Healthy No-Bake Cookies
Updated Sep 27, 2026
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These healthy no-bake cookies are an easy, delicious treat made with only 8 nutritious ingredients! They’re loaded with rich chocolate peanut butter flavor, naturally sweetened with honey (or maple syrup) and made with oats and coconut. Plus, these healty chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies are gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar free and vegan-friendly!
I created these healthy chocolate peanut butter no-bake cookies because I loved classic no-bake cookies, but wanted to make a version with healthier ingredients that tasted just as delicious. I’ve been making this recipe for over a decade, and they’re still one of my favorite healthy treats!
They’re easy to make in 30 minutes with 8 ingredients you probably already have on hand! These healthy no bake cookies are perfect when you’re craving something sweet but want a healthier dessert.
Why You’ll Love These Healthy No-Bake Cookies
- Chocolate peanut butter perfection. They’re rich, fudgy and loaded with chocolate peanut butter flavor.
- Don’t taste healthy. They’re good for you but don’t taste like it.
- 8 ingredients. You probably already have on hand.
- Naturally sweetened. Honey or maple syrup sweetens these cookies instead of refined sugar.
- No oven required. Made on the stovetop!
- Quick and easy. It only takes about 10 minutes to make the cookies, then they just have to chill until firm.
- Allergy-friendly. These healthy no bake cookies are naturally gluten-free and dairy-free and can easily be made vegan.
Love this recipe! Turns out perfect every time. Everyone loves them! Easy, quick and no seed oils or refined sugar.
– Alyssa
Healthy No-Bake Cookies: Ingredients & Substitutions
Here are a few potential substitutions for this recipe!
- Peanut butter. Creamy is best, but you can also use crunchy. Any nut or seed butter works well in this recipe, including almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter if you have a nut allergy.
- Coconut oil. Butter (my favorite) or ghee can be used in place of coconut oil, although the cookies will no longer be dairy-free if you use butter.
- Honey. Honey is my favorite way to naturally sweeten these healthy no bake cookies. Use pure maple syrup to make them vegan.
- Shredded coconut. If you don’t care for coconut, simply replace it with an extra 1/4 cup quick-cooking oats.
- Cocoa powder. Use unsweetened cocoa powder. You can use regular or dark cocoa powder for a richer chocolate flavor.
- Quick cooking oats. I recommend quick-cooking oats because they give these cookies the best texture. If you need the recipe to be gluten-free, choose certified gluten-free oats. If you only have old-fashioned oats, pulse them in the blender or food processor 1 or 2 times before using them in this recipe.
How to Make Healthy No-Bake Cookies
These healthy no bake cookies are so easy to make! We’ll walk through the process together and don’t forget to watch the video.
Start by melting together the coconut oil, peanut butter and honey!
Then, stir or whisk the wet ingredients together over medium-low heat until the mixture is smooth.
Next, add the dry ingredients – cocoa powder, quick-cooking oats and coconut.
Stir until the ingredients are combined, and continue cooking for 1-3 minutes, or until the mixture thickens slightly.
do not overcook
If you over-cook the cookies here they will be dry. Make sure to cook just until they’re thickened and don’t use too-high heat.
Then, use a 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon or cookie scoop to portion out the no bake cookies. I prefer a cookie scoop because it’s easier to release the dough.
Put the healthy no bake cookies onto a baking sheet lined with waxed paper or a silicone baing mat. Let them harden at room temperature or in the refrigerator or freezer.
How to Serve Healthy No Bake Cookies
These healthy no-bake cookies are best served cold, straight from the refrigerator or freezer. Since they’re made with coconut oil, they soften as they sit at room temperature.
I love keeping a batch in the freezer for an easy healthy dessert whenever a chocolate peanut butter craving strikes!
How to Store Healthy No Bake Cookies
Store these cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Freeze
Or, put them in an airtight container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw slowly in the refrigerator or at room temperature – do not microwave!
Healthy No Bake Cookies FAQs
If you only have old-fashioned oats, pulse them in the blender or food processor 1 or 2 times before using them in this recipe.
If your cookies don’t harden, the mixture probably wasn’t cooked long enough. After adding the oats and coconut, cook the mixture for 1 to 3 minutes, until it thickens slightly. Also, be sure to chill the cookies completely in the refrigerator or freezer.
The most likely reason is that you over-cooked them. Cook for less time next time.
If you over-cook these healthy no bake cookies, simply add a Tablespoon 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.
Yes. Substitute your favorite nut or seed butter for the peanut butter. Almond butter, cashew butter and sunflower seed butter are all good options.
They can be if you use gluten-free oats. All of the other ingredients are naturally gluten-free, so simply use certified gluten-free quick-cooking oats.
If you make and love my recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so I can see your creations!
Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Video
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 fine 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 cook on medium heat, stirring continuously, until the ingredients are melted and the mixture is smooth.
- Stir in vanilla and cocoa powder.
- Add quick-cooking oats and coconut and stir until combined.
- Continue cooking over medium heat until the mixture is slightly thickened, 1-3 minutes.
- Drop 1 Tablespoon portions of the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Continue until you’ve used all the cookie mixture.
- Let cool in the refrigerator or freezer until hardened.
- Serve cold or at room temperature.
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Peanut butter. Creamy is best, but you can also use crunchy. Any nut or seed butter works well in this recipe, including almond butter, cashew butter or sunflower seed butter if you have a nut allergy.
- Coconut oil. Butter (my favorite) or ghee can be used in place of coconut oil, although the cookies will no longer be dairy-free if you use butter.
- Honey. Honey is my favorite way to naturally sweeten these healthy no bake cookies. Use pure maple syrup to make them vegan.
- Shredded coconut. If you don’t care for coconut, simply replace it with an extra 1/4 cup quick-cooking oats.
- Cocoa powder. Use unsweetened cocoa powder. You can use regular or dark cocoa powder for a richer chocolate flavor.
- Quick cooking oats. I recommend quick-cooking oats because they give these cookies the best texture. If you need the recipe to be gluten-free, choose certified gluten-free oats. If you only have old-fashioned oats, pulse them in the blender or food processor 1 or 2 times before using them in this recipe.
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!