no-bake choc.oatmeal cookies problem

[Promomx2]

I made a batch of the no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies (haven't done since I was little). First half without peanut butter and second half I added peanut butter. The first half of the batch is not getting hard,but the second half is. Is there anything I can do to make the first half go hard, what did I do wrong? Followed recipe to the letter.

 

[IbeAbitGOOFY]

If you didn't put peanut butter in the first half, that is where you went wrong. As the "dough" cools, the peanut butter hardens making it firm.

 

[Promomx2]

But the recipe said the peanut butter was optional and I used to make them without peanut butter. Will it just take longer for them to harden?

 

[IbeAbitGOOFY]

Well, you got me then. I've only made them with peanut butter but if you've made them without, who am I to argue.

I also know you have to get the liquid to a rolling boil and the timing (I think it is three minutes) should be started once you reach the roiling boil point. I've heard that has some impacts on how they firm up.

Stinks that they are not firming up. I LOVE no-bakes. My grandmother used to make them for me every Christmas and was the one cookie I looked forward to the most.

 

[Imzadi]

You probably didn't heat it to the right temperature or long enough. It sounds like the chocolate didn't temper. If the chocolate cooks too long or not long enough at the right temperature it won't harden properly.

 

[faith]

Have to agree with the other posters. I've never mad them without peanut butter. I think that's what makes them harden? You can probably put them back in the pan, and add some peanut butter. Reheat for a few minutes.

 

[momof1princess]

sorry, OP, my recipe (which was passed down to me by my MIL) contains 1/2 cup of pb. it says to bring milk, sugar, cocoa and butter to boil, let boil 2 minutes, the remove from heat and add pb, oats and vanilla and stir well. i would guess the PB binds the cookies together, although i'm no gourmet cook or physics student, that's for sure, lol.

 

[BonnieA]

If they don't set up, I would scrape them off the wax paper and put them back in the pot to heat again. Might work, won't hurt to try.

 

[Promomx2]

I've got plenty of oats leftover (ds had to have a container for school) so I'm doing a new batch. My recipe said to let boil for only 1 minute. You think I need to let it boil for longer?

 

[momof1princess]

i don't think boiling 1 extra minute could possibly hurt. i've made these cookies many times, as they're DH's 2nd favorite (his grandmother's teacakes are #1), and my recipe hasn't failed me yet! and i'm one of those people who HAS to have a recipe, lol.

 

[figment52]

Why did I have to open this thread - now I want to make a batch of these and I am the only one that eats them and I am trying to drop a few pounds.

I have no advise that wasn't already give. I know from experience that they may not harden on occassion but when that happens I just eat them with a spoon and/or with ice cream. They still taste great

 

[GoofyforDisney3]

First, don't start counting the 1 minute until the mixture is at a rolling boil. If you do not boil the mixture long enough it won't set up right. If you boil it to long, the cookies will be dry and crumble easy. The peanut butter doesn't make them set up better. You probably just cooked the ones with peanut butter longer.

 

[KristaTX]

Oh my gosh! I totally forgot about these cookies! DH and I used to make them all the time when we were younger - like 20 years ago! We called them ChocOats. I'm going to have to remind him of them. I'm on the phone with my mom, and she just found the recipe he printed for her on a dot-matrix printer .

 

[EMom]

I have never heard of making these without peanut butter. It just doesn't seem as if the consistency would be right....

We call them No Bake Fudge Brownies. Here is one of fondest childhood memories. We had a great school cafeteria. Lots of moms and grannies worked there and we had made from scratch food. One of our set menus was:

Vegetable soup---homemade of course
Grilled cheese sandwiches
No Bake Fudge Brownies



Those were the days!

 

[Promomx2]

Thanks for all the help. I made a second batch,let it boil 2 minutes and added peanut butter and worked out fine. Only had 1 or 2 then packed them all up for ds to take to school.

 

[princesspiglet]

My mom makes these weekly for her card club. Chocolate and peanut butter. She said the PB does not make a difference in how they set up and you need to let it boil for 1 minute or longer once it hits the "rolling boil" stage. She said it also helps to have a candy thermometer so you know when it reaches the correct heating point.

 

[bigmerle1966]

I love those cookies. I remember making them with my grandmother more then 30 years ago. She would cook them then let us kids spoon them out on to wax paper to set.

 

[Heidict]

Now I need a recipe. These sound so good. I'm sure I have had them before, but I know I have never made them.

So, what is a good recipe?

 

[MaumeeMom]

I haven't made these in ages! Glad the second batch worked out for you, OP. I think I may have to make some too.

 

[momof1princess]

Now I need a recipe. These sound so good. I'm sure I have had them before, but I know I have never made them.

So, what is a good recipe?

here ya go, the recipe my mother-in-law gave me

2 cups sugar
2 tablespoons cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup peanut butter
2 cups uncooked oats (not quick-cooking)
1 teaspoon vanilla

Put sugar in boiler and add cocoa, milk and butter. Cook until it starts to boil, stirring as it cooks. Boil about 2 minutes. Take boiler off stove and add peanut butter, oats and vanilla and stir until well mixed. Let cool about 10 minutes, then spoon onto waxed paper or parchment paper to cool completely.
note: i never wait the 10 minutes, i spoon it out while it's hot. doesn't seem to make a difference.

Thank you, OP! i've decided to make these for DD's high school marching band halloween party on saturday!