Today we celebrate National Oatmeal Cookie Day. According to nationaltoday.com, oats were cultivated thousands of years ago when they were used as animal feed. In parts of Europe and Scotland, oats were also used in porridge. Before oatmeal cookies were created, oatcakes were popular in Roman times. They were even consumed by soldiers as a snack during wartime to give them an energy boost.

Around 1877, the Quaker Mill Company in Ohio started making steel-cut oats. The company later developed a roller to flatten groats (hulled kernels), creating our modern-day rolled oats. Fannie Merritt Farmer created the first-ever oatmeal cookie in the United States in the 1800s. However, oatmeal cookies didn’t gain popularity until the 1900s when Quaker Oats began printing the recipe on their containers.

The exact origin of National Oatmeal Cookie Day is unknown. However, people have realized the health benefits and the deliciousness of these popular cookies over the years.

Oats contain beta-glucan, a type of soluble fiber that lowers blood glucose and cholesterol levels along with reducing the risk of heart disease and diabetes. This fiber also promotes intestinal health by promoting healthy gut bacteria. The fiber and protein in oats can assist with weight management, too, as they help you feel full longer and slow the release of blood glucose.

In addition, oats are an excellent source of many vitamins and minerals, so what are you waiting for? Get in the kitchen and whip up a batch of these easy, no-bake peanut butter oatmeal cookies to celebrate!

No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

INGREDIENTS

• ¾ cup natural peanut butter

• ⅓ cup brown sugar

• ¼ cup butter

• ¼ cup low-fat milk

• 1 ¾ cups rolled oats

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• ½ cup chocolate chips (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Heat peanut butter, brown sugar, butter and milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat, stirring, until the butter and sugar have melted. Stir in oats and vanilla. If using chocolate chips, let the mixture cool to room temperature before stirring them in.

2. Drop the dough by the tablespoon onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Press into 2-inch circles. Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes. Keep refrigerated.

Makes 24 servings.

Nutrition Facts (per serving):
Calories: 105; Fat: 6g; Carbs: 9g; Protein: 3g

Recipe Card for No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

Recipe Source: EatingWell
Additional Source: nationaltoday.com