I cannot count how many times my mom would make no-bake cookies while I was growing up. I remember that she thought they were the most amazing ‘cookie’ ever. Quick, easy, sweet, chocolately and of course no oven required. Last minute bake sale no problem, last minute party no problem, last minute guests no problem. These cookies could be whipped up in no time and made very little mess so an easy clean-up followed. I guess that is pretty amazing.
I recently discovered that what we unimaginatively called no-bake cookies are in fact called Preacher’s cookies in the Appalachian. The story goes that if you spotted the preacher at the bottom of the hill you could throw these cookies together and they would be ready by the time the preacher made it up the hill (source).
These cookies also go by “Cow Patty” (for obvious reasons) and “Poodgies” for, well, I have no explanation for the name Poodgie. Since my mom always called them no-bake, no-bake they will always be to me. I made these cookies for my ‘adopted’ grandkids one day when I realized that I didn’t have any snacks for them at the house. I only had a short time before I needed to pick them up from school and these cookies were just the ticket.
No-Bake, Preacher, Cow Patty, Poodgie Cookies
Although I don’t do a lot of sweets I do have a thing for the sweet and salty combo so I adjusted my mom’s peanut butter and cocoa base to be replaced with Nutella and added some broken pretzels to the mix. I served the boys the cookies and they absolutely loved them. Since McGyver and I don’t need cookies lying around the house, I sent the rest home with them. Next time I picked them up I asked if they enjoyed the cookies. They pouted and said they didn’t get a chance to because their dad ate them all!
And who could blame him?
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- pinch of salt
- 3/4 cup Nutella
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups quick cooking oats
- 1 cup pretzels, broken into small pieces
- In a large sauce pot over medium high heat, bring sugar, milk, butter and salt to a boil. Boil for 1 minute. Remove from heat, add Nutella and vanilla, stir until smooth.
- Fold in oats and pretzels. Let cool enough that the mixture starts holding together, about 3 minutes. Drop onto wax paper lined baking sheets. Let cool completely.
I’m lovvvvvving the atmosphere in your photos – that photography school was well worth it. LOVE the second photo to bits, and the recipe too
And the sweet and salty combo is right up my alley too!
How in the heck did I never think to add pretzels to my no-bake cookies? I’ve been missing out all my life!
You know, I asked myself the same thing!
Sweet nutella and salty pretzels…I love the combo of these nobake cookies!
Me too, I had to wonder why it took me so long to think of this!
I love the preacher story and I won’t touch the Poodgie name! We always called them no-bake too. Genius using nutella.
I love the back stories behind some things, suddenly what doesn’t seem to make sense does, even if it isn’t true. We have a saying in our house “if it didn’t happen that way, it should have”.
Oh man, I can’t believe I just started (another!!) diet. These cookies bring back memories of the no-bakes Mom used to have waiting for us after school. And my girls LOVE Nutella. I can’t wait to make these for them. Thanks, Rhonda!
Can you use old fashioned oats and skim milk?
You can use skim milk but not old fashioned oats, they are a bit chewy for this recipe since it’s a no-bake.