Healthy No-Bake Cookies
Posted Aug 15, 2016, Updated Jul 14, 2024
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Healthy no-bake chocolate peanut butter cookies! Made with 8 nutritious ingredients, these healthy no bake cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan & refined sugar free!
I remember the first time I ever tried no bake cookies…I was in heaven. I hunted down the maker of those cookies and begged for the recipe. They were easy to make, but I wasn’t a fan of the nutritional profile.
Since my first encounter with these little bits of chocolate/peanut butter heaven, it became my mission to create a healthier version! I’ve made this recipe more times than I can count, which means I’m very glad that these healthy no bake chocolate peanut butter cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar free and vegan-friendly!
These Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies are made with only 8 good-for-you ingredients, all of which you probably have on hand right now – yay!
Healthy No-Bake Cookies: Ingredients & Substitutions
Here are a few potential substitutions for this recipe!
- Peanut butter. Any nut or seed butter works well in this recipe.
- Coconut oil. Butter or ghee are great substitutes for coconut oil.
- Honey. Use maple syrup for a vegan version of this recipe.
- Shredded coconut. If you don’t care for coconut, simply replace it with an extra 1/4 cup quick-cooking oats.
How to Make Healthy No-Bake Cookies
These healthy no bake cookies are so easy to make! Start by melting together the coconut oil, peanut butter and honey!
Stir or whisk the wet ingredients together over medium-low heat until the mixture is smooth.
Add the dry ingredients – cocoa powder, quick-cooking oats and coconut.
Stir until the mixture is homogenous (uniform throughout).
Then, use a 1 TBS measuring spoon or cookie scoop to portion out the no bake cookies, and place them onto a baking sheet lined with waxed paper. Let them harden at room temperature or in the refrigerator or freezer.
Serve
These healthy no bake cookies are best served cold because the coconut oil is soft at room temperature.
Store
Store these cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week, or in the freezer for up to 2 months.
Healthy No Bake Cookies FAQs
If you over-cook these healthy no bake cookies, simply add a TBS of each: honey, peanut butter and coconut oil by melting them together and then mixing them into the dry cookie batter. This should help. If you burnt them, you will have to start over.
If your no bake cookies don’t harden it means you didn’t cook the mixture long enough.
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Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup honey (or maple syrup)
- ¼ cup coconut oil (or butter)
- 2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 cup quick cooking oats
- ¼ cup unsweetened coconut (shredded)
Instructions
- Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper, set aside.
- Combine peanut butter, honey salt and coconut oil in a saucepan and heat, stirring continuously, until melted and well-combined.
- Stir in vanilla and cocoa powder.
- Add quick-cooking oats and mix well.
- Add coconut and stir until completely combined.
- Drop 1 TBS portions of mixture onto your prepared baking sheet. Continue until you’ve used all your cookie mixture.
- Let cool in the refrigerator or freezer until hardened.
- Serve cold or frozen!
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator!
Video
Notes
- Peanut butter. Any nut or seed butter works well in this recipe.
- Coconut oil. Butter or ghee are great substitutes for coconut oil.
- Honey. Use maple syrup for a vegan version of this recipe.
- Shredded coconut. If you don’t care for coconut, simply replace it with an extra 1/4 cup quick-cooking oats.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I was looking for a healthy no bake cookie recipe. I liked these! I used butter but will try it with coconut oil next time. I used a mix of honey and syrup as I was low on honey. I added chia seeds and hemp seeds as we will use these for “energy” bars so I figured why not! I doubled the recipe.
Thank you!
Easy recipe. tastes great.
Thanks.
Andy
Thank you, Andy!
Loved these! Didnt have quick oats so put oats in a food processor and pulsed a couple of times. My family said these are a 10 and ate them all! Next time have to double the recipe.
These were delicious! Like a healthy peanut butter cup!
Thank you, Janis!
Can I use old fashion rolled oats instead of quick oats?
Hi Laura, my name is Zoe Prosky. Omg, I love this recipe. So delicious and easy to make. I have to say they are addictive. I added walnuts to the mixture. So good. Also made it with almond butter. The only question I have is, can coconut oil be omitted, or it’s a must in this recipe?
Thank you!
I didn’t used to like no-bake cookies, but that changed when I made these for my husband. Even though coconut oil isn’t exactly healthy, the combination of oats and peanut butter gives a powerful punch of protein and are easier and cheaper than nutrition bars, without the preservatives and other weird ingredients. I eyeballed all the measurements so I can’t say I followed the recipe exactly… OH, I also chopped up trail mix with nuts and dried fruit and added it! Love the added chewiness and crunch. A definite winner. And I official LOVE no-bake cookies now!
Omg. Just made these today. Used half peanut butter/half vanilla almond butter. Butter instead of coconut oil and no coconut. These are f*ing delicious! And so easy! Definitely a new staple. Thank you for this recipe!!
I’m so glad you like them, Shelbie! Using vanilla almond butter is an amazing choice!
These are EXECELLENT in every way! Easy to make and you will NEVER miss the two cups of sugar and the stick of butter that original recipe No-Bakes call for! And there ZERO GUILT attached to these! These are definitely going to be my go-to cookie!
Thank you, Michelle!
So yummy! We’ve made several times!
Made these with a little crunch; added a handful of sliced almonds, but instead of cookies I pressed it down in a pan. My friends and I simply loved them..was a real treat…thank you..😁👍
Made these with my 2.5 year old. Super easy and delicious!