Seriously delicious healthy no-bake cookie dough bars! These bars are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free. Enjoy as a guilt-free dessert or sweet snack!
What You’ll Need to Make Healthy No-Bake Cookie Dough Bars
Almond Flour – Use blanched almond flour for these dessert bars, not almond meal. Blanched almond flour is ground finer and makes for a smoother cookie dough. Looking for more almond flour recipes? Try these!
Peanut or Cashew Butter – Either peanut or cashew butter will work! I used peanut butter because I love the taste. However, cashew butter yields little flavor and works perfectly to hold these no-bake bars together. But whichever you use, make sure it’s both creamy and unsweetened.
Maple Syrup – We use maple syrup in place of traditional refined sugar to keep these healthy cookie dough bars refined sugar-free. The maple syrup in these bars can easily be replaced with honey, or even your favorite sugar-free liquid sweetener for sugar-free cookie dough bars!
Chocolate Chips – I used the Enjoy Life Mini Chocolate Chips to keep these bars vegan/dairy-free, but really any chocolate chip will work! For refined sugar-free chocolate chips, try these date-sweetened Hu chocolate chips.
Tips and Tricks
- Chill these healthy no-bake cookie dough bars in the freezer for at least one hour before slicing! Don’t rush this step, otherwise the chocolate won’t be fully set.
- Store leftover bars in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer. Avoiding leaving them at room temperature for too long, because the chocolate may melt.
Adjust This Recipe to Your Dietary Needs
Make it Nut-Free: For a nut-free version of this recipe, replace the almond flour with oat flour. Also, replace the cashew or peanut butter with unsweetened sunflower seed butter!
Make it Paleo: Make paleo cookie dough bars by using unsweetened creamy almond butter in place of the cashew or peanut butter.
Healthy No-Bake Cookie Dough Bars
Ingredients
For the cookie dough layer:
- 1 1/2 cups almond flour
- 1/2 cup creamy peanut or cashew butter, unsweetened
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup coconut oil or butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
For the chocolate layer:
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1/4 cup creamy peanut or cashew butter, unsweetened
Instructions
- Line a 9×5-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
- Make the cookie dough layer by mixing together the almond flour, peanut or cashew butter, maple syrup, melted coconut oil, vanilla extract, and salt in a large bowl. Add in the chocolate chips and mix until evenly distributed throughout the dough.
- Transfer dough to prepared baking pan and press into an even layer.
- Make the chocolate layer by melting the chocolate chips and peanut or cashew butter in the microwave in 30 second increments. Stir together until smooth, then pour and spread into an even layer on top of the cookie dough.
- Chill in the freezer for one hour, then remove and slice into squares.
23 Comments
Pingback: 4 Ingredient Banana Bread (gluten-free!)
Pingback: 4-Ingredient Healthy Snickers
Pingback: Gluten Free Edible Cookie Dough Recipe (dairy-free option!)
Have you ever used coconut sugar in these? Wondering how they would turn out.
The Real Person!
I have never tried these cookie dough bars with coconut sugar. I can imagine they would still taste delicious, however they may take on a bit of a grainier texture. If you try these with coconut sugar please let me know how they turn out!
I plan on making these tomorrow but I would like to know why you do not have calorie, carb, protein, count etc listed at the end of the recipe?
Thank you
The Real Person!
Hi there! I am actually currently working on adding a nutritional info section to every one of my recipes. Stay tuned!
The Real Person!
hi guys! planning on making this but I just wanna know how long do these last for? In the fridge.
thanks:)
Once out of the freezer, Should these be stored in the freezer, fridge or counter? Thank you!
Should you store these in the feeezer, fridge or counter?
The Real Person!
Hi Molly, these are best stored in the freezer for a firm texture or the fridge for a softer texture! Hope you enjoy! 🙂
Pingback: 3 Ingredient Homemade Crunch Bars
The Real Person!
Always delicious!
The Real Person!
Absolutely love
The Real Person!
Can I substitute Maple syrup with Agave?
The Real Person!
Yes, definitely! Any liquid sweetener will work in this recipe.
The Real Person!
Any affordable alternatives to almond flour you can recommend? Most nut-based flours available in my area are out-of-budget expensive.
The Real Person!
Oat flour is a great and cheaper alternative in this recipe! You can even make your own by grinding rolled oats in either a blender or food processor until it turns into a flour.
The Real Person!
I just made this! It was so easy to make and it tastes PHENOMENAL! I love this recipe for when I am craving something sweet on the healthier side, so thank you! I will be following for more 🫶🏼
The Real Person!
That’s awesome, I’m so happy you love this recipe!!
The Real Person!
I made these last week, Sam, for the first time, following your recipe exactly. They turned out so amazing! I like how you gave options for some of the ingredients. I chose your options of cashew butter and coconut oil. These bars were very easy to make, and were such a delicious , rich treat during the summer months when I don’t want to turn on the oven. I put half of the bars into the freezer (so I wouldn’t eat them all at once!), and stored the other half in the fridge so we could grab and enjoy! Thank you for another awesome recipe!
The Real Person!
I’m so glad you love these bars, Donna! I totally agree, they’re the perfect no-bake treat this time of year. 🙂
The Real Person!
These are delicious, super easy to make and protein packed! Perfect for a quick snack bite or even dessert. I would even recommend less than the amount of maple syrup requested, as the chocolate chips sort of balance out the sweetness. Wonderful recipe for a lactose intolerant with digestive issues!