Healthy No-Bake Salted Dark Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookie Bars.
Yesterday I was all “Let’s Bake”! Today I am all “Let’s not, but act like we did!”.
Jeez, I am so up and down and all over the place these days. I think I just really like to keep things new and fresh around here.
Either that or those darn chickens are really starting to mess with my head. I’m sure you’ve all heard a story or two before about a crazy “cat lady”. Well, I am slightly concerned that I am turning into the crazy “chicken lady”.
I am actually really enjoying our little chickens. Taking care of them is kind of fun and I think it is so cool that we are going to get our own eggs from chickens raised right in our own backyard. It’s a good feeling for sure.
The other day I was so set on skipping a recipe post for just one day and telling you all about the chickens. For some reason I just really, really wanted to talk about them. Of course it was also an excuse to head outside (yeah!) and take an obnoxious amount of pictures. But then it started pouring and I “chickened” out and told myself, no one wants to hear about a bunch of chickens.
Thus, I presented to you these fajitas instead. Maybe one day, if it ever doesn’t rain in the afternoon, I will take some photos, but as of right now, Colorado seems to be calling for rain every afternoon. I am highly disliking it.
It’s such typical mountain weather. Sun in the morning and wicked storms in the afternoon. It actually got so dark the other day I couldn’t even finish taking photos because it went from day to-night in a matter of minutes. And then maybe thirty minutes later the clouds passed and it was sunny again.
Like full on sunshine – crazy, and a little annoying, oh well.
But it’s Friday and we have some cookie bars we need to talk about – and quick, because like I said, it’s Friday and I have a feeling our attention spans are shot from the week.
You may even be looking for a little booze to kick off your weekend, so lets just going already.
I am not sure if you remember, but last summer I posted this recipe for a healthier version of my mom’s oatmeal cookie bar recipe. It’s one of those recipes that I honestly make all the time, my mom makes all the time, and you guys tell me that you make all the time. It is just an awesome recipe.
I wanted to take those flavors and create and even easier, healthier, but just as delicious NO-BAKE oatmeal cookie bar. I wasn’t really sure I could do it. I mean, I’m certainly no “healthy baking” expert, but I used what I know and ingredients that I love and this is what I came up with.
Oh these bars. They taste so good. Just like my mom’s oatmeal cookie bars only a little chewier and a little less crumbly, but the flavor is spot on and the texture is awesome.
For sweetness I used dates. Just dates. Nothing else. Don’t be freaked. You’ll love these. Even if you don’t love dates. Promise.
I never knew what an amazing little ingredient dates were. For one they are incredibly healthy, full of fiber and super sweet. They work double time as the perfect binder and sweetener. The rest is pretty basic, roasted cashews are kind of my secret ingredient. They do have to be roasted though, so no swapping there. Their flavor is awesome and they grind up to a smooth paste perfectly.
Then of course there are oats… and quinoa for added health and texture, and plenty of dark chocolate. Plus sea salt because every cookie needs a little sea salt. It does. Really.
And the best part – these cookies require almost no time to make and they use simple ingredients that I really hope everyone has on hand.
Mega best part – these cookies taste like they should be a thousand and one calories, but they aren’t! They’re chuck full of good for you ingredients.
And they still taste like real oatmeal cookies!!!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Healthy No-Bake Salted Dark Chocolate Chunk Oatmeal Cookie Bars.
By halfbakedharvest
Course: Dessert
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cookie bars
These taste so good. Just like my mom's oatmeal cookie bars only a little chewier and a little less crumbly, but the flavor is spot on and the texture is awesome.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups roasted cashews
- 1 cup medjool dates pitted
- 4 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 tablespoons coconut or almond milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 cups old-fashion oats
- 1 cup cooked plain quinoa
- 2 tablespoons ground walnuts or almonds
- 6-8 ounces dark chocolate chopped into chunks (about 1 1/2 cups)
- sea salt for topping
Instructions
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Line a 9x13 in baking dish with parchment paper.
