As one year comes to a close and a new one begins
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I can't help but reflect and remind myself how very thankful I am for all of the incredible women I have in my life.
Maybe it's because I'm an introvert. Maybe it's because I spent decades pushing people away so I wouldn't have to explain a life I wasn't proud of. It's hard to say. But it wasn't until this season, that I've been ready to reach out, accept invitations, and really make efforts to nurture friendships.
Admittedly, it's far outside my comfort zone. I feel like I'm stumbling my way through, making mistakes, figuring it out, waiting for somebody to tap me on the shoulder and tell me I'm doing it all wrong (again!)
For those who follow The Veggies, you'll know that somewhere around 40 I decided to change my life. One of the handfuls of things I'd written on my list was:
“I want people in my life .. (strike that) .. not just people, but good people. Those who are good for me, and good to me; people who are interesting and challenging; people who are out in the world with a passion of doing for others”
It's times like last night, surrounded many of them at a New Year's Eve party that I couldn't help but be reminded. How very privileged, and how profoundly grateful I am to have each of them in my life. These women who not only let, but encourage me to my truest self
When I think about them, many words come to mind, but probably the most fitting would be strong. Their truest strengths found not in what they can lift at the gym (though it's impressive!), but instead by what their lives hold, and what they've been able to bear.
They're reinventing businesses, running races (even in the Iowa cold!), volunteering, navigating retirement, menopause, empty-nests, careers, school, kids, husbands, pets, households, aging parents, caring for themselves, and everything else in between.
With all of the things in our lives, while we may take a week to respond to each other's email, there's no doubt we would jump in our car, run, take a bus, or fly to each other's doorstep if we really needed each other
ps: Some even call to say, “Wait, I'll do The Plan right along-side you” Detox (?!) Now that is friendship
I think about them, and wonder if they even know their own strength: these patient, funny, wise, talented, and smart women. Their unfailing generosity on display every day, the idea of paying-it-forward, and giving back, etched deep into each of their spirits.
I'm so thankful for all the ways they challenge, uplift, correct, teach, and love me; each in their own small and wonderful ways. When I'm with them, I'm my best self. Not only do they demand, but they nourish it as well
So as we begin a new year, what I know for certain is this past one has been one of the best I've ever had. I'm healthy, strong, in a solid marriage, writing, working, making mistakes, and quietly learning from them.
I certainly couldn't have, and wouldn't have wanted to do it without them.
We brought these cookies to the New Year's Eve party; they're incredible, as well as easy to make
I've always loved the traditional no-bake cookies with butter, lots of white sugar, cocoa, oats, and peanut butter. A childhood favorite if there ever was one.
I can remember eating them straight from the pan by the spoonful and never having the patience to let them set up before sampling.
Enjoy!
xoxo
~ Adapted from gi365.info
Chocolate, Coconut and Oat No-Bake Cookies
Ingredients
- Cookies
- ½ cup coconut milk, canned
- ½ cup cacao powder (or traditional cocoa powder)
- ½ cup coconut oil, melted, but not hot
- 1 ½ cups natural sugar (organic dark brown sugar is a great alternative)
- 2 cups flaked coconut
- 1 cup big flake coconut
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- Optional
- ¾ cup chopped walnuts (almonds, or any of your favorite nuts)
- ½ cup almond butter (or nut butter of your choice)
- ½ cup rolled oats
Instructions
- Combine the coconut milk, cocoa powder, coconut oil, and sugar in a large saucepan.
- Over medium heat, cook until the mix has come to a boil, stirring consistently. Allow boiling for 30 seconds and up to 1 minute.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla and coconut, as well as any optional additions. Put the saucepan in the fridge for 30 min to an hour to cool. (I found the cookies formed a bit better after I'd allowed the batter to cool for a while)
- Spoon the cookies onto a prepared baking sheet and allow to cool in the fridge, at least an hour (2 or 3 hours is better) before serving.
60 Comments
These cookies look like they have great texture. It’s terrific you’ve gotten to a place where you have good friends and are making worthwhile relationships. Great job!
Love that you’re stepping out of your comfort zone. It’s when we are most uncomfortable that we often grow so get uncomfortable every now and then. Oh and these no bake cookies look pretty tasty. Haven’t made any no bakes in a while
I used to make these with my dad all the time when I was a kid. They are his favorite. Every year on Father’s Day, I always make him a batch or two just to let him know how special he is and that I haven’t forgotten what his favorite cookie is.
How did you KNOW? These are exactly what I was craving this weekend…now I have the recipe to address it! Thank you, Ali!
No bake cookies are perfect all year long. I love that even in the heat of summer you don’t have to turn the oven to have yummy cookies
My mom has been making no-bake cookies for decades and taught me when I was a little kid. They’re excellent, and a staple in our family! Although I’ve found that you need to boil them for one full minute, or they won’t harden. Trust me on this one. Over the last fifteen years, I’ve made them close to a hundred times. Thanks for posting!
