foods taste different after they cool. Always remember, quality control begins with the cook. 😉
Since I am new to cooking for you, I think I’d better taste another one just to be sure they are still good. After all, they’ve been sitting out most of the day and I want to be sure before I hit the send button. Yep, they’re still okay so here goes! I hope you and your kids enjoy them!
You’ll need: Quick Oats, Cocoa Powder, Vanilla, Sugar, Margarine, and Milk
Place your margarine, milk, and white sugar in a pot.
Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Insert candy thermometer and boil until mixture reaches soft ball stage.
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Mama’s directions for using a candy thermometer:
I never had good luck with candy. My mother had always used a glass of water to test for soft ball stage so it was just a guess. I discovered a candy thermometer while watching Julia Child (that tells you how long ago it was!). To use a candy thermometer, attach it to the side of your saucepan. Push the edge of your spoon underneath it to make sure it is not touching the bottom of the saucepan. Now just cook your mixture until it reaches the correct temperature on the thermometer. Remove the candy thermometer and set it aside on a saucer to cool. Do not put it in your dishwater. It will break! I don’t let it soak in the dishwater either. I have had problems with the water getting into the thermometer. Just use a wet dish cloth (we call it a dishrag) and wipe it until it is clean. Then dry well and store for your next use. You will be an accomplished candy maker!
Remove from heat and stir in the oats, cocoa
and vanilla.
Spoon onto waxed paper and allow to cool.
Here are my taste testers for today: Lane, Austin, and Jake.
[amd-zlrecipe-recipe:99]
Optional add ins:
1/2 Cup Peanut butter- We like extra crunchy peanut butter so that we have little nuts in the cookies but you can add any type of peanut butter. Just add the peanut butter immediately after it reaches soft ball stage and stir until it melts into the mixture. Then add the oats, vanilla and cocoa and proceed as directed.
1/2 Coconut-Add cup coconut when you add the oats, vanilla and cocoa.
I’m sure there are other add ins that would be delicious. Experiment and let us know what you come up with. Who knows, we may just invent a new cookie! Thanks for visiting with me today, I sure did enjoy it.
Sincerely, Mama
Being a mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my
field, since the payment is pure love.
~Mildred B. Vermont
Hello! Thanks for sharing this easy recipe. Can you tell me your mother’s glass of water trip so that I can make these without buying a candy thermometer? I’d love to make some today for the kids to have after school.
Hey Andrea – you really don’t need a candy thermometer; my mom’s recipe says to bring the mixture to a boil, let it boil for EXACTLY one minute, take off of heat, then proceed with the rest of the recipe.
Hope this helps!
Mama fills a juice glass with cool water. After the mixture boils for awhile, she starts checking it. She just gets a spoonful and drizzles a small drop into the water. If it forms a “soft ball” before it reaches the bottom of the glass then it has reached the soft ball stage. I am just a very exact person and want to be sure so I use a candy thermometer. But with these cookies, if they don’t turn out well just eat them with a spoon.
Loved your recipe-been making them for years, my daughter now makes them and her daughter. You done great on filling in for Christ and hope you will post again real soon!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Christy’s Mama,
Wonderful! I am so excited about this post. I have always loved these cookies but never knew how to make them. I love coconut so I can’t wait to try it in them.
Have a great day!
Tracie
I hope you enjoy these! They are a great fast treat! Enjoy them! Mama
Hi “Mama” (Ms Janice),
Anything that starts w/ butter, sugar and cocoa has got to be good! These look wonnnnnderful! Thank you so very for sharing your recipe/how-to, for guest-ing, and for being such a great Mama that Christy is now sharing with all of us Southern Plate folks. It would be an honor to cook for you one day, and to let you sit back and relax for a while. Consider yourself invited. Have a great week and hug Katy and Brady for me and Amanda. XOXO Terri
Hi Terri, It is great to hear from you. I have heard a lot about you from Christy. Of course, I hear a lot about all her “family” of readers. She loves all of you and is thankful for all of your support. I hope to be able to meet you when you are here next time. Have a great weekend!
It’s easy to see where Christy got her talent and beauty! My Mom made these for us when I was growing up…I am approaching 60, and I made them for my children and now they are making them for their children!! It’s a tradition….the addition of mint thins turns them into choco-mint….mmmmmmmmm! Thanks for the memories!-Mary K
Mary,
Are you the Mary that is a contributor to the Reimen Publications from Decater, AL?
*waves* hi mama!
We always add peanut butter to ours. In fact, when I make a batch, I have to hide them from the hus-beast because he will eat an entire batch (I swear that man has NO cookie self-control) and then have an upset tummy the rest of the day. Greedy cookie monster!
Usually, I make a batch, and the wonder twins and I sneak off with them so that we can get our fair share!
Smooches!
My mom used to make these all the time, and yes we ate them before they were cooled. I’ll have to get me some oats and make for the kids this summer. Thank you for bringing back memories in the kitchen with momma.