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To the bowl of a food processor add the cashews and dates. Process until a thick paste forms, about 2-3 minutes. Add the coconut oil, coconut milk (or almond milk), vanilla and salt. Process until completely smooth and no chunks remain, scrapping down the sides of the bowl once or twice. I let my processor go a full 5 minutes to really allow the mixture to become a super smooth and thick paste.
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Meanwhile, add the oats, quinoa and ground walnuts (or almonds) to a large mixing bowl.
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Once the cashew mixture is ready (it should be pretty warm and gooey from the food processor running) scoop/pour it into the bowl with the oats. Mix until everything is evenly combined. It will seem thick at first, but just keep mixing and it will all come together. Allow the mixture to cool off a bit (maybe 5 minutes) and then stir in the chocolate chocolate chunks. Press the cookies into the prepared dish. Melt 2 ounces of dark chocolate in the microwave and drizzle it over the bars. Sprinkle with sea salt and place in the fridge for at least 1 hour or until cold. Cut in to bars and keep cold or leave at room temp. Personally, I think these are best kept in the fridge.
Recipe Notes
Adapted from [Mom's Oatmeal Cookie Recipe | https://dev.halfbakedharvest.com/healthy-dark-chocolate-chunk-oatmeal-cookie-bars-idiot-proof/]
SO yes, I am so excited about these. Oatmeal Cookies + Chocolate Chunks and FRIDAY. What a great combo!
If I had to pick the most perfect looking square object, it would be these bars! I LOVE that these are no-bake because it’s 1 million degrees and my oven is death. Plus dates? Obsessed. Pinned!
Thank Taylor! Hoping you are enjoying your weekend! 🙂
I am also looking for a quick snack for some energy right before I work out. My wife is going to have to make a bunch of these. I thought I always had to buy the store version these are healthier and I’m sure tastier!
Thanks! Hope you guys love them!
These looks SO delicious. I’m putting them on my to do list!
Thank you!
These looks so good…I love that dates are the sugar and they are no bake. I prefer oatmeal and chocolate than the standard oatmeal and raisins and this is coming from a raisin lover but I think the oats taste better with chocolate. I’m definitely trying this.
Thanks so much!!
Yay for no-bake! Although I’d totally turn on the oven for yesterday’s deliciousness. The moment I saw the picture of the dates I was hooked. Date-sweetened desserts are the bomb 🙂
They are, they are! 🙂
Thank you!
The rain in DC has also been out of control lately (like down pouring at 5 pm exactly every.single.day). I’ve been spending like 2 hours in the car getting home in traffic–hallelujah that will be over soon! 🙂
These bars look delicious! I could use more ‘no bake’ desserts in my life.
Oh man, rain is the WORST. Hope it has been a sunny weekend! Thanks Laura! 🙂
I love the concept of no bake! and I want a chicken update, so maybe you can reconsider that.
Haha! Will do. THANKS!
I’m so jealous of your little chickens. How cute! These bars look amazing. Honestly, who wants to bake in this heat?
Thanks Jennie!!
Oh yes, I will be making these for sure – they look perfect!
Thank Kathy!
I love everything in these little bars! I can’t wait to make them. Pinned!
THANKS!
I am all about not baking especially in the summer months. These are a perfect treat!
Thanks so much, Rina!
The recipe is awesome.
I have one question) Can the coconut milk be replaced by regular cow milk and coconut butter by peanut butter?
Hi! Thank you!
You can use regular milk, but swap butter for the coconut butter. Although it would best if you used coconut oil. Hope you love these!! 🙂
Thank you for answering! I think am definitely gonna make these!))
Hope you love them!
Tieghan, I would love to hear about your chickens. My grandmother used to raise chickens in her backyard. Me and my cousins always had to much fun when we were going to get the eggs. I wish I could raise chickens too. Maybe one day…
I love your recipe, especially because you added dates instead of refined sugar.
Have a great weekend 😉
Thanks Olivia!! I will take some photos then! 🙂
My boyfriend and I are the same way… but about dishes.
I’m all “lets do the dishes” then after dessert i’m all “let’s not, but act like we did).
