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30 Minutes or Less

Crunchy No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls

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close-up image of crunchy peanut butter balls.

Crunchy peanut butter balls covered in chocolate! Perfectly sweet, surprisingly healthy, and super easy to make. This no-bake dessert is the perfect summer treat when it’s too hot to turn on the oven!

crunchy peanut butter balls stacked on parchment paper with milk on the side.

What You’ll Need to Make Crunchy Peanut Butter Balls

Creamy Peanut Butter – Unsweetened, creamy peanut butter is the base of this easy dessert recipe. Check your peanut butter labels closely and make sure it doesn’t contain any sugar! Added sugar in the peanut butter would totally throw off the sweetness in this recipe. For unsweetened peanut butter, I love both Trader Joe’s and Teddie’s brand.

Maple Syrup – Really any liquid sweetener will work in these peanut butter balls. Maple syrup, along with honey and date syrup, are the three least processed options which is why I always use and recommend them. Though is you don’t have those, you can use agave nectar instead. Or, for a sugar-free dessert option, check the “Make it Sugar-Free” section below!

Almond Flour – This gluten-free, low-carb flour is one of my favorites! It’s healthy, super easy to find, and virtually flavorless. The almond flour is also super helpful in holding these dessert balls together, so don’t go without it.

Crispy Rice Cereal – One cup of crispy rice cereal gives these peanut butter balls their unexpected crunch! Feel free to use whichever brand you like best. Or, for an even healthier option, use one cup of puffed quinoa instead.

overhead image of crunchy peanut butter balls on an upside-down pie pan.

Tips and Tricks

  • Don’t feel like dipping in chocolate? Save major time and energy my melting the chocolate, then simply drizzling over the top of each ball!
  • For an extra salty plus sweet combo, finish off these crunchy no-bake peanut butter balls with a pinch of flaky sea salt! A bit of salt balances out the sweetness, and adds an extra layer of crunch.
  • These treats are best stored in the refrigerator! The freezer works too, but the fridge helps them hold their shape while also maintaining their crunchiness. But whatever you do, don’t store them at room-temperature, and especially not in the summertime because they will melt!
a stack of no-bake peanut butter balls, one with a bite taken out.

Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

Make it Nut-Free: For a nut-free no-bake dessert, sub sunflower seed butter for the peanut butter and 3 tablespoons of coconut flour in place of the almond flour! Still just as delicious, and totally nut-free friendly.

Make it Sugar-Free: Replace the maple syrup in this recipe with your favorite liquid sugar-free sweetener.

close-up image of crunchy peanut butter balls.
5 from 3 votes

Crunchy No-Bake Peanut Butter Balls

Crunchy peanut butter balls covered in chocolate! Perfectly sweet, surprisingly healthy, and super easy to make. This no-bake dessert is the perfect summer treat when it’s too hot to turn on the oven!
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 16 balls

Ingredients

  • 1 cup creamy peanut butter, unsweetened
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup almond flour
  • 1 cup crispy rice cereal

For dipping/drizzling:

  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 1 teaspoon coconut oil

Instructions

  • Mix together the creamy peanut butter, maple syrup, and vanilla extract in a large bowl.
  • Add in almond flour and crispy rice cereal, mix to combine.
  • Scoop and roll tablespoon-sized balls of the peanut butter ball mixture between the palms of your hands. Repeat this process until no more mixture remains, should make about 12 crunchy peanut butter balls.
  • Place balls in freezer for 10-15 minutes, and add chocolate chips and coconut oil to a small bowl. Microwave chocolate in 30 second increments until fully melted.
  • Once crunchy peanut butter balls are chilled, dip or drizzle with melted chocolate before placing back in the freezer. Freeze for at least 10 minutes before eating, then store in the fridge.

Nutrition

Calories: 300kcal

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Desserts

Gluten-Free S’mores Bars

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a s'mores bar being pulled apart.

