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Healthy Cookie Dough Bars are the perfect all natural chocolate treat! This no-bake recipe is gluten-free and made with just four simple ingredients.
Delicious healthy cookie dough bars
Growing up, I loved making cookies, and not because of the actual cookies. My favorite part was the dough! The same goes for brownies and cakes… I only wanted the batter! I’d always have to sneak it so that nobody would scold me about the risk of eating raw eggs.
As I got older and didn’t need the help of a parent to bake, I was able to fully enjoy the dough and batter without risk of getting caught! Ahhh, adulthood.
It’s safe to say, any cookie dough treat is a winner in my book, these no-bake treats included! I love that though they’re made with healthier ingredients, they really do taste exactly like cookie dough. Topped with a chocolate and cashew butter “icing,” they’re absolutely drool-worthy.
Healthy cookie dough bars are the perfect treat for gatherings
If you’re looking for a sweet treat that can be enjoyed by pretty much everyone, this is it. This recipe is gluten-free, vegan, naturally sweetened, and made with just four ingredients. How can you beat that?! If you’re hosting a gathering or attending a potluck, this is a perfect option.
And… for all of the parents out there, don’t be afraid to give this treat to your kiddos. Since it’s sweetened naturally, you don’t have to prepare for a sugar attack! No jumping off of the walls with this sweet treat!
Ingredients used to make this cookie dough recipe
This recipe only uses four main ingredients (plus salt)! It’s that simple. Though there are two parts, both parts use the same ingredients!
Keep the chocolate chips, cashew butter, and salt from the dough layer handy, because that’s what you’ll be using for the chocolate layer!
Cookie dough layer:
- Cashew butter
- Maple syrup
- Oat flour
- Mini chocolate chips
- Salt
Chocolate layer:
- Cashew butter
- Mini chocolate chips
- Salt
Kitchen tools required to make this recipe
This no-bake recipe only requires tools for mixing and setting the ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need, and in order:
- Large mixing bowl
- Mixing spatula or spoon
- 8×8 pan (or a larger pan if you’d like thinner bars)
- Parchment paper
- Microwavable bowl
How to make healthy cookie dough bars
Cookie dough bars are a wonderful no-bake option that you can whip together in a matter of minutes! This is a treat that everyone will enjoy. Plus, you’ll enjoy making it because it only takes about 10 minutes of prep time. After that, to the freezer it goes!
To begin preparing the dough layer, mix the cashew butter, maple syrup, and oat flour in a large bowl.
Next, add the chocolate chips and the salt.
Line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper, and then press this mixture down on top.
For the chocolate layer, you’ll need a microwavable bowl. Melt the chocolate chips and cashew butter in 30 second increments until fully melted.
Pour the mixture on top of the dough layer.
Place the pan in the freezer for one hour, sprinkle sea salt on top, and then cut into bars.
Store in the fridge or freezer.
Ingredient substitution options
Cashew butter and chocolate chips are two ingredients that can be easily substituted in this recipe. Here are some swap ideas for each.
- Cashew butter: You can use any nut butter that you’d like. Peanut butter and almond butter are two easy options! Use a 1:1 ratio.
- Mini chocolate chips: In more of a white chocolate mood? That’ll work! Use a 1:1 ratio when making the swap.
A healthier cookie dough recipe
By using select ingredients, I was able to keep these cookie treats totally gluten free and all natural.
- All natural sugar: This recipe is sweetened with all natural maple syrup. The chocolate chips add their fair share of sweetness as well!
- Cashew butter: Cashew butter is a great option because it contains an exceptional amount of nutrients! It provides a great serving of protein, healthy fat, iron, calcium, and more.
- Oat flour: This recipe is gluten-free thanks to oat flour! Plus, this type of flour provides much more taste than all-purpose flour.
Try these chocolaty recipes too
Calling all chocolate lovers! If you have a sweet tooth and love making new chocolate chip recipes, you’ll want to try these!
- Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie Skillet
- Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten-Free)
- Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Bars
Healthy Cookie Dough Bars
Ingredients
For cookie dough layer:
- 1 cup cashew butter
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 3/4 cup oat flour (or 1 cup almond flour)
- 3/4 cup mini chocolate chips
- pinch of saltÂ
Chocolate layer:
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup cashew butter
- sea salt
Instructions
- In a large bowl, mix together cashew butter, maple syrup, and oat flour.
- Add in chocolate chips and salt.
