No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies (Sweetened with Honey)

After a friend of ours brought us these twice, I had to get the recipe. I've never been big "into" no-bake cookies, but these are wonderful! I did end up cutting down the honey a bit, since they were a little too sweet for me, and my family still loved them. They really hit the spot when I'm wanting something sweet and rich but without refined sugar.

Honey-Sweetened No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookies

1/2 c. butter

1/2 c. baking cocoa

1 1/2 c. honey

1 c. peanut butter (we use Adam's, which is all natural and has no sugar)

2 tsp. vanilla

6 c. oats

Melt butter in saucepan and add cocoa and honey. Heat, while stirring, until smooth. Allow to cool a bit.

Add peanut butter, vanilla, and oats, and mix well.

Pour into 9 x 11 and form until smooth. Chill in freezer.

Note: My friend likes to freeze, then cut and bag them, and keep them in the freezer.

The Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (with no refined sugar)

I recently adapted this recipe from my favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe (which comes from a friend's mom), then added cinnamon and nutmeg. It turned out perfectly, so we ate way too many in one sitting. :)

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
Yield: About 4 dozen (scoop small because they spread!)

1 c. butter
3/8 c. honey
3/4 c. raw sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs
2 c. oats
1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 tsp. hot water
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 c. raisins

Cream together butter, honey, and raw sugar until smooth.
Add eggs and blend well.
Add water and blend. Add vanilla and blend.
Add oats, flour, and other dry ingredients and mix well.
Add raisins at end and mix briefly.
Drop small scoops on greased cookie sheet two or three inches apart (they spread).
Bake at 350 degrees for 10-12 minutes.
Let cool before removing from pan or they may be too crumbly.