These s’mores bars are something else! A buttery graham cracker base followed by a lush layer of chocolate is topped off with toasty marshmallows. These s’mores bars will blow you away with how delicious and addictive they are – all while gluten-free!

gluten-free s'mores bars stacked on top of each other.

What You Need To Make S’mores Bars

Oat Flour – You can either purchase oat flour from the store or easily make it yourself at home. To make oat flour, start by adding 1 and 1/2 cups of rolled oats to a blender or food processor. Then, blend the oats for a few seconds or until ground into a powder. Once ground, you now have oat flour to use in this gluten-free recipe!

Chocolate Chips – Any chocolate chips or even a chopped chocolate bar will work in these s’mores bars. I used the Enjoy Life Mini Chips since they are vegan and nut-free, though you can use any vegan chocolate you’d like. And if you’re not vegan, feel free to use whatever chocolate you have on-hand! (P.S. you should always have chocolate on-hand.)

Marshmallows – I prefer mini marshmallows for simply how cute and satisfying they look all lined up on top of these s’mores bars. However, the standard size marshmallows will work just fine. The key to perfectly toasty and golden brown marshmallows is sticking them under the broiler for about 1 minute. It’s super important you keep an eye on the bars during this final trip in the oven, as the broiler has a tendency to burn things in literal seconds. Therefore, watch your vegan marshmallow-y treats and pull them out once they’ve achieved your desired level of toasty-ness!

close-up overhead image of s'mores bars.

Adjust This Recipe To Your Diet

Don’t Have Oat Flour? If you don’t have oats and/or oat flour, you can replace it with an equal amount of either brown rice flour or all purpose flour in this recipe.

Add Dairy: Use regular melted butter in place of the vegan butter in this recipe.

s'mores bars on a baking sheet with graham crackers on the side.

Tips For Making S’mores Bars

  • Be sure to leave the bars to cool on the baking sheet for at least 15 minutes after you take them out of the oven! These s’mores bars are surprisingly delicate, so leaving them to cool will ensure they stick together when handled.
  • Use a greased knife to quickly and easily slice the bars. To do this, take a sharp knife and either spray it with spray cooking oil or drizzle it with some coconut oil. Once greased, cut into the bars and wipe down the knife between each slice!
  • I highly recommend storing this vegan and gluten-free dessert in the fridge or freezer during the summer months. Due to the butter and chocolate, they are at risk of melting if left to sit out in too high of a temperate. Therefore, to avoid that risk, it’s best to just keep these babies in the fridge to enjoy them at your leisure!
overhead image of s'mores bars.
5 from 3 votes

S’mores Bars (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

These s’mores bars are something else! A buttery graham cracker base followed by a lush layer of chocolate is topped off with toasty marshmallows. These s’mores bars will blow you away with how delicious and addictive they are – all while being vegan and gluten-free!
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 12 bars

Ingredients

  • 1 1/4 cups oat flour, see Notes
  • 1/4 cup tapioca flour, or corn starch
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 2 1/2 tablespoons butter, melted (I used vegan butter)
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 cup chocolate chips
  • 2 cups marshmallows

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
  • Mix together the oat flour, tapioca flour, and baking powder in a bowl.
  • Add in the maple syrup, melted vegan butter, and vanilla extract, mix everything to combine.
  • Transfer to a lined 9×9 baking sheet, press into an even layer, then bake for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown.
  • Remove from the oven and sprinkle evenly with chocolate chips, then place back into the oven for 1 minute or until chocolate has melted.
  • Remove from the oven once more, spread the chocolate into an even layer, then top with marshmallows. Place in the oven on broil for 1 minute (watch closely to make sure it doesn’t burn!) or until marshmallows are lightly toasted.
  • Let cool in the pan for 15-20 minutes before slicing.

Notes

  • Oat Flour: You can easily make your own oat flour by blending rolled oats in a blender until a powder forms and no large oat chunks remain!

