Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Posted Aug 15, 2016, Updated Jan 29, 2023
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Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies! Made with only 8 good-for-you 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 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 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.
FAQs about Healthy No Bake Cookies
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.
More easy, healthy dessert recipes
- If you’re looking for a way to make these healthy no bake cookies even more fun…you can turn them into nests at easter time! 🙂
- These Chocolate Peanut Butter Coconut Bars are so so good!
- Chocolate date energy bites are a healthy snack or dessert!
- Either of these delicious ice cream recipes: chocolate, vanilla! (dairy-free)
- Black bean brownies are one of my favorites!
- Also these healthy peanut butter blondies!
If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can see your creations!
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
Store
Store these cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, or the freezer for up to 2 months.Ingredient substitutions:Â
- 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.Â
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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 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!
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These no bake cookies are great. Although they don’t seem to make about 2 dozen cookies as the recipe suggests. I only ever seem to get 13-15 cookies and that is if they are made small. I’ve also substituted the cocoa for carob and they are equally as great!
What is the nutritional value on these?
I made slightly larger cookies, with 16 cookies. I also reduced the coconut oil to 3 Tbsp. That said they had 122 cal., 8.1g fat, 3.8g sat fat, 38.1mg sodium, 10.1g carbs, 1.6g fiber, 4.8g sugar, and 2.9g protein.
The most amazing thing I’ve made in a long time. My kids love helping as it’s such a simple recipe. I’ve made them a few times, want to try adding dried fruit next time, tried adding crushed WF cereal, chia and flax and they were wonderful. Thank you so much 🙂
YAY! Sarah I’m so glad you liked them! Thank you for stopping by to let me know! It is a super fun recipe to let the kids help with you’re so right!
Made this yesterday delicious
Thank you Amy! I’m so glad you enjoyed them!!
Oh these are amazing! I eat a really strict diet and really have to limit sugar, no gluten and no dairy. Honestly i’ve made a lot of desserts but most taste ‘healthy’, but these are one of the dew that taste decadent and gorgeous like textured buttery truffles. So delicious. Ive made them three times and i always make half the recipe because otherwise i wouldn’t stop eating them till their finished. I also have subbed the cocoa powder for organic 75% chocolate, and less honey and a handful of raisins. So good! Thank you so much!
Jess I am SO glad to know that you love these!!! They are one of my favorites too! I love the idea of subbing chocolate for a nice variation (I bet they hold up a little better at room temperature too)! And the addition of raisins sounds delicious! Thank you so much for stopping by to let me know you enjoy this recipe! It means so much to me! <3
I know the main ingredient is peanut butter, but can you substitute it with almond butter instead?
Hey Jessica! You absolutely can substitute peanut butter for almond butter!
Can coconut flakes be omitted?
You can substitute coconut flakes with extra oats….of course I always recommend making a recipe as written (because coconut is so delicious)! 🙂
Thank you. I can’t wait to try these. I never make the original version because I would eat them all, but I think I can handle this.
And if you eat them all at least it’s packed full of good-for-you ingredients! 😉
Your cookies look awesome! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday, your recipe is great! Hope you have a wonderful week and come back to see us real soon.
Miz Helen
These look like they would taste just as delicious as the regular ones; they’re almost like a chocolate peanut butter granola bar in cookie form. And it’s still pretty warm here; it usually stays warm until about mid September? Do you ski in Utah? 🙂
In my opinion they are better because of the coconut flavor! 🙂 I haven’t skied since we moved here because every winter I’ve either been pregnant or nursing! LOL! But my husband skis! I don’t have much of a desire to go downhill skiing, but I absolutely want to go cross-country skiing as soon as I’m able! 🙂