No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Bars Recipe
These No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookie Bars are a delicious, wholesome treat combining creamy peanut butter, naturally sweet Medjool dates, hearty oats, sprouted quinoa, and crunchy pepitas. Enhanced with rich dark chocolate and melty mini chocolate chips, these bars are easy to prepare without any baking, perfect for a quick snack or dessert. They are naturally gluten-free, packed with fiber and protein, and require just chilling to set, making them a convenient and nutritious indulgence.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars
- Category: Snack
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups old-fashioned oats
- 1 cup sprouted cooked quinoa
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed (or hemp seeds)
- 1/4 cup sprouted pepitas
- 1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips
Wet Ingredients
- 1 cup creamy peanut butter
- 1 cup pitted Medjool dates
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 3 ounces dark chocolate, melted
Optional
- Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling
Instructions
- Prepare the Pan: Line a baking sheet or a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make removal easier.
- Blend the Base Ingredients: In a food processor, combine the peanut butter, pitted Medjool dates, vanilla extract, oats, sprouted quinoa, ground flaxseed, and sprouted pepitas. Blend until the mixture becomes very sticky and mostly smooth, ensuring the dates are well incorporated to bind everything together.
- Mix in Chocolate Chips: Stir the mini chocolate chips into the blended mixture evenly to distribute bits of melty chocolate throughout the bars.
- Form the Bars: Press the sticky mixture evenly into the lined pan, flattening it firmly to create a uniform thickness for the bars.
- Add Toppings: Drizzle the melted dark chocolate over the pressed mixture, then finish with an optional sprinkle of flaky sea salt to enhance the flavors.
- Chill and Set: Refrigerate the pan for at least 2 hours to allow the bars to firm up. Once set, remove from the fridge and cut into bars.
- Storage: Keep the bars stored in the refrigerator to prevent melting and maintain their shape and freshness.
Notes
- Using Medjool dates adds natural sweetness and helps bind the bars without added sugars.
- Press the mixture firmly in the pan to ensure the bars hold together well when cut.
- The bars should be stored in the fridge because the chocolate and peanut butter can get melty at room temperature.
- You can substitute sprouted quinoa with regular cooked quinoa if needed, but sprouted adds extra nutrition.
- Flaky sea salt is optional but adds a nice contrast to the sweet and rich flavors.
