Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies! Made with only 8 good-for-you ingredients & ready in 30 minutes, they’re a delicious treat you can feel great about eating!
I remember the first time I ever tried No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies…I about died. I hunted down the maker of those cookies and begged for the recipe. They were super easy to make, but I definitely 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 much healthier version! I’ve made this recipe more times than I can count, which means I’m extra glad that these Healthy No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar free AND vegan-friendly!
No-Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
For some, summer is coming to a close…but I live in Utah where it stays hot well through September. I still try to avoid using my oven as much as possible, which is why this recipe is perfect! Delicious no-bake treats help us fall-lovers survive the extended hot weather!
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}!
These cookies are a fantastic after school snack to make for your kids too! They’re fast, easy, and taste like a treat {but are really healthy}! Your kids will think they are having dessert before dinner, when in fact they are fueling their bodies with protein, fiber, and healthy fats! #bossmom
If you don’t have kids, they are the perfect treat to refuel and reenergize your body after a great workout! Quick note: these cookies are best served cold. Coconut oil becomes soft at warm temperatures!
Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies: Substitutions
Here are a few potential substitutions for this recipe!
- Peanut butter. Any nut or seed butter should work 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. However, I think the coconut is one of the ingredients that makes this recipe extra special and delicious! 🙂
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Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup honey (or maple syrup for vegan)!
- ¼ cup coconut oil measured in solid state.
- 2 TBS unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp sea salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 cup quick cooking oats
- ¼ cup shredded unsweetened coconut
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
Ingredient substitutions:Â
- Peanut butter. Any nut or seed butter should work 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. However, I think the coconut is one of the ingredients that makes this recipe extra special and delicious! 🙂
Nutrition
If you’re looking for a way to make these cookies even more fun…you can turn them into nests at easter time! 🙂
If you live in a place with an extended summer…here are a few more recipes that will help you cope with the delayed onset of the best season ever…fall!
Chocolate Peanut Butter Coconut Bars (gluten-free, vegan friendly)!
No-Bake Coconut Almond Bars (No bake, paleo & vegan)!
Any one of these energy bite recipes here, here or here! (paleo & vegan)!
Either of these delicious ice cream recipes: chocolate, vanilla! (dairy-free)
My homeschool planning went really well this weekend! I’m feeling totally ready for Gabe’s first year of preschool. Now I’m just waiting on all of Bethany’s 1st grade curriculum to arrive so I can tackle that…which is really what I’ve been nervous about!
This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine!
Megan
I’ve made these twice now and they are the BEST! The second time around I was out of coconut oil and substituted it with avocado oil. They still set up perfectly and the taste was still delicious! I leave mine in the freezer because I like them extra cold on hot days.
Karin
I should have stated that I am also allergic to dairy and soy so I can’t have butter or ghee… sorry.
Laura
You can use earth balance vegan butter!
Karin
Due to nut allergies, I can’t have coconut in any form including coconut oil. Can you recommend a substitute? I am eager to make these.
Michelle
I noticed the salt content… which is another thing we are watching. I’m wondering why the added sea sat.
Laura
I love sweet and salty treats. Feel free to adjust to fit your dietary needs!
Rebecca Jensen
Oh my goodness. This is the first “healthy” no bake recipe that I’ve tried that is good. All the others are a little goopy or chewy, texture problems. These are perfect.
Sumayya
These sounds amazing,can I use regular jungle oats?does the oats need to become soft when cooking or stay crunchy?
Carole Williams
These are sooo good!! I’ve made two batches at a time a few times! I’ve been making them since I first found the recepis! I didn’t have any coconut the first time, so they were made without!! I haven’t added coconut since & I still think they are great!
Laura
Thank you Carole! So glad you enjoy these!!
Kaylynn
These were absolutely delicious! I also made a batch using almond extract and it gave it a little extra nutty flavor 🙂
Laura
Love the idea of using almond extract! YUM!
Rica Gibson
I’ve had to cut out the honey too, so substituted both the peanut butter for almond butter and the honey for same quantity granulated xylitol with GF oats and it was amazing! I was beginning to think I would never taste anything sweet again. Thank you for your delicious recipes. They are opening my world.
Rosa
So would olive oil be okay or would it change the flavor? Olive oil is so much healthier but i don’t want to ruin the flavor or texture.
Laura
Hey Rosa! No I do not recommend olive oil. It is not a solid at room temperature so the cookies will likely never set up.
Natalie
Has anyone made these omitting the chocolate? I like chocolate but not mixed with nut butters. These sound yummy.
Ashley
Holy cow! These were way more delicious than I would have ever imagined. I’m not even a big coconut fan, but I made them as written, with coconut oil, coconut, and maple syrup instead of honey. They are so rich, peanut-buttery, chocolately and yummy. And shockingly healthy. I actually ate them before going to the gym in the morning, and I felt great. My teenage boys both loved them, and one of them doesn’t even like peanut butter (odd, I know). After polishing off the first batch, we promptly made a double batch. Highly recommend!
Laura
Thank you Ashley! Not like peanut butter?! Gasp! LOL! I’m so glad you and your family enjoyed these!
Vanessa
Thanks for sharing! Do they keep long?
Laura
Yes! You can freeze them!
Amy B
These are AMAZING. I added a few dark chocolate chips to the top for fun. My whole family loves them. So so so good! I just made another double batch tonight.
Eleanor Simmerer
I made these and they are sooo good! The only problem is that I have a hard time stopping myself from eating them all! I love how there is no refined sugar too! I also have a blog where I try to eliminate all sugars — Its called No Sugar, No Problem! 😉
Tricia
Just made these with natural peanut butter, GF oats and sugar replacement and they were auick and awesome! Made 12 medium cookies though. Yummy
Breanne
These are delcious 🤤!! Totally satisfies my sweet tooth while staying on plan! THANK YOU for posting, I’m so happy to find these!!