I have had the recipe for no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies made on the stovetop for more than 40 years. Now I have turned these wonderful (and fast and easy) treats into gluten-free and vegan no-bake chocolate oatmeal cookies!

True story: When I was a sophomore in high school, living in Priest River, Idaho, I hitchhiked to visit someone in Washington state (I sure hope that my kids aren’t reading this. It was a different, safer era, ok kids?) This very nice couple, Ronald and Connie Happ, picked me up, and they brought me to their house and fed me before sending me on my way. One of the things that they fed me was these cookies, and I begged the recipe off Connie. In fact, I have always called these “No Bake Cookies ala Happ”.

They are incredibly easy to make – great for kids to make (with supervision).

Gluten-Free Vegan No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

1 stick Earth Balance Vegan Buttery Stick
1/2 cup alternative milk (soy, almond, rice, hazelnut, etc.)
2 cups vegan sugar (read why most sugar isn’t vegan)
1 teaspoon vanilla
6 tablespoons baking cocoa
3 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats (dry, not cooked!)

Put Earth Balance stick, milk, and sugar in a large saucepan, and put on stove over medium heat until everything is melted, stirring occasionally. Bring mixture to boil and boil for three minutes. Remove from stove and immediately stir in the vanilla and the cocoa, until well blended. Stir in a quarter of the oatmeal until well blended, then stir in another quarter of the oatmeal until well blended, repeating until all of the oatmeal is blended in.

Drop mixture by spoonfuls onto wax paper or aluminum foil. Let set until firm. Eat.