    • Nutrition

    Calories: 300kcal

    More Delicious Vegan and Gluten-Free Desserts

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    30 Minutes or Less

    Chickpea Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

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    chickpea cookie dough in a jar with a spoon

    The healthiest raw cookie dough you’ll ever eat, made from chickpeas! Lightly sweetened with maple syrup, and loaded with extra chocolate chips. This chickpea cookie dough is vegan, gluten-free, super healthy, and totally delicious.

    overhead image of scoops of chickpea cookie dough with extra chocolate chips

    What You’ll Need To Make Chickpea Cookie Dough

    Chickpeas – An entire can of chickpeas is the base to this healthy cookie dough recipe! Drain and rinse your chickpeas well before adding them to the blender. And for a smoother cookie dough, remove the skins off your chickpeas.

    Nut or Seed Butter – I used almond butter, but any nut or seed butter will work in this recipe. Peanut butter, cashew butter, or even sunflower seed butter! Though whichever nut/seed butter you use, make sure it’s unsweetened.

    Maple Syrup – This unrefined sweetener add sweetness, but keeps this vegan dessert recipe extra healthy. Though if you’d like, you can use honey, agave nectar, or even date syrup instead.

    chickpea cookie dough inside a cookie scoop

    Tips and Tricks

    • This chickpea cookie dough is high in plant-based protein! However, if you’d like to add even more protein, throw in a scoop of your favorite vanilla plant-based protein powder. I recommend the Aloha Vanilla Protein Powder, it’s not too sweet and won’t throw off the flavor of this healthy dessert recipe.
    • Enjoy it however you’d like! By the spoonful, over ice cream, as breakfast, a snack, or dessert.
    • Taste and adjust the flavor of this edible cookie dough however you’d like. For more sweetness, add in a touch more maple syrup. Or, for a thicker consistency, blend in an extra tablespoons of almond flour.
    chickpea cookie dough in a jar with a spoon

    Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

    Make it Nut-Free: For a nut-free version of this chickpea cookie dough, replace the almond flour with 3 tablespoons of coconut flour, and use sunflower seed butter.

    Make it Sugar-Free: For an entirely sugar-free healthy dessert, use your favorite sugar-free liquid sweetener in place of the maple syrup. Also, replace the chocolate chips with cacao nibs!

    No ratings yet

    Chickpea Cookie Dough

    The healthiest raw cookie dough you’ll ever eat, made from chickpeas! Lightly sweetened with maple syrup, and loaded with extra chocolate chips. This chickpea cookie dough is vegan, gluten-free, super healthy, and totally delicious.
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings

    Ingredients

    • 1 (15-ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
    • 1/4 cup nut or seed butter, I used almond butter
    • 1/4 cup almond flour, see Notes for nut-free option
    • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
    • 1 tablespoon non-dairy milk, unsweetened
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • pinch of salt
    • 1/4 cup chocolate chips

    Instructions

    • Add all ingredients except chocolate chips to a food processor or high-speed blender, then pulse until super smooth.
    • Fold in chocolate chips and enjoy!

    Video

    Notes

  • Make it Nut-Free: Replace the almond flour with 3 tablespoons of coconut flour.

    • Nutrition

    Calories: 300kcal

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    Breakfast

    Almond Flour Banana Bread

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    sliced almond flour banana bread with chocolate chips

    Super healthy and delicious almond flour banana bread! Made with whole, good-for-you ingredients, perfectly sweet, and totally irresistible. Toast up a slice of this grain-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free banana bread as a comforting, yet nutritious breakfast, snack, or dessert.

    overhead image of almond flour banana bread

    What You’ll Need To Make Almond Flour Banana Bread

    Almond Flour – The one and only flour we use in this grain-free recipe is almond flour. Almond flour is a favorite among low-carb, gluten-free, and paleo recipes. It yields little-to-no flavor and, when done right, bakes up beautifully soft and tender. If you don’t already have a bag of almond flour in your pantry, I highly recommend you go pick some up. I’ve tried pretty much every brand of almond flour out there, and my favorite so far is this Anthony’s Almond Flour. Though whichever brand of almond flour you decide to use in this recipe, make sure it’s blanched almond flour, and not almond meal.