I love the recipe! Can’t wait try!
Haha! Thanks Connie!
I would totally read (and enjoy) a post about your chickens. 🙂
Thank you! 🙂
Hell yes for no-bake HEALTHY treats. Girl, you rock at life!
THANKS! 🙂
These are so neat!! I love the quinoa in there!
Thanks Katrina!
Mountain weather sounds awesome. And the bars look good 🙂
Thank you!
I would read about your chickens! I have chickens too so maybe i’m just biased, haha. It’s amazing how they actually develop their own little personalities and recognize their owners. My mom is the main caretaker of the chickens and they follower her all over and come when called by their names.
No way! Our chickens are so not that smart. Maybe once they are older! 🙂
Thanks Erika!
love how guilt-free these bars are.. perfect for an afternoon snack when chocolate cravings set in. love it!
Thanks so much, Thalia!! 🙂
Tieghan these look so so good and its a bonus that they are healthy!
Thanks so much!!
Wonderful combination! So delicious!
Thanks Meredith!
The thought to add quinoa for a little crunch is genius!
Thank you!!
The rain and weather has been crazy this year, hasn’t it? And I love hearing about your kitchens…..and these oatmeal cookie bars! So very good Thank you for sharing!!
It has! Thanks so much, Monet!! Hope you are having a great weekend!
These look so good! I love the sound of the date and dark chocolate combo!
Thanks Kevin!
These look delicious, Tieghan! I love the addition of quinoa too. 🙂
Thank you so much, Lauren! Hope you are having a great weekend!
Um. What. Tieghan the ingredients in this recipe look and sound absolutely phenomenal. I’m so adding this to my weekly favorites list/post, especially since every day this month has been a let’s-bake-let’s-not day. What a great idea!
Thank you!Hope you are having a great weekend!
I will be having these for breakfast, snack AND dessert. Yum!!
Thanks Nathalie!!
It’s amazing what you can come up with just grinding up ingredients like nuts and seeds and dried fruit, isn’t it? A little chocolate doesn’t hurt either!
Agree! Thanks Mallory!
I am DROOLING
Endlesslyboring.blogspot.co.uk
Thanks!
great healthy bars!
Thank you!
These are the perfect no-bake cookie bar, love the salted chocolate topping!
YUM! These look absolutely INSANE! Salt + dark chocolate is my absolute favourite!
Thanks!! 🙂
Oh wow, these look amazing! Love that ingredient list. Go girl!
Thanks so much!
Hi there! I was thinking to make these but sub either a nut butter or another type of nut for the cashews (they hurt my tummy). If you were going to try using nut butter, how much would you sub for the cashews? These look really good, the quinoa is a unique addition that sounds good. I have some barley already cooked in the fridge that I was thinking about too (I’ve never been good at following recipes 😉 )
I think one cup of peanut butter or almond butter would work great. And also, I bet barley would too!
Thanks so much and I hope you love these! 🙂
Have just put these in the fridge but not without a taste or two first! You did it again! First experience with Medjool dates and I am sold! (Made your pita sand Mediterranean Greek salad for the umpteenth time yesterday…more awesomeness!!!). THanks for all your work!
These are so dreamy!! Yay for no-bake recipes! Sometimes I just don’t have time for the oven 🙂
Thank you!
What’s a good substitute for the coconut oil?
Love the use of dates!
Hey Sarah, I would use canola oil or melted butter. Hope you love these!
I love that these amazing bars are so healthy!! 🙂 Yum!
I tried these out the other day and I love the fact that they are GF. I had figs in the house so I used those instead of the dates and it reminded of fig newtons. they are great! I am going to make another batch for our church bake sale this weekend (Great American Bake Sale – supporting local food pantries) I am also going to try them with seeds instead of nut for a co-worker with allergies. Now that I have found you I will check your recipes out everyday! Thanks for helping me be healthier!
So excited you loved these and I love your fig swap!! 🙂
Thanks for the kind words. So excited to have you as a new reader!