Solid friends and a solid marriage are definitely two things that are the most important in life. I’m glad that you have of the people in your life that make you happy as an introvert! I totally understand where you’re coming from I’m not complete introvert but I’m more of an introvert and extrovert and there are times that I definitely have a hard time meeting new people.
I am not always the best at keeping in touch or helping friendships flower either. It’s holidays like this that remind me to make more of an effort to do so.
You had me until the coconut! I love no bake desserts, especially the chocolate oats variety, but I’m not a fan of coconut, unless it’s the rum kind p 😉
It feels absolutely amazing to surround yourself with strong women, those who also support you and encourage you to embrace who you are. I’m thankful to have the women I call friends in my life as well. There’s simply nothing better than having their support and care. Those cookies look so good.
Best cookies I’ve had in a long time. Had to make two batches in one weekend.
YES. I’m not 40 yet but I’m feeling that pull to surround myself with the good people. And they are in droves. Today I reflect on all the amazing women I’ve had in my life – past, present and future.
Now if we can talk about your cookies, they have such a shine to them. I love the way you work with food and light to create these delicious photos.
I love no-bake recipes too, these look so delish! I am so glad that your recipe uses cacao powder as I am a huge fan of it and drink it daily yumm!
This is a family favorite! My daughter wanted these sent to college and I couldn’t find my old, stained recipe card. I was so excited to find it here – we have loved these for years – they couldn’t be easier. Another batch is going in the mail today!
[…] Chocolate, Coconut and Oat No Bake Cookies {Gluten-Free, Vegan} […]
Quick, easy and delicious. This might become my standard cookie. I made them for a family party and they were popular with kids and grownups.
I’ve made these many times and I will many more. I let them cool off in the pan a little before dropping them onto wax paper, which seems to make them thicker. When I drop them out straight off of the burner they seem to stay sort of wet and thin. I’ve also started adding other fun stuff to them, like butterscotch chips of toffee chips which are delicious and sweeter.
Wow, very easy to make, and they taste amazing! Was afraid to make them as the hubbys mom made them for him for years while he was a kid and mine wouldn’t be the same, but he LOVES them.
Coconut cookies are the best and my mom makes them all the time. Though she doesn’t add oats to it, but I am quite sure that the recipe is almost the same. I will share the recipe with her and see if the addition of oats makes it yummier. At least, it will be guilt-free for sure!
I had a similar recipe years ago and lost it when I was moving. This looks nearly identical, thank you so much for sharing. My children will love me making them again!
You had me at no-bake, I love dessert. I love them even more when I don’t have to turn my oven on.
When I was growing up, we got to pick dinner (and dessert) on our birthdays and didn’t have to do any chores 🙂 I can’t wait to make these as no-bake cookies were always what I requested. I may get fancy and sprinkle on some finely chopped peanuts or a few cacao nibs. xx
These look so good! Maybe these will replace my sudden obsession with (very unhealthy) Girl Scout cookies.
OMG – Looks like this is the recipe for me – I have to find coconut sugar and I am good. I LOVE No-bake cookies but ever since I quit sugar it has been hard to find alternatives. P.S. Love the pictures.
Love’em and so do my neighbors. Last week I gave them a couple dozen cookies and they came over two days later, asking for the recipe.
I grew up on no-bake cookies, so making them always brings me right back to my childhood. My mom has been gone for years, and this year my sister asked me to make some for Christmas; they were gone in no time! The thing to remember with these cookies is that you are basically making fudge with oatmeal in it. Having it come to the FULL boil, and letting it boil long enough, are crucial to them setting up properly. If you’re in doubt you’ve cooked it long enough, use a candy thermometer and make sure you’re in the 235-240 ballpark and you should be fine
My husband & son LOVE these! Self-control is going to be difficult. Thanks for such a great, quick & easy recipe!! 🙂
I have a cookie exchange tonight so I made these a couple of days ago as a test (the hostess is gluten intolerant so I thought it would be a nice touch to honor her). They are soooo YU-MMY! My husband also loved them; on his top 5, he said. Another winner… Gotta go bake! 🙂
Came for the cookie recipe. Left with a new appreciation both for you and what you’re doing here at Veggies. Thank you. Oh and the cookies look good!
Wonderful! Just like my great-aunt taught me how to make them. Count to 60 six while it’s boiling. I just made two batches but used all organic ingredients and creamy organic peanut butter. Can’t wait to take them to the party this weekend and I’ll need to hide them until then..
These are great! I remember making these at girl scout camp when I was a kid. A great snack for kids and they’re a cinch to make. Thanks for posting an old favorite!
These cookies DID NOT last long in my house!!!! The kids devoured them. Great recipe and very easy for the kids to make!
I made these yesterday and everyone I shared them with loved them. Thanks!
This is such an awesome snack. I have always loved making no bakes! Note if you reshape them with your fingers they will have a dull fingerprint look instead of being shiny. Trust me on this, don’t touch them once you drop them!
