“No-Bake Cookie” Bars & The 7 Ingredients or Less E-Cookbook

GFVGVDFNS
Jump to Recipe
Stack of our No-Bake Cookie Bars for a delicious on-the-go treat

First things first. I have two very important announcements:

1) Today I’m releasing my 7 Ingredients or Less E-Cookbook and it’s FREE for download!
2) I figured out how to make bars that taste just like a NO BAKE COOKIE!

Both of these items are very important.

Food processor filled with ingredients for making No-Bake Cookie Bars

When I tell you these bars taste just like a no bake cookie, I’m not playing around.
I REPEAT: This is not a joke.

Food processor with freshly pulsed dough for our No-Bake Cookie Bars recipe

No bake cookies are the bomb. For the record, they nor the word “bomb” will ever go out of style.
My mother can attest that no bakes are my kryptonite. I’m rendered defenseless in their presence.
I once jumped up and down like a little girl when someone brought a plate to class…IN HIGH SCHOOL.
I repeat: NOT JOKING AROUND.

Cutting board with a batch of our vegan No-Bake Cookie Bars

When I recently discovered the wonder that is medjool dates, I almost cried.
Adding them to any recipe makes it sweet as pie and replaces any need for added sugar.

So picture this: dates, peanut butter, dark chocolate chips, oats, a.k.a no-bake cookie in the mouth.
Oh yes, we’re going there.

Plate featuring one of our super simple gluten-free vegan No-Bake Cookie Bars

These bars are nutritious and super simple, yet taste just like one of my favorite desserts. And with just four ingredients, you really can’t go wrong.

I’ve already made them three times since discovering their magic factor. At batch #5 I think I’ll have a problem, but we’re not quite there yet so, we’re good.

Stack of our delicious No-Bake Cookie Bars recipe made with oats, peanut butter, and chocolate

“No-Bake Cookie” Bars

4-ingredient snack bars that taste JUST like a no-bake cookie! Vegan friendly and gluten-free optional.
Author Minimalist Baker
Print
Stack of No Bake Cookie Bars with pieces of paper between them
4.67 from 9 votes
Prep Time 20 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 8 (bars)
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine Gluten-Free, Vegan
Freezer Friendly 1 month
Does it keep? 1 Week

Ingredients

  • 18 whole medjool dates
  • 3 Tbsp natural salted peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup dairy-free dark chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup rolled oats (GF for gluten-friendly)

Instructions

  • Pulse dates in a food processor until they’re in small pieces; about 15 generous pulses.
  • Add oats, chocolate chips, and peanut butter and pulse or mix until combined. You want there to be consistently small pieces but not overly processed.
  • Transfer to a 9×9 or larger pan and press down until uniformly flat (adjust number/size of pan if altering batch size).
  • Pop in freezer for 15 minutes to set. Then remove and cut into 8 bars (as original recipe is written). Will keep fresh in an air-tight bag or container for up to a week.

Notes

*Be gentle after cutting the bars, else they will crumble.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate.

Nutrition (1 of 8 servings)

Serving: 1 bars Calories: 175 Carbohydrates: 26.8 g Protein: 2.5 g Fat: 7 g Saturated Fat: 3.2 g Trans Fat: 0 g Cholesterol: 0 mg Fiber: 2.9 g Sugar: 19 g

Get this and 9 other recipes in our 7 Ingredients or Less E-Cookbook! Click for a FREE download and endless amounts of delicious food! Then read it, try the recipes, and share it and we’ll love you forever – promise.

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tag @minimalistbaker on Instagram and hashtag it #minimalistbaker so we can see all the deliciousness!

If you love this recipe...

Get Our Fan Favorites eBook Here!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Comment & Rating!

Have a question? Use ctrl+f or ⌘+f on your computer or the "find on page" function on your phone browser to search existing comments! Need help? Check out this tutorial!

My Rating:




  1. Carolina says

    Per my current dietary guru, Dr. Gundry, I am not to eat oats, so what would you suggest as a substitute for them? Carole

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Carolina, we think finely chopped nuts, such as peanuts, walnuts, or pecans might be nice in this one!

  2. Jenica says

    These recipes look delicious! The link to the recipe book download doesn’t work any more and I guess I’m late to the game 😭 is there a way to still download it?

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerSupport @ Minimalist Baker says

      Hi Jenica, sorry for the inconvenience! This is an older post and the 7 ingredients of less e-cookbook download is no longer available. The fan favorites e-cookbook download is though!

  3. Norma says

    Next time we’ll make them a bit thicker. They were a little too thin and parts were falling apart. They did taste phenomenal and we’ll be making these again.

  4. Deborah says

    How many grams is 18 pitted dates? Mine dates seem to all be different sizes, so having the weight is a more helpful measurement.

    • Deborah says

      I found two of your other recipes, one says “1 heaping cup pitted dates (10-12 large medjool dates)” and the other “1 1/4 cups (~250 g) firmly packed pitted dates (~23-26 dates)”. This second is double the number of dates but not double the volume. I love your recipes, really keen to try this one, but I find it’s helpful to have precise measurements (e.g. 1 cup or 100g) rather than amounts that could differ based on where you shop or what brands you buy (e.g. 18 dates or 1 pack of crackers).

