For the next month I’m on a gluten-free, soy-free food challenge. As a vegan this limits my diet substantially.  After five days of incredibly healthy, mostly raw meals I needed some chocolate! I have an old no bake cookie recipe in a family cookbook that I have been veganizing for years and I realized with one quick walk to the store, I could have my chocolaty gluten and soy free dessert.

My grocery run: Earth Balance soy free “butter”. I have actually never tried this product before since I usually buy Earth Balances original “butter” sticks, but I knew this product existed and figured it would substitute fine.

And back home mere minutes later, I was ready to no-bake.

No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup non-dairy milk (I used hazelnut)
1/2 cup non-hydrogenated margarine (go with Earth Balance)
1/2 cup cocoa
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups oats (use gf oats to make cookies gluten-free)

In a medium sized pan mix together sugar, non-dairy milk, margarine, and cocoa. Place over medium high heat and bring to boil. Boil for two minutes (not less) and remove from heat.

Mix in oats and vanilla until well combined and looks something like this:

Drop cookies onto wax paper and let cool at room temperature. Once cool and hard, peel off from wax paper and enjoy. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

These cookies certainly satisfied my chocolate craving while keeping me honest with my food challenge.