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 used almond butter instead of peanut butter because it was what I had in the pantry. They turned out soooo good!
Almost like an almond joy type flavor!
Is the mixture still being heated all the way up till you add the coconut flakes? It doesn’t say when to remove from heat. Want to make these ASAP if anyone knows please reply back
I only have old fashioned rolled oats on hand. Will that work instead of quick cooking oats?
These are incredible. So easy and delicious. I have tried them with and without the coconut flakes, and coconut truly is the magical ingredient. I use sprouted rolled oats as well. I’m so glad I found this recipe!
This is IT. The best no bake cookie recipe. I follow the recipe exactly as is and it is amazing. I have tried it with maple and honey and I prefer the maple but only because it is easier to measure. Sometimes I add walnuts for an added crunch 🙂 my significant other is somewhat of a health freak and he CANNOT resist these cookies, that’s how good they are. 10/10.
Thank you so much Mallorie!
Best ever no bake recipe!! I used the maple syrup option.
I really want to make this! Wondering if one can omit the coconut oil all together? What is the purpose of the coconut oil, if peanut butter itself is very oily? TIA!!
OMG!! So good. This is a keeper
These are so good! Ive made these with and without the cocoa and they’re great both ways.
Can I use old fashioned whole grain oats?
I recommend pulsing them in the blender or food processor before using in this recipe.
Yes! I only use old fashioned oats, not breaking them into smaller pieces, and it makes no difference here since all the peanut butter and fat hold them together. I add extra 2 T of the coconut oil or melted butter, and they taste great this way. I had to add an extra 1/2 cup oats since they were too mucky, though, but I managed to get 14 nice size (not too large) cookies.