Family legend goes that my husband’s grandmother jumped up from the couch one Thanksgiving afternoon, after a huge dinner with the whole extended family, announcing, “I need a little something sweet.” She walked past the table loaded with pies and desserts, went to the cupboard, and opened a can of chocolate syrup. Apparently, she needed something more than sweet: she needed chocolate! Here’s an alternative.

2 c sugar

1/2 c milk
1/2 c (1 stick) butter or margarine
1/3 c cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
2-1/4 c oats
1/2 c chunky peanut butter

Mix sugar, milk, butter and cocoa together in a saucepan and heat until it comes to a boil, stirring frequently. Allow the mixture to boil one minute. Add vanilla and stir well. With remaining ingredients in a large mixing bowl, pour hot mixture over oats and peanut butter and mix well. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper and allow to cool. Store in airtight container (refrigerate if you don’t have air conditioning!).

This recipe is adapted from one of those church fund-raising cookbooks. Some versions have you melt the peanut butter in the pan before you pour it over the oats. I hate to wash extra dishes, so I usually just add the peanut butter and oats to the pan. Whatever. If it’s too hot outside to bake, and you need “a little something sweet” to get you through the afternoon, these should do the trick.