A simple classic – these fudgy Chocolate No Bake Cookies don’t require any baking time and are full of oats, chocolate, and peanut butter!

Brrr…  It’s cold outside!  On days like today I would be perfectly content to curl up next to our Christmas tree, wrapped up in a warm blanket and holding a cup of hot apple spice tea in my hands.

On Saturday I mentioned that I’m doing something a little different on the blog over the next couple of weeks.  Instead of my usual fare, I’m sharing a variety of cookie and candy recipes leading up to Christmas.

Jump to Recipe!

Today I’m posting the second recipe in that series, Chocolate No Bake Cookies.

Before I share, I want to say something briefly.  The holidays (Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s) are typically portrayed as “the most wonderful time of the year”.  Everywhere you look, there are decorations and lights and songs and Christmas movies.  While I love celebrating the birth of my Savior and enjoying family traditions, I sometimes feel discouraged in December as well.  The constant busyness and commercialism get to me.  In the midst of the fun, I find myself thinking that I won’t be able to breathe again until the month is over.  I wish I didn’t feel that way, but it happens.

I know that for others (perhaps even some reading this blog), there might be deeper reasons why Christmas is a difficult season.  Maybe you lost a loved one around Christmas.  Maybe the cheery songs about time with family remind you of the fact that you don’t have a family with whom to celebrate.  Maybe the gift exchanges around you remind you that you lost your job and don’t have the extra money to give something special to your kids.  Maybe you’re struggling in your marriage and the last thing you want to think about is going around to parties pretending like everything is ok.

For those of you who are hurting during the holiday, I just want you to know that I am thinking of you and praying for you.  My main reason for rejoicing in December every year isn’t because of family and songs and Christmas lights (even though I love those things).  It’s because Christmas reminds me of the fact that I have a greater hope than anything in this life, even when everything else seems to be falling apart.  That hope is Jesus Christ and He is the real reason to celebrate.  If you want to talk more about that, feel free to hop over to the contact page on my website and send me an e-mail.  Seriously.

Ok, we’ll have some cookies now!  🙂 This Chocolate No Bake Cookies recipe is not original with me.  It’s all over the internet in one form or another, and this version just happens to be the way I make them.

I’m a little bit proud of my stacking abilities.  The cookies kept trying to fall over and it took some balancing to get them to stay put for the camera.  😀

Of course I had to sample one.  I mean, I’m planning to give some of these cookies away as gifts and I need to make sure they taste ok, right?  Right.  😉 The rest of the cookie disappeared very quickly after I finished taking pictures.

Verdict:  cookie perfection.  Soft and fudgy.  I’m excited to buy some cute cookie tins for them!

Note:  These cookies freeze well!  I like to make them a few weeks ahead of time, pop them in the freezer after they are completely cooled, and then thaw them before serving.

~K in the Kitchen