No-Bake Deliciousness

When it's too hot to bake but you are craving home-made sweets, these quick and easy desserts will cure your sweet tooth!

Want something creamy?  These three desserts will satisfy!  Rich and creamy Cheesecake Mousse, colorful and light Blueberry Fool, and refreshing Banana Pudding Parfaits.

Cheesecake Mousse

Blueberry Fool

Banana Pudding Parfaits

These Chocolate Oat Bars are super EASY and TASTY. I make these anytime of the year!

No-Bake Chocolate Oat Bars

Rocky Road Candy and Cookie Dough Fudge whip up quickly and are good anytime of year.

Rocky Road Candy

Cookie Dough Fudge

Craving pie?  Refreshing Lime Pie and Black Raspberry Cream Pie are both good choices.

Refreshing Lime Pie

Black Raspberry Cream Pie

Finally, these No Bake Pretzel Bars from My Biscuits are Burning  are always a big hit. (See the link for the original photo.)

No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars

I recently tried this recipe from allrecipes.com, and it is definitely a winner! With temps rising to 108 degrees lately, the no-bake aspect was definitely appealing. But many times no-bake means no-taste, so I was a little skeptical. Well, this recipe fulfilled its promise of yumminess, and look how easy! You can whip them up in 10 minutes. Enjoy!

No Bake Chocolate Oat Bars

1 cup butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups quick oats
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter

Grease a 9x9" square pan.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Stir in brown sugar and vanilla then mix in oats.  Cook over low heat 2-3 minute or until ingredients are blended. Press half the mixutre into the bottom of the pan.

Meanwhile, melt chocolate chips and peanut butter in the microwave. Heat 30 seconds, stir, then another 20 seconds or so.  Pour the mixture over the crust in the pan and spread evenly with an offset spatula. 

Sprinkle remaining oat mixture over the chocolate and press in lightly.  Cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours or overnight.  Bring to room temp before cutting into bars. 

Happy "baking" !!

Peanut Chocolate Chunk Cookies

These are not your ordinary peanut butter cookie with chocolate chips thrown in. This recipe has its own identity, with roasted peanuts and a chopped up chocolate bar for lots of crunch and flavor. When I'm in the mood for a peanut butter/chocolate combo, this is the recipe I choose. I don't know which I prefer, the dough or the finished cookie! :-)

If you don't have a chocolate bar laying around (What? You don't?) then by all means feel free to use chocolate chips. Milk or dark chocolate works just fine. If you like white chocolate, I'm sure that would be great too!

Peanut Chocolate Chunk Cookies
Makes ~ 24 cookies

2-1/2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup unsalted butter, softened (or regular butter and omit 1/2 tsp salt)
3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1-1/2 tsp vanilla
2/3 cup dry-roasted peanuts, coarsely chopped
1 bar (8 oz) milk or dark chocolate, chopped coarsely (or 1 cup chocolate chips)

Preheat oven to 350-F.

In small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt.

In a large bowl, beat butter and peanut butter until blended. Add in both sugars and beat until fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. On low speed, beat in flour mixture. Stir in nuts and chocolate until combined.

Scoop with cookie scooper onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool on cookie sheet for a few minutes. Remove to wire rack to cool.

Happy Baking!