Sometimes you don’t want to turn on your oven, but you need a treat to bring to a potluck or just a “baking” project to appease the kids. I am admittedly, until recently, a stranger to no-bake cookies. I never made fudge, or candy, or any of those fun things you make when the power is out, but the gas burner works just fine. (Unless you have a new one with those annoying electric pilot lites.
I learned my son has no problem with kitchen chores if we do them during a baking project. So I dug out some things we always have in the cabinet and made up a new dessert. Easy No Bake Cookies: White Walnut Oaties. My five year old named these cookies.
White Walnut Oaties
- 20 ounces Vanilla Almond bark
- 3 cups whole rolled Oats (gluten free)
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups chopped Walnuts
- Pinch of salt
Melt your almond bark and cream together on low heat in a sauce pan. Once, it is melted, mix in a pinch of salt, then add oats and walnuts. Turn off the heat and hand stir the mixture well, for a full minute.
Lay parchment paper on a baking sheet and use a spoon to scoop little balls of the mixture onto the paper. Each blob/ball is about two tablespoons. Once all of your blobs are arranged, you can shape them with your fingers a bit, or just leave them as is. (alternatively, if you can work quickly, let the mixture cool a bit longer and use a melon-baller to scoop your balls.) If you want them finished quickly, pop the tray in the freezer for 10 minutes. Otherwise, you can just leave it on the counter and they will firm up as the bark hardens, unless it us super hot and humid that day.
These are so fatty and sugary, you basically have to have a cup of bitter black coffee with them.
Fun trick: If your kids won’t eat their oatmeal, you could always melt a walnut oatie in it. It will add the taste of the cookie, but dilute the sugar down a bit.