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 should have stated that I am also allergic to dairy and soy so I can’t have butter or ghee… sorry.
You can use earth balance vegan butter!
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.
I noticed the salt content… which is another thing we are watching. I’m wondering why the added sea sat.
I love sweet and salty treats. Feel free to adjust to fit your dietary needs!
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.
These sounds amazing,can I use regular jungle oats?does the oats need to become soft when cooking or stay crunchy?
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!
Thank you Carole! So glad you enjoy these!!
These were absolutely delicious! I also made a batch using almond extract and it gave it a little extra nutty flavor 🙂
Love the idea of using almond extract! YUM!
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.
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.
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.
Has anyone made these omitting the chocolate? I like chocolate but not mixed with nut butters. These sound yummy.
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!
Thank you Ashley! Not like peanut butter?! Gasp! LOL! I’m so glad you and your family enjoyed these!