    Coconut Sugar – A quarter cup of coconut sugar is all you’ll need to sweeten up this healthy dessert recipe! The bananas yield some natural sweetness of their own, and a touch of coconut sugar helps bring that out. If you don’t have coconut sugar, you can use brown sugar in its place.

    Bananas – About two very ripe bananas should do the trick here! Or, however many mashed bananas you need to equal one cup. And while I feel like this goes without saying, make sure your bananas are super ripe for this recipe. You can tell a banana is ripe when it’s beginning to form large brown spots all around the outside peel.

    Chocolate Chips – While optional, chocolate chips make this almond flour banana bread extra indulgent and delicious! If you don’t have chocolate chips, you can easily use one cup of chopped chocolate instead. I recommend semi-sweet chocolate or dark chocolate for this recipe. And if you’re looking to keep your entire loaf paleo, use your favorite paleo chocolate chips, such as these Hu Kitchen Chocolate Gems.

    almond flour banana bread sliced

    Tips and Tricks

    • Instead of greasing your loaf pan, line it with parchment paper. Also, cut your parchment paper larger than the loaf pan, leaving its edges sticking out from the sides of your banana bread. This’ll make it easier to lift and remove your bread from its baking pan!
    • Leave the almond flour banana bread to cool completely (about an hour) before slicing. Then, once cool, I recommend slicing the bread all at once, before storing. Lastly, store the slices in an airtight container at either room temperature for 3 days, in the fridge for 7 days, or in the freezer for up to 3 months!
    • For the ultimate slice of banana bread that’ll leave your tastebuds singing, toast it before eating! Then, once toasted, top that baby off with some vegan butter, ghee, peanut butter, and/or almond butter. Let me tell ya, toasted almond flour banana bread makes for the perfect afternoon snack or nightcap.
    the inside of almond flour banana bread

    Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

    Make it Vegan: For a vegan grain-free banana bread, try replacing the eggs with three flax eggs. One flax egg equals one tablespoon of ground flax seed meal mixed into three tablespoons of water. While I haven’t tried this vegan option myself yet, I’m sure it’d work just fine!

    Make it Added Sugar-Free: Because the bananas are so naturally sweet, you can totally leave the coconut sugar out of this healthier dessert recipe.

    4.34 from 3 votes

    Almond Flour Banana Bread

    Super healthy and delicious almond flour banana bread! Made with whole, good-for-you ingredients, perfectly sweet, and totally irresistible. Toast up a slice of this grain-free, dairy-free, and refined sugar-free banana bread as a comforting, yet nutritious breakfast, snack, or dessert.
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 40 minutes
    Total Time: 50 minutes
    Servings: 10 slices

    Ingredients

    • 2 1/2 cups almond flour
    • 1/4 cup coconut sugar
    • 1 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted
    • 1 cup mashed banana (about 2 very ripe bananas)
    • 3 eggs
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 cup chocolate chips, optional

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line a 9×5-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.
    • Whisk together the almond flour, coconut sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon in a large bowl.
    • Add in the melted coconut oil, mashed banana, eggs, and vanilla extract – mix until fully combined. Fold in chocolate chips if using, until evenly dispersed throughout batter.
    • Transfer batter to prepared loaf pan and bake for 40-50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted down the center of the bread comes out clean. Remove from the oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack, cool bread completely (about 1 hour) before slicing.

