Recipe

No-Bake Christmas Avalanche Cookies

By Claire Tromblee at University of California – Berkeley

When the holidays roll around, all I ever really want to do is bake. For many college students missing home, the comfort of baking is likely out of reach as we sit in dorm rooms dreaming of our parents' kitchen.

For me, the roadblock is that although I have an oven-away-from-home, it happens to be currently broken. So in these trying, oven-less times, I turn to no-bake baking.

Avalanche cookies are an extremely simple dessert: Using 5 ingredients and almost zero effort, you create a peanut butter, white chocolate, marshmallowy, crunchy cookie.

I've decided to give this recipe a holiday twist, subbing the peanut butter for classic flavors of the season like pistachio and cranberry. They're incredibly addictive and take no more than 10 minutes to whip up, so get (not) baking!  

Cranberry Pistachio Avalanche Cookies

  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Total Time: 10 mins
  • Servings: 16
Ingredients
  • 1 1/2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
  • 1 cup shelled pistachios
  • 1 cup dried cranberries
  • 3/4 cup coconut
  • 1 cup mini marshmallows
  • 16 oz. white chocolate chips

Claire Tromblee

Step 1

In a bowl, add cereal, dried cranberries, pistachios, marshmallows, and most of the coconut (reserve 1/4 cup for later).

Claire Tromblee

Step 2

Mix dry ingredients together until evenly distributed.

Claire Tromblee

Step 3

In a small bowl over low heat, simmer about an inch of water and place a glass bowl on top, making sure no water is touching or in the bowl. Place white chocolate in bowl.

#SpoonTip: If you only have a microwave, you can melt the chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl, stirring every 30 seconds.

Claire Tromblee

Step 4

Stir chocolate constantly until fully melted and remove from heat.

Claire Tromblee

Step 5

Pour melted chocolate into dry mixture.

Claire Tromblee

Step 6

Quickly but gently fold the ingredients into one another until just combined.

#SpoonTip: Make sure you work quickly as the chocolate will set once it gets cold.

Claire Tromblee

Step 7

Drop rounded tablespoons, one inch apart onto a cookie sheet lined with wax or parchment paper.

Claire Tromblee

Step 8

While cookies are still wet, sprinkle on extra coconut for a snowy effect. Allow cookies 10 minutes to set, or transfer to the fridge to harden faster.

Claire Tromblee

These sweet little numbers prove you don't need an oven to master a festive and impressive dessert. But, baker beware: These cookies will disappear in minutes (they're that good).