We’re cookie crazy in my house, and one of our favorites is these delightfully easy and tasty Eskimo cookies.
Why? Because they’re super simple, but super delicious.
With just a few ingredients, you can pull together these no-bake balls in minutes.
Eskimo Cookies
If you were a kid in the 1980s, you may have come across a recipe for Eskimo cookies in one of your mom’s cookbooks.
First popular in the 1950s and 60s, these cookies are a little bit of history.
They’ve been passed down through the generations and are still tempting sweet-toothed kids today.
These nostalgic nibbles have stood the test of time because they understand that a good cookie doesn’t have to be complicated.
Forget chocolate-dipped thingymajigs, whipped and blended baked creations, or those laden with fancy frosting.
A good cookie is really just butter, sugar, and a bit of mouth-watering magic.
Serve them at birthday parties, potlucks, family gatherings, or just as an afternoon pick-me-up.
These addictive Eskimo cookies are the very definition of fuss-free crowd-pleasers.
Ingredients
I’m willing to bet you have all these ingredients on hand, so there’s no reason not to make these cookies.
Assemble the below items, enlist a small helper, and prepare to get your cookie on!
- Butter – All the best cookie recipes involve butter. Here, it does double duty – holding the cookie together while providing creamy richness in every bite.
- Sugar – Don’t skip the sugar! These little nuggets of joy are perfectly sweet without being overwhelming.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – Giving a chocolatey depth to your cookie, unsweetened cocoa powder is the magic ingredient here. It’s healthy too – pure cocoa is a superfood. The darker your cocoa powder, the more antioxidants.
- Vanilla extract – Just a hint of vanilla is all you’ll need to round out the flavor, and if you want to go a little nuts (pun intended), you can always swap this out for almond extract.
- Water – Yep, plain old water. Eskimo cookies aren’t baked, so they need a little help sticking together. Enter water, the glue that helps bind your bites.
- Rolled oats – These add crunch so your cookie never gets boring. Plus, they provide a little bit of an energy boost, ensuring your treats will keep you fuller for longer.
- Confectioner’s sugar – You don’t really need to add extra sweetness, but a light dusting of confectioner’s sugar can provide that extra oomph if you’re serving these at a party or as holiday finger food.
Tips for the Best Eskimo Cookies
This versatile recipe lends itself well to a bit of culinary creativity so feel free to play around.
Almost any flavors will work in your Eskimo cookies so you can satisfy even the pickiest eaters.
- Love nuts? Ramp up the crunch by adding chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds. You can also scoop in a spoonful of your favorite nut butter for more of a protein-rich energy hit.
- Watching your sugar? No problem! You can adjust the sugar here to taste, or simply swap it out altogether for a healthier option such as honey, maple syrup, or Paleo-approved Stevia.
- Making Eskimo cookies for a fall feast? Pile some festive flavors in there with a sprinkling of cinnamon, a dash of nutmeg, and a dash of allspice.
- Want to make it healthier for young snackers? Add in some dried fruits such as cranberries, raisins, or plums. Just be sure to chop them finely, as too much bulk can lead to crumbly cookies.
When adapting the recipe to taste, keep an eye on your dough.
Too many wet ingredients and it’ll turn sticky, making it harder to shape into balls. Too many dry ingredients, and it won’t bind.
The key to striking the right balance is to measure the basics, and add your additions slowly, mixing between each.
You should have a workable, stable dough that forms a patty when you scoop up a handful.
Still having trouble getting it to stick together? Stir the ingredients, then put them in the fridge for a few hours.
Chilling helps reduce the moisture in your dough, making it easier to bind and shape.
If by some miracle, you happen to have leftovers – don’t worry. These yummy bites will keep well.
Just store them in an air-tight container in the fridge and reach for these heavenly cookies any time you feel the need for a nibble.
How to Make Eskimo Cookies
This one-bowl, no-bake recipe is a great project for kids on warm summer days.
It’s easy, fast, and involves piling everything into a bowl and giving it a good mix.
This is the kind of messy that kids love – especially when there are cookies to eat after all that effort!
Eskimo Cookies (No-Bake Recipe)
18
servings15
minutes145
kcalIngredients
3/4 cup butter
3/4 cup white sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon water
2 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup confectioners’ sugar for decoration
Instructions
- Soften 3/4 cup of butter
- Stir in 3/4 cup of sugar until fully combined
- Add in 3 tbsp of cocoa powder, a tbsp of water, and 1/2 tsp vanilla extract. Stir.
- Fold in 2 cups of oatmeal and mix until your dough starts to get sticky and chunky.
- Shape into balls, and roll each in confectioners sugar before eating or letting them chill out in the fridge
