Quick, easy, and healthy No-Bake Bars that taste like cookie dough but are packed with good-for-you ingredients. The fudgy chocolate topping is optional but recommended!
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This is a Healthy No-Bake Bars recipe for those of you who like packing all the good things into a conveniently quick and easy, grab-and-go type bar situation.
They are nutritious, made with healthy whole foods, naturally sweetened, gluten-free, and full of protein thanks to the ever-versatile chickpea addition. Your practical meets healthy, meets super yum, goals are well and truly going to be met here!
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you need to make No-Bake Bars:
And a few ingredient notes and substitution ideas:
- Chickpeas - One of my favourite ingredients! In these no-bake bars, the chickpeas provide a creamy, cookie dough-like texture, and lots of protein. I promise you can't taste them though!
- Oats - For fibre, substance, and heart-healthy staying power.
- Dates - Nature's ultimate candy! These provide sweetness and act like sticky glue to hold everything together.
- Cashew nuts - These add to the buttery, cookie dough flavour we've got happening, but if you're allergic, swap them out for hemp seeds or sunflower seeds.
- Coconut - This adds texture, flavour, and even more healthy fats. It's not essential though, so if you don't eat coconut you can omit it.
- Chocolate - Optional to mix with some plant milk to make the fudgy topping. The bars are still great without it!
Optional add-ins ahoy. I'm thinking chocolate chips, chopped nuts, seeds, toasted buckwheat groats, dried fruit like raisins, chopped apricots, and cranberries would all be great mix-ins, and on that fudgy chocolate topping, some good quality flaky sea salt would be A-Mazing!
How To Make Healthy No-Bake Bars
These No-Bake Bars come together so very easily with no oven required. Here's how it's done:
- Put everything (except the chocolate and milk) into a food processor and blend until it balls up.
- Press into a pan.
- For the chocolate layer melt the chocolate and milk together gently in a microwave or on the stovetop.
- Pour the chocolate mixture over the top and allow to set before cutting.
And just like that, we've got a super tasty, nutritious snack that packs a healthy, protein-filled punch, and stays soft and delicious in the fridge for weeks, whilst providing all the snack-ability you need!
Success Tip - For this recipe a food processor is essential. A blender, even a high-powered one, won't cut it. This mixture is way too stiff.
Storage Tips
Keep the bars either covered in their pan or remove and store them in an airtight container. They should be kept in the refrigerator and are good for up to a month. They also freeze really well for up to 3 months. Each bar defrosts within 30 minutes, and you can even eat them straight from the freezer if you like a nice chewy bar. The dates stop them freezing solid and it's my favourite way to enjoy them!
More Healthy Snacks
Recipe
Healthy No-Bake Bars
Author:WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Ingredients
- 1 cup (165 grams) chickpeas , drained and rinsed
- ½ cup (50 grams) rolled or quick oats , certified gluten-free if necessary
- 1 packed cup (135 grams) dates (dried or Medjool)
- ½ cup (65 grams) raw cashew nuts , or hemp, pumpkin, or sunflower seeds to keep nut-free
- ¼ cup (25 grams) unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) vanilla extract
Optional chocolate topping
- ½ cup (85 grams) chocolate chips
- ¼ cup (60 ml) non-dairy milk of choice
INSTRUCTIONS
- Line a loaf pan with clingwrap or parchment paper. (If you want to use an 8 x 8-inch pan you will need to double the recipe).
- Add all of the ingredients (except those for the optional topping) to a food processor and process until it becomes one big smoothish ball.
- If you want to add any optional add-ins like a handful of nuts or chocolate chips, add them now and pulse a few times to combine.
- Remove from the food processor, being careful of the blade, and press into the prepared pan, flattening it down evenly all over.
- Add the chocolate chips and the milk to a small pan and over low heat, allow the chocolate to melt. Stir to help them combine. Once the chips are melted completely and the chocolate mixture is completely smooth, pour over the no-bake bars and shake gently to level.
- Refrigerate for at least an hour then cut into bars. You will be able to cut them into 7 large bars or 14 smaller ones if you cut each one of those in half again.
NOTES
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Tosh says
Hi
Can I use desiccated coconut instead of Shredded please ?
Many Thanks
Melanie McDonald says
Yep, that's fine!
Tosh says
Thank you Mel x
JOSIE says
Quick & easy to make & the end result is delicious. I added a pinch of salt. Thanks for the recipe.
Dee 66 says
100% INCREDIBLE!! Melanie, you've done it again 😋 Although I'm not a fan of cashews, but can't have peanuts and thought about using almonds, I trusted you that the cashews would give these the buttery flavor. And I'm glad I did! I did not include the coconut, but left everything else exactly the same. PERFECTION! And one large bar was very satisfying (I'm the person who will always eat the entire box of cookies, bag of chocolates, and carton of ice cream all at once) so that saves calories for me. I'm hoping to try mixing peanut butter flavoring in the batter next time if I can find a peanut free gf version. Any ideas on that? Thanks so much. I LOVE your recipes!
Melanie McDonald says
So pleased you enjoyed them Dee! I've never used peanut butter flavouring so can't advise there. Hope you find some that works for you though!
Nancy D. says
Does the nutritional content include the chocolate topping? I have a diabetic daughter so we have to always look at this info. These look delicious. Can't wait to make them. Thanks for all your other great recipes Mel!
Melanie McDonald says
Yes it does include the chocolate topping. Bear in mind that it is only a computer generated estimate though. Hope you enjoy them!
Gail says
Really easy to make and dangerously delicious. Thanks Mel!
Gloria says
These are so delicious! The perfect amount of sweetness! I’ve made two batches already! Thank you so much for sharing!
Gloria
May says
These bars are so delicious, can’t even taste the chickpeas in it! Both parents said that it was good, and they are hard to please ~
Lynda says
Thank you Mel, these bars are delicious! I was intrigued with the chickpea as a base but it works so well. I love them!
A Virtual Vegan says
I'm really pleased you're enjoying them Lynda!
Selin says
These taste wonderful!
Elizabeth says
I have an oat allergy; is there a substitute for oats?
A Virtual Vegan says
I haven't tried them with anything other than oats. Maybe quinoa flakes? I'm not sure how that would taste though and you might need a few more as I don't think they would be as absorbent as oats.
Coconut flour might work too although you would need less because that is massively absorbent. Maybe 2 tablespoons? Add more as necessary to get a stiff dough.
Sandy says
We love these! Such a family favorite. The perfect no bake snack. I always make double!
Taylor says
So good. We've been making them on repeat.
Beth says
Hi! I made these yesterday and they turned out so great! I've been looking for a replacement for store-bought granola bars, mainly due to the plastic packaging, but also additives, etc. These are perfect! I will definitely make them again. Thank you for sharing your wonderful recipes. I also made your Oven Baked Garlic Mushroom Rice yesterday and it was amazing! Oh yes-- I have pre-ordered your book. :)
Melanie McDonald says
You've been busy! Thank you Beth for taking the time to leave feedback too. I really appreciate it. See the note in my other reply about getting your free gift as a thank you for pre-ordering!
Sarah says
Just perfect and I can't believe how easy they are to make. Thank you Mel.
Cathy says
Thank you, I will try it. I will let you know. :)
Chris says
I am assuming that the chick peas are tinned?
Melanie McDonald says
You can use tinned or your own cooked dried ones.
Vanessa says
Thanks so much for this recipe. our kid go crazy for them!