Fudgey Cocoa No-Bake Treats with M&M's

Apparently, I have been into baking with oatmeal lately! This is the third recipe in a row that I have baked where oatmeal has been the main ingredient. Maybe because oatmeal is healthy!...and if there is oatmeal in your dessert then you can eat more, since oatmeal is good for you :) Here's the line-up of the other two recipes that I made; these Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies are perfectly delicious, chewy, and are now my go to recipe for any type of oatmeal cookie. The add-ins are endless! And, this Vanilla Scented Granola is crunchy and sweet and perfect for breakfast or as a quick snack on the go.

These Fudgey Cocoa No-Bake Treats are slightly adapted from my HERSHEY'S Best-Loved Recipes cook book. I love this cook book! I am a chocolate lover and none of their recipes ever disappoint! These  are a quick and easy sweet treat that are made in a matter of minutes with simple ingredients that you probably have on hand. Sugar, butter, milk, and cocoa are cooked together until boiling on the stove top and then  peanut butter, oats, and vanilla are mixed in.  This is a perfect drop cookie resulting in a sugary little mound of fudgey, chocolatey, peanut buttery, and hearty goodness. I added M&M's for a little color and believe me these babies are addictive!  

Fudgey Cocoa No-Bake Treats with M&M's:

• 2 cups sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/3 cup Cocoa
• 2/3 cup peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
• 3 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
• 1/2 cup chopped peanuts (optional)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• handful of M&M's

1. Place a piece of wax paper or foil on a cookie sheet. Combine sugar, butter, milk and cocoa in medium sauepan.

2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture comes to a rolling boil. Boil for 90 seconds.

3. Remove from heat and add peanut butter, oats, peanuts, if desired, and vanilla; stir to mix well. Quickly drop mixture by heaping tablespoons onto wax paper or foil and top each with M&M's. Cool completely. Store in cool, dry place.

Homemade Vanilla Scented Granola

This is a perfect granola base for creating your own customized granola blend by exchanging nuts, adding dried fruits, and different flavored chips. The aroma of the toasted oats and nuts will make you fall in love with this granola; the smell takes over the whole house and is amazing! This granola is a great treat for snacking on its own, adding to yogurt for crunch, and for layering in yogurt and fresh fruit parfaits.  

Vanilla-Scented Granola: (slightly adapted from epicurious)

• 4 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1 cup chopped nuts (whatever you prefer, I used walnuts because that is what I had on hand)
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 tablespoon sugar
• 4 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with aluminum foil and lightly spray with non-stick cooking spray; set aside.

Mix first 5 ingredients in a large bowl. Combine oil, honey, and sugar in a small saucepan; bring to simmer over medium heat. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour hot liquid over oat mixture; stir well. Gather up some of the mixture in each hand, and make a fist. Repeat until all the oats are coated.

Pour onto prepared baking sheet. Spread it out evenly, but leave a few clumps here and there for texture. Bake until golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 30 minutes. Transfer sheet to a rack; cool completely. (Can be made 2 weeks ahead. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.)

Chewy Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies & Two of My Favorite Blogs

Here's another awesome recipe borrowed from Jessica over at How Sweet It Is. I seriously am in love with her blog; mouth watering  photographs, her writing and humor, and of course all of her fabulous and creative recipes! I want to try everything she posts!

Oh, and check out what I am going to bake up tomorrow. Don't these just look dangerous? Sinfully delicious in the best way possible. Yeah, I can't wait to try one of those babies, created by Jenny from Picky Palate, my other favorite blog :) 

But for now, I am going to enjoy these very chewy oatmeal cookies which are full of chocolate chips and a hint of cinnamon. And I am thinking I might just sandwich some cool and creamy ice cream between a couple of them! I followed the recipe almost exactly so click here for the recipe (the only change I made to the recipe was adding a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda along with the dry ingredients and I didn't need to add any milk). Enjoy!