Avalanche Cookies

Not all cookies need baking.  These no-bake avalanche cookies are a mega crowd pleaser, are easy to make, and only need 4 ingredients.  Put these on your holiday treat list!

These cookies remind me of a little of a Nestle crunch bar but in more of a chewy cookie form, with peanut butter and white chocolate flavors. T o make these cookies, you melt white chocolate with peanut butter, and then you mix it with crispy rice cereal (Rice Krispies) and marshmallows.  Dollop it out on a baking sheet, refrigerate, and voila - you have some pretty darn delicious cookies.

When it comes to picking a peanut butter, use any type of peanut butter except the natural peanut butters.  I love the natural peanut butters (those made with just peanuts and salt), but they do not work as well in desserts.  For these cookies, I used a special peanut butter from Peanut Butter & Co.  They make a white chocolate flavored peanut butter that is just wonderful, hence it is called "White Chocolate Wonderful."  It's a creamy peanut butter sweetened with white chocolate.  A spoonful is such sweet treat!  Besides, adding more white chocolate to these cookies sounded good to me.

Also, just sayin', but I think Nutella or cookie butter would be a great substitute in lieu of peanut butter.

When it comes to melting chocolate, the traditional method is using a double boiler.  I don't have a double boiler, mainly because I try to avoid pots and pans that are "unitaskers."  Instead, I prefer to place a heat proof glass bowl over a pot of simmering hot water.  The steam from the simmering water heats the bowl evenly and steadily.  This method has always worked great for me.  Additionally, it saves me from having to transfer the melted chocolate from a pot to a bowl.

Melting chocolate in the microwave is also an option, but you need to be careful because it is very easy to overheat chocolate in the microwave.  The cocoa butter of the chocolate affects how quickly the chocolate will cook, and I often end up burning white chocolate if I melt it in the microwave, despite how careful I try to be.  If you do  melt the chocolate in the microwave, I would suggest doing 30 second bursts and stir the chocolate in between the bursts.

Avalanche Cookies
Yields 2 dozen

Ingredients:
2 cups crispy rice cereal (Rice Krispies)
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 12 oz. bag white chocolate chips
1 cup of mini marshmallows

Directions:
Line two baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners, and set aside.  In a large bowl, mix the cereal and marshmallows, and also set aside.

Melt white chocolate and peanut butter using preferred method, and stir to combine.  Once the white chocolate and peanut butter are melted, pour it over the cereal and marshmallows, and stir until everything is coated.

Using a tablespoon, drop the batter onto the lined baking sheets.  Place in refrigerator until the cookies harden.

Source: Modified from Averie Cooks