    Video

    Nutrition

    Calories: 300kcal

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    30 Minutes or Less

    Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Brittle

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    stack of gluten-free chocolate chip cookie brittle

    Extra crunchy, perfectly sweet gluten-free chocolate chip cookie brittle! Made with almond flour and sweetened with coconut sugar for a healthier treat. This paleo dessert recipe requires just one bowl and 30 minutes to make!

    gluten-free chocolate chip cookie brittle in a bowl with milk on the side

    What You’ll Need To Make Gluten-Free Cookie Brittle

    Oil – Any neutral tasting oil will work in this recipe. I’ve made this recipe with both avocado oil and melted refined coconut oil. Avocado oil yields no flavor, while coconut oil yields a slight coconut flavor. Though both baked up perfectly crispy, so use whatever you’d like.

    Egg Whites – By leaving out the egg yolks, we get an even crispier cookie brittle. For help figuring out how to separate egg whites from the yolk, I recommend following this tutorial. And don’t throw out your egg yolks! They’re deeply nutritious, so save them for your morning scramble.

    Almond Flour – Almond flour works flawlessly in our cookie brittle batter. Also, in using almond flour in place of any other flour, we keep this dessert recipe grain-free and paleo-friendly.

    Chocolate Chips – For a gluten-free chocolate chip cookie brittle, you’re gonna need plenty of chocolate chips. However, you can totally replace the chocolate chips in this recipe with anything you’d like. I’ve made a birthday cake cookie brittle using this recipe, by swapping out the chocolate chips for one cup of rainbow sprinkles – so fun and delicious!

    gluten-free chocolate chip cookie brittle stacked

    Tips and Tricks

    • After 10 minutes of baking, you’ll want to remove your brittle from the oven to gently slice it. For easy slicing, I recommend using a pizza cutter and rolling it through the brittle in all different directions! Though if you don’t have a pizza cutter, use a sharp knife instead.
    • You must let this gluten-free chocolate chip cookie brittle cool completely before eating! If not, it won’t get nearly as crispy. Therefore, transfer your brittle pieces to a wire cooling rack for at least 30 minutes before eating, serving, and/or storing.
    • While not necessary, I recommend storing leftover brittle in an airtight container in your fridge! This will ensure the pieces stay crispy, and the chocolate doesn’t melt.

    Adjust This Recipe To Your Dietary Needs

    Make it Vegan: While I haven’t tried this variation myself yet, you might be able to get away with substituting the egg whites for two flax eggs. To make one flax egg, combine one tablespoon of ground flax meal with three tablespoons of water, whisk together then let it sit for 10 minutes, until the mixture thickens. Once thick, add in the flax eggs just as you would the egg whites. If you take this option, please let me know how it turns out!

    Make it Paleo: Surprise! This dessert recipe is already paleo. Though to ensure it remains paleo, use your favorite refined sugar-free chocolate chips.

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    Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookie Brittle

    Extra crunchy, perfectly sweet gluten-free chocolate chip cookie brittle! Made with almond flour and sweetened with coconut sugar for a healthier treat. This paleo dessert recipe requires just one bowl and 30 minutes to make!
    Print Rate
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 25 minutes
    Servings: 8 servings

    Ingredients

    • 1/2 cup coconut sugar
    • 1/2 cup neutral tasting oil, see Notes
    • 2 egg whites
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 3/4 cup almond flour
    • 1/2 cup tapioca flour
    • 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
    • 1 cup chocolate chips

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350° Fahrenheit and line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper.
    • Mix together the coconut sugar and oil in a large bowl. Add in the egg whites and vanilla extract, mix until combined.
    • Add almond flour, tapioca flour, and baking soda to the bowl and continue to mix until a dough forms. Fold in chocolate chips until evenly dispersed throughout dough.
    • Transfer cookie brittle dough to prepared cookie sheet and flatten into an even, thin layer (about ¼-inch thick).
    • Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from oven and slice into brittle pieces before putting it back into the oven for an additional 10-12 minutes.
    • Remove from oven and transfer to a wire cooling rack to let cool completely before breaking into pieces.

    Video

    Notes

  • Neutral Tasting Oil: Refined coconut oil, avocado oil, or olive oil will all work!

    • Nutrition

    Calories: 300kcal

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