healthier no bake cookie bars

There is just something about No-Bake Cookies that makes me incredibly happy.

Maybe it is the amount of (or should I say lack of) work involved…  or the fact that I don’t even have to turn my oven on…  or simply how amazing they taste with a cold glass of milk?!

Whatever it is, I think I just fell in love with them a little bit more.

This recipe is a much healthier, guilt-free, and if you can believe it – even easier – version of these sweet, luscious little treats!

How are they easier?  No boiling, and you don’t even have to scoop them into cookies!  Just pour the warm batter into a greased pan and let it chill.  So easy!!

How are they healthier??  Well, this recipe takes out a lot of the refined sugar in traditional no-bakes.  Besides the peanut butter, chocolate chips and the sweetened coconut (which you could of course replace with unsweetened!) the majority of the sweetener is raw honey.  And the butter has been replaced with virgin coconut oil, which makes these much more heart-healthy!

And you know what else?  They taste amazing!  My husband said “they taste just like the other ones!”…  which is pretty high complement from someone who doesn’t usually like when I ‘healthify’ one of his favorite treats!  :o)

Healthier No Bake Cookie Bars Recipe
adapted from New Nostalgia

Ingredients:
1 cup creamy peanut butter
2/3 cup raw honey
1/3 cup unrefined virgin coconut oil
1 1/4 cups chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup sweetened flaked coconut

Directions:
Line a 9×13″ pan with foil or parchment and grease generously.

In a medium saucepan, melt the peanut butter, honey and coconut oil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.

Stir in the chocolate chips until melted and then remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla, oats and coconut.

Spread this mixture evenly into the prepared pan, cover and chill in the fridge until set, at least one hour.

These bars do get soft fairly quickly at room temperature, so store them in Tupperware in the fridge or freezer!

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