Recipe: Amish Boiled Cookies

AMISH BOILED COOKIES
Source: New Recipes from Quilt Country: More Food & Folkways from the Amish & Mennonites by Marcia Adams
Makes about 45 cookies

These appear in many Amish cookbooks and are also sometimes called funeral cookies since they can he made in a hurry and taken to the grieving family. There's no baking at all involved; the cooking process takes place on top of the stove.

I must tell you, I didn't expect to like them. Well, was I surprised! They have a wonderful chocolate peanut butter flavor and slightly chewy texture. And they're so easy to make. Let your children help with these; you will be creating confirmed cooks!

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup milk
2 cups sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1/2 cup regular (not low-fat) peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 cups quick-cooking oats (not instant)
1/2 cup coarsely chopped pecans

In a small saucepan, over medium heat, mix the butter, milk, sugar, and cocoa; bring to a boil and cook for 1 minute.

Remove from the heat and stir in the peanut butter, vanilla, and salt. Mix in the oats and pecans.

Using a small cookie scoop or a teaspoon, drop onto wax paper and allow the cookies to stand. unrefrigerated. for 1 hour. Store in an airtight container. with wax paper between the layers.