Jazzed Up Fudge No Bake Cookies

Chocolate....who doesn't love it?! I know, I know...woman have been linked to the love of chocolate. So much so, we have been accused of giving up 'other' pursuits of happiness for it.

Uh....okay...its possible. To spend a life void of chocolate could cause one to think its a life not worth living.

Sound dramatic? Quite simply. Yes. Why? Because it is. It creates drama. It creates joy. And, thank God, recently the media reports that eating dark chocolate has healthy benefits. Oh, how I have waited for that stamp of approval. Bring on the chocolate!!

Wikipedia states While chocolate is regularly eaten for pleasure, there are potential beneficial health effects of eating chocolate. Cocoa or dark chocolate benefits the circulatory system.^[50] Other beneficial effects suggested include anticancer, brain stimulator, cough preventor and antidiarrhoeal effects.^[51] An aphrodisiac effect is yet unproven.

It also tells us Theobroma cacao, native to Mexico, Central and South America, has been cultivated for at least three millennia in that region. Cocoa mass was used originally in Mesoamerica both as a beverage and as an ingredient in foods. Africa also produces large quantities. In 1689, noted physician and collector Hans Sloane developed a milk chocolate drink in Jamaica which was initially used by apothecaries, but later sold to the Cadbury brothers in 1897.^[21]

Chocolate in its solid form was invented in 1847. Joseph Fry & Son discovered a way to mix some of the cocoa butter back into the dutched chocolate, and added sugar, creating a paste that could be molded. The result was the first modern chocolate bar.

Dutch chocolate brings us to today's recipe. No bake cookie recipes have been around forever. I make this my own by using Special Dark Dutch Processed Cocoa and making white chocolate ganache for a drizzle. My opinion the Special Dark Dutch Cocoa provides a very deep, rich chocolate flavor and the small amount of white chocolate ganache drizzle compliments. I had a little White Chocolate Ganache leftover, so as the picture shows, I drizzled a few potato chips. The salty crunch mixed with sweet is heaven!

Jazzed Up Fudge No Bake Cookies

2 cups sugar

1/4 cup Special Dark Dutch Processed Cocoa

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup milk

1/2 cup crunchy peanut butter

3 cups quick oatmeal

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

pinch of salt

Combine sugar, cocoa and butter, milk and salt. Boil 1 minute (this is critical). Remove from heat, add peanut butter and vanilla. Stir until dissolved. Add oatmeal and mix. Drop from tablespoon on wax paper. Drizzle with white chocolate ganache. Allow cookies to sit and 'set up'. Makes approximately 36 cookies.

White Chocolate ganache

1/4 cup white chocolate chips

2 tablespoons heavy cream

In a zip lock bag combine white chocolate chips and heavy cream. Microwave for 15-20 seconds. Take out and massage mixture to combine. Looking for a smooth consistency and thin enough to 'drizzle' a stream. If needed add a bit more heavy cream and microwave for 10 seconds, massage until mixed well. Be careful not to overcook or chocolate could seize on you.

Snip a very small tip off bottom of one corner of zip lock bag and drizzle across cookies.