I don’t have quinoa here, what can I use? I’m really excited to try this out! And one more thing! How many calories is it in a bar?
i would try using equal amount oats. should work great! sorry, but i do not know how many calories. Hope you love these!
Okay. I just sat down and did the math. Whew! I used almond milk and ground almonds in my recipe. I also used two (2) Hershey’s Special Dark Mildly Sweet Sweet Chocolate Extra Large Bars, 4.25 oz each, 1.5 bars chopped up into chunks, the other half bar melted and drizzled over the top.
If you cut into 18 bars (which end up being pretty big!), as recommended, here is the nutritional info.
252 calories (252.26 to be exact)
14 g fat (14.12 g)
6 g saturated fat (6.27 g)
30 g carbohydrates (30.61 g)
4 g fiber (3.85 g)
15 g sugar (14.65 g)
5 g protein (4.99 g)
Fantastic recipe! These are so yummy. I don’t think I waited long enough for the mixture to cool though, a little too impatient, so the smaller chocolate pieces melted through. Definitely don’t look as pretty as yours but these will he a regular in our house now. Thank you!
So happy you love these. Thanks!
I just barely made these tonight! I stumbled across your blog for the first time yesterday and these bars intrigued me! I had to make them right away. They were honestly much better than I thought they’d be!! I mean, I knew they LOOKED super tasty, but I honestly have never used dates before so I was skeptical! But seriously, these are super amazing. I would have never thought to blend cashews and dates together (plus the coconut oil and milk) to get a “paste” that works great for holding the bars together. I applaud you. The only slight change I did was I used 3.5 oz of chopped up dark chocolate in the bars, then I melted 1/2 cup of milk chocolate chips to spread on top. Super yummy! Will make again!
So happy you loved these, THANKS!!
Made them and loved them!
These look amazing but we are not cashew fans, do any other nuts work in their place? Thanks!!
I just tried making them for the first time yesterday. They don’t look quite as pretty as yours, but they taste great!
So happy you are enjoying them, Thanks!!
These look absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to try this recipe.
If we don’t have a food processor, does a blender work the same way?
I hate to sound stupid, but is almond meal essentially the same as ground almonds? If not, what’s the best way to grind them?
Yes, almond me is the same as ground almonds. You can buy almonds and grind the yourself if you would like. Let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks!
Why so many copies of the same photo? I thought I never was going to find the recipe. One photo would have been plenty enough.
THIS IS A GREAT RECIPE. I HAVE TO FIND A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE CHOC CHIPS AS I AM ALLERGIC TO DAIRY
I made these today and they are delicious. I live in France and it’s difficult to find coconut oil so I used melted butter instead (I know, not so healthy anymore!) but great taste. I’ll slightly cut down on the oats and add more quinoa next time, thanks for this original snack!
That looks amazing!
Thank you!!
How did I not see this recipe before?! I’m always on the lookout for date sweetened recipes (pretty much the only desserts I eat) and these look perfect! I made your chocolate mocha tarts many times (omg) and I’m sure these are great as well! I’ll try these soon for sure! 🙂
I don’t know but i’m so happy you found it!! I hope you get to try them! Please let me know what you think!! Thanks Caroline! (:
Can you please tell me if these freeze well (and also approximately how long they keep, if we don’t eat them in one day!) Thanks! 🙂
HI! These freeze great!! Just know they are a bit crumbly, but still taste amazing! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Thanks! 🙂
Thanks for reply! They came out great! I froze some for later, so I’m glad to know they freeze well. Thanks again!
These are definitely the best healthy cookie bars!! We served these to our guests and they were very surprised that they were “healthy” bars. ?
Definitely making another batch very soon!
I am so glad all of your guests enjoyed these, Jessica! Thank you for trying them! xTieghan
Made these yesterday as a post or pre- workout snack and couldn’t wait long enough to try one! They are absolutely delicious! My only regret is only packing one in my lunchbox! I am never buying a granola bar again.. These are way tastier and I know exactly what’s in them. I am inspired to play around with different flavors too! Thank you Tieghan!!
I am so glad these turned out so well for you, Maggie! Thank you so much for trying them! xTieghan