I couldn’t stop snacking on these healthy no bake oatmeal cookies! And did you catch that, they are NO BAKE! Super easy to throw together and super delicious.

They are made with quick oats, all natural peanut butter, coconut oil and honey or maple syrup, with a little cocoa powder for chocolate flavor. There is no refined white sugar, and the stove does all the work in a few minutes.

The Best Healthy No Bake Cookies (Oatmeal, Peanut Butter and Honey)

Lately I’ve been really loving the taste and texture of oats in things like granola and cookies. These healthy no bake cookies definitely satisfy my oat craving! Plus they are made with all natural peanut butter and honey (or maple syrup!), some of my favorite things. The honey adds the perfect amount of sweetness, which means none of that refined white sugar is needed. Nature’s sweetener for the win!

Speaking of honey, bees are amazing. My husband and I went to a renaissance fair over the summer, and there was a bee keeper there who gave such a great demonstration and answered so many of my questions. Fun fact time! Did you know the queen bee determines which eggs will become which types of bees? She decides if they will become worker bees, drones or other queens. Okay, enough of my geekiness!

After I got done making these (and trying one… okay, maybe two or three…), I packed them up and sent them to work with my husband. I knew if I didn’t send them with him, I would eat them all, and probably in one sitting. Self control is not my strong suit, but hey, I am working on it! Even though these are healthy, moderation is still key, as with all things. These cookies are really delicious, but don’t take my word for it. Go make them!

Why You’ll Love These No Bake Cookies

No oven needed. A quick boil on the stove, a few stirs and they are ready to scoop.
No refined sugar. Honey or pure maple syrup is the only sweetener.
Five simple ingredients. Coconut oil, honey, peanut butter, cocoa powder and quick oats.
Your choice of chocolate level. Use less cocoa for peanut buttery cookies or more for chocolate lovers.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Here is what goes into these oatmeal no bake cookies and why each one matters. Exact amounts are in the recipe card below.

Coconut oil: Takes the place of butter. Coconut oil is solid at cool room temperature, so as the cookies cool it firms up and helps them hold their shape. Refined coconut oil has almost no coconut flavor, while virgin coconut oil adds a light coconut taste. Either works here.
Pure honey or pure maple syrup: The only sweetener in the recipe. Honey gives a warm, floral sweetness and maple syrup tastes a little more caramel. Boiling it with the coconut oil thickens the mixture so the cookies set instead of staying sticky. Look for 100 percent pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup, which is mostly corn syrup.
All natural peanut butter: Adds rich, nutty flavor and helps bind everything together. Choose one where the ingredient list is just peanuts and maybe salt. Stir natural peanut butter well before measuring, since the oil separates and settles on top. Almond butter or another nut butter is a common swap if you want to change things up.
Cocoa powder: Use 2 tablespoons for cookies that taste more like peanut butter, which is how I like them. If you’re a chocolate fan, go with 1/4 cup. Unsweetened cocoa keeps the sweetness in check, since the honey already does that job.
Quick oats: Quick oats are cut smaller and rolled thinner than old fashioned oats, so they soak up the warm mixture and give the cookies a soft, chewy bite. Old fashioned rolled oats will work, but the cookies will be chunkier and a little looser, since the bigger flakes absorb less of the liquid. If you need these gluten free, use oats labeled certified gluten free.

How to Make Healthy No Bake Cookies

Prep your counter. Lay a large sheet of wax paper, aluminum foil or parchment paper on the counter. Once the oats go in, you need to scoop right away, so have this ready first.
Boil the coconut oil and honey. In a large saucepan over medium heat, stir the coconut oil and honey constantly and bring them to a rolling boil. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes, until the mixture starts to thicken slightly. Use a timer and don’t overcook it.
Add the peanut butter and cocoa. Remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the peanut butter and cocoa powder until the peanut butter has melted and the mixture is glossy and smooth.
Stir in the oats. Add the quick oats and stir well until every oat is completely coated.
Scoop. Immediately use a large spoon to drop the cookies about an inch apart on the paper. Be careful, the mixture will be very hot.
Let them set. Allow the cookies to cool for 5 minutes and enjoy! They firm up more as they cool, so give them a little longer if you want them to hold together when you pick them up.

Kami’s tip: Set a timer for the boil. Two to three minutes is all the coconut oil and honey need to thicken slightly, and overcooking the mixture is the easiest way to end up with dry, crumbly cookies.

Ways to Customize These No Bake Cookies

Make them more chocolatey. Use the full 1/4 cup of cocoa powder instead of 2 tablespoons.
Swap the sweetener. Use pure maple syrup in place of honey for a different flavor.
Try another nut butter. Almond butter or cashew butter works in place of peanut butter.
Change the texture. Use old fashioned oats for a chunkier, more rustic cookie.

Healthy No Bake Cookies FAQs

Why are my no bake cookies not setting? Usually the coconut oil and honey were not boiled long enough. Bring them to a full rolling boil and let it go for 2 to 3 minutes before taking the pan off the heat.
Why are my no bake cookies dry and crumbly? The mixture was boiled too long. Use a timer and stop at 3 minutes.
Can I use maple syrup instead of honey? Yes. Pure maple syrup works in the same amount.
Can I use old fashioned oats? You can, but the cookies will be chunkier and less tender than with quick oats.
Are these cookies sugar free? They have no refined white sugar. They are sweetened with honey or maple syrup, which are natural sugars.
How should I store them? Keep them in an airtight container. Coconut oil softens in a warm kitchen, so store them in the fridge if your house runs warm.
Can I make them without cocoa powder? Yes. Leave it out for plain peanut butter oatmeal cookies. The cocoa adds flavor, not structure, so the cookies will still set.
Do I have to use coconut oil? Coconut oil is what helps these firm up as they cool, since it turns solid at cool room temperature. A liquid oil would leave them soft and sticky.
Are these gluten free? Oats are naturally gluten free but are often processed alongside wheat. Use certified gluten free oats if you need them to be.

Healthy Oatmeal No Bake Cookies - No Diets Allowed #Food #Foodie #Cookies

Peanut Butter Honey No Bake Cookies

Lisa

Healthy no bake cookies made with quick oats, natural peanut butter, cocoa and coconut oil, sweetened only with honey or maple syrup. No oven and no refined sugar.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup pure honey or pure maple syrup
1 cup all-natural peanut butter
2 Tbs or 1/4 cup organic cocoa powder I like my cookies more peanut buttery and use 2 Tbs. If you're a chocolate fan, go with 1/4 cup.
3 cups quick oats

Instructions

Lay a large sheet of wax, aluminum foil, or parchment paper on the counter.
In a large saucepan over medium heat while stirring constantly, bring coconut oil and honey to a rolling boil. Boil for 2 to 3 minutes until mixture starts to thicken slightly. Make sure to use a timer and don't overcook mixture.
Remove from heat. Add peanut butter and cocoa powder and stir until peanut butter has melted.
Add oats and stir well until oats are completely covered.
Immediately use a large spoon to scoop out and drop cookies about an inch apart on the wax paper. Be careful! It will be very hot.
Allow cookies to cool for 5 minutes and enjoy!

Made these cookies? Leave a star rating in the recipe card and tell me how they turned out in the comments below. I love hearing how chocolatey you made yours!