Healthy No Bake Cookies
These easy cookies are a spin off of my classic no bake cookies with healthier alternatives making for a nice treat that is guilt free! It primarily consists of my three favorite ingredients – oats, cocoa, and peanut butter. In 15 minutes you have yourself quite the (healthy) treat!
Craving something sweet but don’t want those heavier ingredients that usually come along with cookies and don’t want it to take a lot of time? These healthy no bake cookies are the answer! If you are looking for something sweeter and more traditional than this healthy rendition – head over to my classic easy no bake cookies recipe. Or if you’re feeling creative, and want to do a mix between the two, choosing what you want to keep healthy vs. not – more power to you!
Tips for perfect no bakes
1. You first start by boiling honey or maple syrup, coconut oil, a non dairy milk, natural peanut butter, and cocoa powder together. The secret is all in the boiling time! My preferred time is exactly 60 seconds. They aren’t crumbly, and not too gooey – perfectly soft almost fudgy-like. The great thing is – you can easily adjust this to make it your favorite texture. Boil 15 seconds longer if you like it to be a little more crumbly and boil 15 seconds less if you want it to be a lot softer.
2. Most people say quick oats are a must, and my husband prefers that as well truthfully. I actually prefer rolled oats which create a bit of a heartier and healthier cookie. So use whatever oats you prefer (or whatever you have on hand!)
3. Traditionally, and to get that lighter no bake color, use classic unsweetened cocoa powder. I prefer mine richer and darker and usually have dutch processed cocoa on hand (richer and darker in color), which is the version you see pictured here. So if yours look different because you use quick oats and/or normal unsweetened cocoa, that’s perfectly normal and expected. Still delicious.
4. Want a bit of a crunch? Use chunky peanut butter instead of smooth. Just add 1/4 cup more if you decide to use crunchy so that it keeps the same consistency of a normal no bake.
Keeping them fresh
Keep your no bakes in an airtight container and they’ll stay fresh for a week. Even better, you can put them in the freezer and they’ll last for months. I LOVE eating them cold out of the freezer. It’s such a refreshing treat!
Happy baking!
Healthy No Bake Cookies
Ingredients
- ¼ cup coconut oil (use unrefined for a coconut taste or refined for no coconut taste)
- ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- ⅔ cup natural peanut butter
- ½ cup honey or pure maple syrup (or you can use a mix of half and half)
- ½ cup almond milk or oat milk
- 3 cups rolled oats
- ½ TB vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
Instructions
- Prepare a piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet or counter top.
- Add coconut oil, honey/maple syrup, milk, cocoa, and peanut butter to a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Mix until all ingredients are melted together.
- Let the mixture come a boil. Once it starts to boil, let it do so without stirring the mixture for exactly 60 seconds. Then quickly remove from the heat and add your oats, vanilla, and salt.
- Stir together until all evenly mixed. Using a spoon or cookie scoop, scoop out balls onto your piece of parchment paper. Let it cool for at least 15 minutes to allow the mixture to set. I love the consistency that 60 seconds brings but if it's too "crumbly" for your liking, next time decrease the boil by 15 seconds. If it's too soft, increase the boil for 15 seconds.
- Keep in an airtight container for 1 week or in the freezer for several months.
