Giant chocolate-peanut butter, oatmeal cookie/ice cream cups/mini cookies..NO BAKE RECIPE

OK!!..THIS IS FOR ALL YOU HEALTHY CHOCOHOLICS OUT THERE..especially great with a good cup of strong coffee or glass of milk.

It would also make a great gift..but  you will have to make 2, 1 for yourself.

IF you love the blend of chocolate and peanut butter, this is YOUR cookie.

The shape and size of the finished cookie depends on the dish you make it in.

After cooking some of the ingredients in a saucepan, it is spread into a wax paper lined dish/pie plate or foil tray, allowed to  set up  at room temp or better still fridge.

It reminds me of an upmarket "British Flapjack".

For 4-6  generous servings

1/3 cup unsalted butter ( if vegan use vegan margarine)

1 cup dark brown sugar

1/2 cup nut milk ( any milk will work)

1 cup peanut butter ( or any firm, at room temp. roasted nut butter..not all roasted nut butters are equal some are runny at room temp and are no good for this recipe).

1tsp vanilla extract

1/8tsp sea salt

2 cups QUICK COOKING OATS..(do not use any other type)

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips ( again if vegan use vegan choc. chips)

1 cup finely chopped  raw nuts ( sprouted almonds; walnuts; filberts; pecans; coconut flakes)

in a heavy bottomed saucepan, melt the butter slowly and add the sugar and milk.
Cook over medium heat for 2-3 mins until sugar is dissolved, and it is simmering ( low boil).
Remove from heat and whisk in the peanut butter, until blended in then, using a wooden spoon, add the vanilla, salt and the oats.
Mix very well, "almost" beating air in to cool it down.
Add the chocolate chips and stir very well (the chocolate will melt)

Spread into the desired container ( to prevent sticking use wax paper/parchment or foil container).
smooth top and add extra nuts  & or chocolate chips.
Allow to cool at room temp ( do not be tempted to taste test or there will be none left)
Seal. cover and place in fridge overnight or at least 2hours

Cut into pieces when either semi-hard or set up

Variations

in place of chopped nuts, add :
dried banana ( sweetened), cherries, cranberries, chopped-dried, apricots, pineapple, dates & etc.

Broken pretzel sticks, salted roast nuts 

Add small candies/M&M's to the cooled mix

Add small marshmallows ( for non-vegetarians)
  Can also add some cracked roasted coffee beans to the chopped nuts and use dark chocolate chips for a more grown-up flavor.

For the winter holidays..soak the dried fruit overnight in whiskey or rum, drain well and pat dry before adding to the hot mix..fabulous with egg nog /hot chocolate.

Instead of 1 big cookie the mix can be spread into cupcake papers and when set topped with vanilla or banana ice cream...for ice cream cups

Or dropped by tbsp onto parchment/wax paper/foil and allowed to cool, and set, and used as smaller cookies..but not as much fun as one big one!

This is fantastic and wonderful for anyone trying to  gain weight..I know a lot of you are....lol.

Enjoy and make this at least once a week..it is always good to have in the fridge when you are expecting the unexpected.(you know as well as I do, that once this is made..it will be "calling your name" all the time from the fridge until you try it set ...lol)

This is another great excuse to be into whole grains as well.."hey it contains oats so it HAS to be good for you"!!