I forgot to add that it's a peanut-free school, so anything with pb is out.

Does your oven heat at all? If it just isn't regulating properly, if you can heat it to 350 and turn it off, you can make these. (or use the broiler to preheat it to 350) I've made several varieties, you can look for other recipes. Maybe leave out the nuts if they would be a problem.
Forgotten Cookies

The name "Forgotten Cookies" comes from leaving these cookies to bake in the oven overnight after it's been turned off.

Ingredients:

2 egg whites, at room temperature
2/3 cup sugar
pinch salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup finely chopped pecans
1 cup chocolate chips

Preparation:
Preheat oven to 350�. Beat egg whites until foamy. Gradually add sugar and continue beating until they hold stiff peaks. Add salt and vanilla. Stir well. Stir in pecans and chocolate chips. Cover cookie sheet with foil and grease with butter or margarine. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto the foil. Put in oven then turn the oven off. Leave overnight in oven with door closed.

Thanks for the suggestion, olychick. The bottom element only heats up to 200 or so. If it could get to 350, I could make just about any cookie! These are for a school bake sale, so I have to keep in mind the picky nature of children. :)

I don't have a recipe, but I remember when my son was a teenager he used to like to make some no-bake things with melted chocolate, oatmeal and raisins. Melt chocolate, mix in oatmeal and raisins, drop onto waxed paper lined sheet and refrigerate.

Sorry I didn't make clear what I meant. I'm thinking, since the oven does not have to STAY at 350 just get there then is turned off, that if you have an oven thermometer you could preheat with the broiler (assuming it's not a broiler drawer) until the oven is up to 350, turn it all off and put the overnight cookies into the oven. I'd actually get it hotter so the walls heat up well, then turn it off and let the temp come down to 350.

I'm not sure if it's in that recipe I posted, but I read to not open the oven at all after placing the cookies inside.

What about dough balls? These cookie dough truffles are so yummy.

Here is a link that might be useful: Cookie dough truffles

Thanks for the clarification, olychick. Yes, I can get the oven to heat up by using the broiler. Do children like meringues? I'd have to take out the pecans, I wonder how that would effect the taste?

Thanks ynnej for the dough ball recipe. How difficult would the chocolate coating part be? Would these need to be refrigerated? And can I use regular chocolate chips instead of the baking wafers?

Nanaimo Bars are fabulous and always a hit. The nuts are optional. There's a recipe at allrecipes as well as elsewhere on the web. http://allrecipes.com/recipe/nanaimo-bars-iii/

Plus they are a "national dessert of Canada"!

Ding, ding...we have a winner! Why didn't I think of that? I have a wonderful recipe for Nanaimo Bars! I'll just omit the nuts. Thanks marita!

Yum, chocolate macaroons are good!

2 cups sugar ( I use 1 1/2 cups)
1/2 cup butter
6 tbsp cocoa
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
pinch salt
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup shredded coconut

Bring sugar, butter, cocoa and milk to a boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla, salt, oatmeal and coconut. Stir well to blend and drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper and let set.

jasdip,
Do you use the quick oats or slow oats? I've never eaten oats not cooked in some way before...is it okay?

I told my son about the Nanaimo Bars and he said "those aren't cookies!". Anyway, I thought I only needed to make 30, but now the number is up to 50 and I don't want to spend too much on ingredients. Please keep the suggestions coming, I really appreciate it. Can't believe how much I took my poor oven for granted...

I know you said you wanted to avoid rice krispy treats, but in my experience, they are the first thing to sell out. I've spent hours on beautifully decorated cupcakes that just sit there, but the treats are gone in no time flat!

Here's an awesome recipe for the best rice krispy treats I've ever had. I don't know if kids would appreciate the subtle differences but they are pretty amazing. I double the recipe and it makes a ton for about $5.

Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats (Smitten Kitchen)

What's different about these? Oh, just a bit more (coughdouble) butter which you toast until it's brown and nutty and help along with some coarse salt, just minor things. But it changes everything.

Makes 16 2-inch squares or 32 1- x 2-inch small bars

4 ounces (1/4 pound or 1 stick) unsalted butter, plus extra for the pan
1 10-ounce bag marshmallows
Heaping 1/4 teaspoon coarse sea salt
6 cups Rice Krispies cereal (about half a 12-ounce box)

Butter (or coat with non-stick spray) an 8-inch square cake pan with 2-inch sides.

In a large pot, melt butter over medium-low heat. It will melt, then foam, then turn clear golden and finally start to turn brown and smell nutty. Stir frequently, scraping up any bits from the bottom as you do. Don't take your eyes off the pot as while you may be impatient for it to start browning, the period between the time the butter begins to take on color and the point where it burns is often less than a minute.

As soon as the butter takes on a nutty color, turn the heat off and stir in the marshmallows. The residual heat from the melted butter should be enough to melt them, but if it is not, turn it back on low until the marshmallows are smooth.

Remove the pot from the stove and stir in the salt and cereal together. Quickly spread into prepared pan. I liked to use a piece of waxed or parchment paper that I've sprayed with oil to press it firmly and evenly into the edges and corners, though a silicon spatula works almost as well.

Let cool, cut into squares and get ready to make new friends.

Here is a link that might be useful: Smitten Kitchen Salted Brown Butter Crispy Treats

Donna, the quick oats. 1 or 3 minute is fine.

jasdips macaroons are much like my no-bake cookies, except my recipe calls for peanut butter, of course. I actually like the old fashioned oats in them because I like the texture better, but the kids like the 1 minute oats, they get softer.

If you have a Nesco 18 quart roaster, you can bake a pan of brownies in there. I did that for an emergency bake sale treat when my oven went kaput and it worked well. Just don't lift the lid during baking, it lets out too much heat.

Annie

Gee, I started today off not having a clue what to make and now I have to decide between several great options. Thanks for all the ideas and recipes!

chi83,
Does browning the butter make for a really hard rice krispie square? Normally the chewier ones are best.

Nope it's the same texture as regular ones, but it has a nutty/caramelly taste that really takes it up a level.

It's also not cookies, but chocolate fudge often goes very well at a bake sale. Here's an easy, no-fail recipe that does not take hours standing over a hot stove or a candy thermometer:

1 lb. box of confectioner's (powdered) sugar
1/2 cup Hershey's cocoa powder
a pinch of salt
3-4 tbsp milk
6 tbsp butter or margarine
1 tsp vanilla

Melt the butter or margarine in a 3-qt saucepan. Add the sugar, cocoa powder, salt. Stir. Add milk until the mixture is smooth and creamy, heat to just a little bit of bubbling. Add the vanilla.

Pour into a buttered 8" square pan. Let harden. (It will take a couple of hours.) Cut carefully into squares.

Watch out, very rich, very yummy, and the calories do NOT go away.

Donna

Oreo truffles were always a favorite at my son's school.

1 pkg Oreos (store brands work great)
1 8 oz. pkg. cream cheese
Melted chocolate

Process Oreos until fine crumbs. With hands, work in cream cheese until thoroughly blended. Roll into one inch balls. Chill. When chilled, roll in your choice of melted dark, milk, or white chocolate. Chill again.

I have also seen these rolled in cocoa power or coconut.

I just wanted to thank everyone for all the great suggestions. I ended up making chi's rice krispie squares AND jasdip's chocolate macaroons. My son was the taste tester and I had to make him stop sampling the product...he loved them both!

After making the rice krispie squares with the browned butter, I'm not sure whether I can go back to the regular recipe!