These are addicting! I made a single batch and had to make another because they disappeared so fast! I took some to work and everyone complained because they couldn’t resist eating more. Very easy and very good
I just discovered your site and am….elated! I love baking for my flatmates because it makes everyone so happy and I told them all they would weight 20 pounds more by the end of this semester. I’m so happy I found this recipe! A bakery in the town I used to live in used to have a no-bake cookie that I couldn’t resist. Thanks for all the great recipes on this site, can’t wait to try them!!
I recently decided I was going to become “the girl who makes cookies” and THIS is going on my list. Great post! 🙂
I love this cookie. Have been making them since I was a kid. In fact, we used to call them Mack’s (my brother) cookie because he was always asking for them. Some things other than coconut that you can add are raisins or extra chopped nuts. At Christmas time, I make these and before they set I’ll put half of a candied cherry on top to give them a little extra pizazz. 🙂
No bake cookies are my absolute favourite – mostly because there no chance of burning them! I’m a terrible cook, and baker, but my children love to ,make cookies so we will try these!
Ali, there are PERFECT. I made them last weekend for the family, and even after doubling the recipe, they were gone within the day. They’ve quickly become my #1 pregnancy craving this week, and I’m not embarrassed at all to say that I’m about to cook a batch for myself to snack on while I watch a movie 🙂 Thanks!!
I guess being solid friends is a secret to a good marriage too. With regards to the cookie, I guess many will really love to do a no bake cookie. Plus I will take note of your secret to a really good cookie, I will make sure to let the dough rest 72 hours before baking the cookies.
This look so crunchy and delicious! Looking at them I wanna try few bites! Too bad Chinese new year is over, else it will be great for Chinese New Year cookies. I will keep the recipe and make next year Chinese New Year cookies and hope my friends and relatives will enjoy and give me praises during the gathering! I like how coconut oil is added in this time. It sure make more fragrance to the cookies. On second thought, why wait till Chinese new year, I might as well make it for Easter!
When you are an introvert, it does take time to make friends and get close to people. But once done, friendships are for keeps. You are blessed to have such wonderful friends around you. It does make life so much more beautiful, so much like the sweet chocolate, coconut cookies that you baked so lovingly.
Do you think these would turn out just as well using dark cocoa powder? Like… 85% or higher? I do paleo and would like to try these, but I’m not sure if that would be a deal breaker or not.
I made these exactly as written – perfect. My husband adored them so much he even brought some over to the neighbors to try! Fast and easy.
This is the recipe I was looking for. Tastes like the cookies that my elementary school cafeteria served with lunch – and believe it or not, that’s a good thing! Be careful not to cook too long or they get crumbly.
I’ve tried several different no-bake recipes over the years and this one is perfection! The cookies set up, but retain their fudginess, they hold together but are melt-in-your-mouth, and they are splendidly easy to make, but taste like they should have been complicated. Superb!
You had me a no bake! I love these kind of quick and easy recipes. They look delicious!
No bake cookies are certainly awesome. I loved them growing up and have tried to do a few things like that with my daughter but she’s very picky unfortunately. As for the rest of the post, it’s so great that you put people around you who love you and and who will endure things with you, even detox. I love how this is such a great celebration of women’s day and all of the great women in your life who inspire you. Hope you have an amazing one.
I am such a big cookie lover! everytime i make an attempt at baking them, they turn out awful. probably my oven. problem solved with no bake cookies though! i am definitely going to try this recipe
Coconut always reminds me of vacation for some reason :). Looking forward to trying these, I always appreciate a good no bake recipe
These look amazing. I still give out the link to your incredible Ginger Apricot Cookies at LEAST once a week. It’s my absolute favorite, and I *just* discovered the joy of cookie scoops, so now the cookies are even better (Who knew that was even possible!). My husband is crazy for the no bake cookies his mom used to make – he’ll be delighted that you’ve posted a recipe for these!
Wow. This is a perfect snack for us. I like the combination of chocolate and oats. And I like that it’s a no bake.
Guess I’ll have to start my diet tomorrow. These look delicious and I cannot wait to taste them!!
This looks yummy! I think this will be an easy to make snack for me. Happy to know that it can make without baking!
And now I am hungry!! These look absolutely insane, I’ll have to give them a go!
I’m always on the hunt for no bake cookies because of how easy they are to make and also because they have no egg in them. I am so gonna make these today, they are also healthy!
No bake cookies are definitely some of my favorite. They are so easy to make and to enjoy quickly!
So it is a cold rainy day here in London, the perfect day to make cookies! So glad that these were the ones that I chose to make. FANTASTIC recipe. This was the first time I have made no-bakes. Wow, is that an amazing flavor. Didn’t and wouldn’t change a thing. Thank you!!!!
I am extroverted and I can honestly tell you I don’t have any friends simply acquintances. It hurts but I have gotten really great at entertaining myself which is something other now people value. I dont know maybe is it because I am a spectacle or people just see me as one without feelings. Either way, I am coping. I dont think that was God’s reason for making me as I am but we will all figure it out soon enough.