By: Andrea Roberson
No Bake Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies
Yields: 24 cookies
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked rice
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup coconut
- 2 cups cocoa powder
- ½ cup flour
- 8 tablespoons cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Directions:
Combine rice, peanut butter, coconut, 1 cup cocoa powder, flour, 4 tablespoons cinnamon, chili powder, cayenne, and brown sugar in a blender or food processor. Pulse until all the ingredients are well combined and stick to the sides of the bowl.
- Use a small scoop or a tablespoon to form the mixture into small balls.
- In a separate bowl, combine the remaining cocoa power and cinnamon. Roll the balls into cocoa powder and cinnamon.
- Place the balls on a sheet pan, two inches apart, and flatten. Refrigerate for at least two hours.
One of the things I really enjoyed about Spanish class was my teacher always brought us food. Every month, for whatever holiday she could find, my teacher always brought in something tasty for us to try. I knew I was lucky to have her as my teacher, and when I started teaching, I wanted to be just like her.
So I know that most Spanish teachers don’t want to, don’t know how to, or don’t have time to continuously cook elaborate meals for their classes. But every once in a while a sweet or savory treat is necessary to draw the attention of students. Food is the one thing that joins all human beings. We need it to survive, but also use it as a mechanism to create social situations. Not to mention, we’re not supposed to talk with our mouths full, so it’s a silencing mechanism as well.
I’m often asked what if I’m not a cook or a baker. The answer is simple. Do like I did when I first started teaching, and look up no cook/no bake recipes. What’s the worst that could happen? If they don’t like it, then you try something different. If they do, then you have something to share with your future students. But, you’ll see, it’s worth the trouble in the long run.
I found an amazing recipe for No Bake Mexican Hot Chocolate Cookies. I’m not a fan of coconut, so I left it out of my recipe, but it’s fast, it’s easy, the ingredients are inexpensive, and you can make several batches out of the ingredients you purchase. Try it, and let me know what you think. Hey, what’s the worst that could happen?
