No Bake Peanut Butter Surprise Cookies

I can't believe I missed it! March 1 was National Peanut Butter Day, and I didn't know it until now! I hate missing such an important date. It's like missing my own birthday (which is coming up on March 19 if you wanted to send small monetary gifts). 

According to Wikipedia, the history of peanut butter goes back to the Aztecs. Chalk another one up to the Aztecs who also brought us chocolate. Just think, if not for the Aztecs, we wouldn't have Reese's Peanut Butter Cups! I think we need a National Thank an Aztec Day!

Anyway, in light having missed National Peanut Butter Day, I want to share my favorite peanut butter recipe. I don't know where it came from or where my mom got it, but it's been in the family since my early teens. It's so easy that I was able to make it way back then. It's so yummy that nobody can eat just one. You may have made them yourself, in which case you know I'm telling the truth!

I'm talking about the peanut buttery goodness of No Bake Surprise Cookies! You heard me! NO BAKE! You don't need a cookie sheet; you just need a sauce pan. So with no further ado, let me share that recipe.

Bear in mind, this is not a cooking blog, as I have mentioned before. So you'll have to bear with me because I have to do this my own way.

Let's start by getting out that sauce pan. While you're at it, get out:
3 cups of oatmeal (I guess the one-minute kind is what we've always used.)
3/4 cup of peanut butter (We prefer creamy, but I don't suppose chunky would hurt anything if you really insist.)
1 cube butter (That's 1/2 cup just in case your cubes are different where you're from. Also, use real butter, not that runny margarine. Real Butter!)
1/2 cup milk (Whatever kind you have in the house is fine. We use 2%, but whatever.)
2 cups sugar (I said delicious, not low-cal.)
1 tsp vanilla (I have no comment on vanilla. It's just so...vanilla!)
1/2 cup cocoa (optional) (I've made it with and without, and it's really yummy either way. Go with your heart on this one.)

Now here are your directions:
1. Bring butter, milk, and sugar to a rolling boil in your sauce pan. (Where else?)
2. Boil 1 minute and remove from heat.
3. Stir in remaining ingredients (oatmeal, peanut butter, vanilla, and cocoa).
4. Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper, and allow to cool. 

Delicious peanut buttery yumminess with chocolatey goodness!

  Dig in, but don't overindulge because...well, okay. Overindulge. Save some for the kids though. Because that's just the nice thing to do.


Have you ever eaten these before? Aren't they the yummiest? What's your favorite peanut butter recipe?

Oh, and happy belated National Peanut Butter Day.