Loaded No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Balls ( & Sleepover at Gramma’s)

August 9, 2017 *Updated* March 1, 2022 / By: Gloria Duggan | Homemade & Yummy 62 Comments

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When you have little hands wanting to help you in the kitchen, Loaded No-Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Balls are perfect to make.

The kids love getting their hands in the kitchen. No-bake recipes are perfect. They can even help with these Chocolate Coconut Drop Cookies.

Who doesn’t love sleepover at gramma and grampa’s? I know when I was a kid, I welcomed every opportunity I got to sleep at baba’s house. After all, grandparents let you get away with so much stuff. Plus, they make you all of your favourite things to eat too.

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If you are like us, grandchildren hold a very special place in our hearts. When you have kids, they grow so quickly. I know there are times when you wish they would grow faster (or just decide to cling onto someone else for a day).

They grow from baby to toddler, then kindergarten to high school in a blink of an eye. The day you take them (and leave them) at university will be one of the most emotional days of your life. Both hubby and I cried all the way home when we left our youngest at Queen’s. OMG that has been over 15 years ago, and we still cry when we talk about it. That feeling of not seeing them every day, or being there to take care of them when they are sick takes some time to get used to.

So as the world turns, your kids grow up, leave home, get married, and if you are REALLY LUCKY, have kids of their own. Now you are a grandparent, a whole new and exciting chapter in your life. Your house will again have toys in the family room, is Christmas morning is a very busy time, and if you have pets that are used to peace and quiet, they run and hide and say “OMG when are they going home?”

HELPING IN THE KITCHEN

When I was a kid, there was nothing I enjoyed more than helping my baba in the kitchen. I was lucky that she lived close by. So close, that I walked to her house every day after school to visit. It was always exciting to see what she made for me that day. Those special times shared are something I will treasure for the rest of my life.

I knew that if I ever had the chance to be a gramma, bonding and creating special memories with grandchildren would be so important for me and them. We have been blessed with 2 awesome grandchildren, and like when I was young, we live very close and get to see them whenever we like.

PEANUT BUTTER, OATMEAL & CHOCOLATE

You can visit my cupboards anytime, and always find peanut butter, oatmeal and chocolate in them. These 3 ingredients can be used in so many recipes, from sweet to savoury, nutritious to decadent. Do you have a “chocoholic” in your house? I have 2, my oldest daughter and my husband. Guess things really do get passed down from generation to generation. Balances out for us since I am more of a savoury gal, and so is my youngest daughter. Turns out the grandkids are following suit. Owen has a sweet tooth, and Ainsley is a savoury little girl.

Healthy granola bars and chocolate oatmeal are some of my favourite ways to enjoy chocolate. When you can combine these 2 ingredients into a nutritious recipe, that is right up my alley.

I am a peanut butter lover (along with bread, cheese and wine). I can eat it by the spoonful. Even though I am not a chocoholic, the peanut butter/chocolate combo is one I adore. I do try to combine it in healthy recipes like Banana Chocolate Roundup, but if you really want to indulge, Milk Chocolate Peanut Bites should be on your “must make” list.

SLEEPOVER WEEKEND

This past weekend was sleepover weekend. Mom and dad got some much deserved time alone. Gramma and grampa got some special bonding time to create those special memories. The kids LOVED their time here, and Owen is already looking at the calendar to set the date for the next time.

Keeping them busy with fun things to do makes for an enjoyable weekend. Since I want that time in the kitchen to be special, No Bake Cookie Balls were the perfect things to get those little hands helping with. They do have some nutrition (oatmeal and peanut butter), with some added candy bits. You can’t have a sleepover without candy right?

How easy are these to make? VERY! Dump all the ingredients into a bowl, mix to combine, and shape into balls. My 5 and 2 year old sous chefs had no trouble making these. They also had no trouble eating the candy pieces along the way too. I kept reminding them to make sure some of those pieces get into the cookies.

Cookies were not all we did. Dinosaur fossils happened too. Making the dough, shaping into fossils and baking required more kitchen help. Painting the finished product was so much fun. All dinosaurs have glitter (well according to my granddaughter they do), makes them look authentic right?

It was a successful weekend all around. Grampa made popcorn in his special popcorn machine. The request for hot dogs and corn on the cob for dinner was a hit, and Grampa’s bacon and eggs on the BBQ for breakfast was devoured in no time flat. The kids LOVE bacon made with delicious Ontario Pork.

If you need to keep little hands busy, Loaded No Bake Peanut Butter Oatmeal Cookie Balls will do the trick. Balancing nutrition and treats is a fun and delicious way to say: Sleepover at Gramma’s is SO MUCH FUN!

Do you have some special memories with your grandparents?