Start by placing the butter, milk, and cocoa powder into a medium saucepan. Heat it over medium heat, stirring constantly until the butter melts and the cocoa powder dissolves. Keep an eye on it to make sure it doesn’t boil over.

Tip: Stir gently to avoid any lumps. You want a smooth, chocolatey mixture!

Once the butter and cocoa powder have fully melted together, increase the heat slightly and bring the mixture to a boil. Let it boil for 1 minute, stirring frequently. This step helps the sugar dissolve and creates that delicious gooey texture.

Pro Tip: Set a timer for the 1-minute boil—it's easy to miss the timing, but this step is key to getting the perfect consistency.

Once the mixture has boiled for 1 minute, remove it from the heat. Add in the peanut butter and stir it in until it’s completely melted and smooth. The peanut butter will make the mixture rich and creamy, and it’s the key ingredient for binding everything together.

Substitution Tip: If you prefer a nut-free recipe, use sunflower seed butter for a similar creamy texture and taste!

Now it’s time to mix in the oats. Stir in 3 cups of quick oats until they are well coated with the chocolatey peanut butter mixture. The oats give the Moose Farts that perfect chewy texture and help hold everything together.

Tip: Use quick oats for the best texture. Old-fashioned oats might be a little too thick for this recipe.

Add 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract and a pinch of salt (if using). The vanilla enhances the flavor, while the salt helps balance out the sweetness.

Bonus Tip: The salt is optional, but it’s amazing for making the chocolate flavor pop—don’t skip it if you can!

Spoon out small dollops of the mixture onto parchment paper or wax paper. Use the back of the spoon to gently press them into cookie shapes. They don’t need to be perfect—each one will have its own unique shape, which adds to the charm of these fun treats.

Tip: Wet your spoon with a little water to make it easier to scoop the mixture without it sticking.

Allow the cookies to cool and firm up at room temperature for about 30 minutes. Once set, they’ll have a nice, chewy texture and be easy to handle.

Quick Tip: If you're in a hurry, you can speed up the process by placing the cookies in the fridge for about 15 minutes.