      • Deborah says

        Ok so I tried these and the flavour was amazing but they really didn’t work — after having them in the freezer for over half an hour to set, they were super gooey and I had to try and make them into balls instead of squares because there was no way I could cut through them. Even as balls they are too gooey and soft. I used about 200g dates (I just guessed based on your estimate of 23-26 dates as 250g in another recipe) but that was about 30 pitted dates for me, so I’m not sure if that was the problem? I used almond butter instead of peanut butter, as I saw in one of your replies to another person that that would be fine. Any advise would be appreciated, thanks!

  5. April says

    I had a really hard time getting these to stick together. They fell apart even more easily than expected. A+ for flavor though, we had no qualms eating them even as broken fragments.

  6. Michelle says

    These are sooo good! And so easy to make! I added a 1/4 c of unsweetened coconut flakes. Thanks for the recipe!

  7. Kelly says

    Love this recipe!! My food processor died after 2 batches. I think it was the dates. Can anyone recommend their processor, need to purchase one ASAP as I have eaten all my bars and need to make more!!

  8. Lisa says

    Are you supposed to keep these in the refrigerator after you cut them? Or just keep in an air tight container at room temperature? Thank you

  9. Charlotte says

    These look so good! However I’m not so sure I like dates, would dried apricots work instead? Or any other suggestions :)

    • Avatar for Dana @ Minimalist BakerDana @ Minimalist Baker says

      Absolutely! I didn’t think I used to like dates, but in recipes like these they really are a dream! Hope you give it a try, Charlotte. Beautiful name, btw

  10. jennifer says

    Just made these yesterday and my fiancé loves them… I can’t wait to make these as fun treats for our next get together!! Thank you so much! <3

  11. elsy says

    OMG!!!!!!!! Indeed these are the BOMB.COM!!! I’ve made these a couple of times and they are a hit every time!!! My kids love them. Thanks for all your wonderful easy to make recipes <3

  12. Shuk says

    Hi Dana, I would love to try this recipe but could you please recommend a substitute for dates? (not the biggest fan of dates…) Thanks!

  13. jennifer says

    I made the exact same bars just this afternoon, recipe taken on another website. Only difference is a cup of nuts (pecans and almonds). They are sooo delicious, i just can’t stop eating them!
    I used regular dry dates that i soaked for a few minutes in warm water, and it did the trick (2 cups).

  14. Gina says

    “Am I the ONLY one whose dates balled up in to a gloopy mess?” was my thought as I kept rechecking the pictures, recipe and comments. Then I noticed my processor blade seemed to be getting stuck on something. I had bought my dates in bulk, and it never occurred to me that they were not pitted! I’m so glad you gave a precise number because I knew I was good after I fished out 18 seeds! Hope no one else makes the same silly mistake! This really is delicious! Thanks for posting.

  15. Kim Hawkins says

    Thank you SO MUCH for this recipe. My hubby & I transitioned to a whole foods, vegan diet after his diabetes diagnosis. I made some raw cocoa truffles, and while they were good, my hubby (a hard working, traveling man) said, “What I really want are no-bakes.”

    Since he doesn’t really care for dates, I used raisins, and sugar free dark chocolate. While a little fruity on the end, he says, “I could eat these.” His version of high praise, lol.

    Thanks again!

  16. Rachel K says

    Can I just say I love you even more after reading this!! I love that you still use “the bomb” cause so do I, and people make fun of me for it. Also, these sound delish. Can’t wait to try making them!

  17. Ann says

    Thanks so much for the free e-cookbook. I’ve been dreaming about the date / chocolate / almond bars for a while now. Was tickled to get the cookbook!

  18. Jacklyn says

    Just found your blog a few days ago and it is wonderful! I’ve been wanting to try medjool dates for a while and when I found this recipe I knew it was the perfect place to start. I subbed sunflower seed butter for the peanut butter, and cacao nibs for chocolate chips and they were DELICIOUS!!

  19. Shannon says

    OH my goodness! Just discovered you guys and wanted to say hats off to a blog well done! I’m all over the cooking blog world, vegan in particular, and you guys stand out completely! And the free cookbook download was a phenomenal idea! Keep on keepin on :)

  20. Jen S. says

    Passed the reluctant 4 yo test. Worked great even with reg. dates (madjools are very expensive in my area). Just had to add more of the smaller dates. I also added dehydrated coconut to some for an even better treat for me. Wasn’t overly sweet. Thanks much for the recipe.

  21. Heidi @ Food Doodles says

    Yummy! These sound delicious! And your e-cookbook looks great – can’t wait to look into it more!

  22. natalie@thesweetslife says

    i have fantastic memories of eating WAY TOO MANY of no bake cookies in college! this sounds like a good way to relive those memories :)

  23. lina says

    Looks delicious! However, I’m allergic to peanuts… Anything else that is easy to make/get a hold of that would work as a substitute? Thanks :)

  24. em@simplypresents says

    This are going to be made this weekend! I keep looking for a yummy and healthy bar recipe, but they still contain so many ingredients and instuctions! Thanks so much! :)