No-Bake Chocolate Cookies

Earlier this fall, I was visiting my friend Kathy in Statesboro when she took me to a local thrift store, and my prize that day was Our Favorite Recipes, a twenty-five-cent booklet that was “compiled by members of the Bleckley County Home Demonstration Council.” The book is undated, but it has a graphic of an atom on the cover, so I’m guessing it’s from the fifties or sixties. Mrs. Roy Zeagler contributed a no-bake recipe that caught my eye, and these tasty little gems take just minutes to whip up, so if you need a few dozen cookies fast this Christmas, here you go. Mrs. Zeagler thoughtfully noted, “A cherry, pecan half or seasonal cream candy may be put on top of each cookie immediately after dropping cookie on paper.” I love the look of the pecan halves on top, and if you're looking for one more cookie to bake this year, I suggest this one.

No-Bake Chocolate Cookies

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup milk

2 tablespoons cocoa

3/4 stick butter, melted

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Pinch of salt

1-1/2 cups quick-cook rolled oats

1/2 cup nuts (I used pecans)

1/2 cup coconut



In a heavy saucepan, combine sugar, milk, and cocoa and bring to a rolling boil, stirring constantly, then turn off heat. Add butter, vanilla, salt, oats, nuts, and coconut, mix thoroughly, and let set 2 or 3 minutes in the hot saucepan. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper, gently but firmly mounding the mixture together a bit to help the cookies keep their shape. Add pecan half or other embellishment. Yields 40 cookies.