- Press down into 8×8 pan, I lined mine with parchment paper.
- For chocolate layer, in a microwaveable bowl, melt chocolate chips and cashew butter in 30 second increments until fully melted.
- Pour on top of cookie dough layer.Â
- Place in freezer for one hour, sprinkle sea salt on top, and then cut into bars.
- Store in fridge or freezer.
There may be affiliate links in this post! By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat 🙂
Emmy says
Hi! How long do these last in fridge?
Erin says
Hi Emmy, up to 2 weeks in the fridge or 3 months in the freezer!
jessica says
these are a must make! I always have a batch in the freezer, they are THAT GOOD!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Jessica, so happy you love them!
Joe G. says
I make these bars all the time, thanks for the recipe Erin!
Erin says
Hi Joe, so happy you love them!!
Mel P. says
I really want to make these tonight but I don’t have store bough oat flour, can I make my own by blending old fashioned oats?? Or does it need to be a different kind of oats? Thanks!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Mel, yes that would work! Just blend/grind the oats extremely fine. Let me know how your bars came out!!
Amber Pitts says
Make this!! Stop thinking about it and just do it!! They are delicious!
Erin says
Hi Amber, so happy you enjoyed them!!
Ahuva says
These are incredible!! Finished my first batch and made a second batch right away!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ahuva, so glad you loved them!!
Lindsay says
Could not be easier to make and SO good. I’ve made these a few times now for my family and friends and they’re always a huge hit! Obsessed
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Lindsay, I am thrilled you all loved them!!
Morgan Gill says
delicious
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Morgan! Thank you so much! Glad you like the bars!
Sam says
Definitely just realized I COMPLETELY FORGOT to add in the almond flour to the base but they still came out so yummy! This recipe is so easy and delicious
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sam, ah I’m glad they still came out well!!
Caitlin says
These are amazing ! Been my favorite so far since they are so simple to make and delicious. Love all your recipes and so grateful you take the thinking out for me 🙂
How long do you think these will last in the freezer?
Erin says
Thanks Caitlin! So happy you are liking them. They will last probably 3 months in the freezer!
Ann says
These are FIRE! Super addicting! Tastes like peanut butter cookie dough and I could eat half the pan in one sitting. Dangerous too that the ingredients are so minimal 😛 Thanks for sharing such easy, healthy and yummy desserts!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Ann! I’m thrilled you loved them! It is hard for me to not eat them all too!!
Sunny says
So good!! Just made this for dessert and it was so simple and deliciously good.
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Sunny, I am so happy you enjoyed them!!
Heidi Z says
I made these for my sister and her friends when I visited her–WOW they were a HUGE hit!! Super super easy for a college girl to make too :)) Thanks Erin!!
Erin says
Hi Heidi, I am so happy everyone enjoyed them! 🙂
Sarah Fernandes says
Love your recipes
Erin says
Hi Sarah! Thank you so much!!
Kelsey Gallagher says
My roommate made these for a Valentines Day treat and they were awesome! Super easy to make and they reminded me of Perfect Bars!
Erin says
I love that! Thanks for sharing Kelsey.
Alina says
Super easy to make!! I suck at cooking and these came out AMAZING
★★★★★
Erin says
YAY! You go girl! So glad you liked them.
Erin says
Hi Alina, I am so happy to hear you enjoyed them!
Carina Vollmer says
This recipe is so freaking good! I mixed it up a bit to accommodate what I had for ingredients ( 1/2 cup coconut flour and peanut butter) but I mean these were a hit at the office and my house.
★★★★★
Erin says
Love that Carina! Thank you so much for sharing.
Gina Bustos says
Looks delicious. I was wondering if you used raw or roasted cashew butter? Thank you.
Julia says
Can we sub almond or coconut flour for oat flour? Totally wanna make these tonight but only have those two!
Erin says
In the recipe it states that you can use almond flour.
Amber says
The ingredients are so minimal, I’m so excited to try these!! Love your recipes Erin! Also, congratulations on the engagement 🤗
Erin says
Youre going to love them!!! Thank you Amber 🙂
Amelia says
Can I use almond butter instead of cashew???? Love your recipes.
Erin says
Definitely! Thank you!
Mel P. says
I really want to make these tonight but I don’t have store bough oat flour, can I make my own by blending old fashioned oats?? Or does it need to be a different kind of oats? Thanks!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Mel, yes that would work! Just blend/grind the oats extremely fine. Let me know how your bars came out!!