No-bake cookies have met their match with these no bake chocolate peanut butter bars. It doesn’t get much easier than just stirring everything together and pouring it into a pan.
Before I tell you more about these amazing homemade candy bars, I’d better confess that no-bake cookies and I have a bit of a love/hate relationship.
No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars
I love how easy no bake cookies are to make; I hate how unattractive they tend to be. I love how rich the chocolate and peanut flavors can be; I hate the raw oatmeal that frequently overwhelms the cookies.
(That whole raw oatmeal situation is balanced with the addition of coconut in these no bake chocolate coconut cookies or bars or bites… whatever you call them, the coconut changes the texture (and improves it!) in the best way possible.)
When I ran across these no-bake bars, (a.k.a. “the best recipe I’ve ever messed up“) I couldn’t believe I’d never thought to try making the cookies into bars. At least they would look better, right?
I’m going to be flat-out honest here and tell you my thinking when I started making these treats. (My friend Donna can attest to it because we were talking on the phone at the time.)
I thought, “I’ll make these because the kids will love having a dessert over the weekend and I won’t be tempted to eat more than one.”
Chocolate Peanut Butter No Bake Bars
That is seriously funny in hindsight. I almost licked the saucepan clean as I was waiting for the bars to harden in the refrigerator.
The additional coconut, honey, and nuts in these bars take them far out of the league of traditional no-bake treats.
That oatmeal that I dislike in other cookies? It is providing structure and just a bit of flavor, instead of being the dominant ingredient.
No Bake Chocolate Coconut Cookies
There are plenty of options with these bars. If you prefer a completely unprocessed ingredient list, use pure dark chocolate, natural peanut butter, and unsweetened coconut.
No-bake cookies and bars benefit greatly from the addition of coconut. The texture and the flavor can’t be beaten. If you are like me and have no plans to give up your refined sugars (and are too impatient to make a special trip to the store), use whatever ingredients happen to be in the house.
I found that a 1″ square piece of these bars satisfied my chocolate craving. (One square at a time, that is. I can’t even describe how much I enjoyed these treats!)
As I was enjoying one of these with my husband late last night, we both agreed that they put store-bought candy bars to shame.
These no bake chocolate peanut butter bars are a naturally gluten free treat too! Check out all of our gluten free dessert recipes here.
For more no-bake desserts, try these Chocolate Peanut Butter Ritz Cookies, Monster Cookie Dough Bites, and the Chocolate Zebra Cake.
Kitchen Tip: I use these bowls, this spatula, and this pan to make this recipe.
No-Bake Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this recipe:
- peanut butter
- honey
- coconut oil
- rolled oats
- shredded coconut
- chopped pecans
- dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- vanilla extract
To make the chocolate coconut bars, melt the peanut butter, honey, and coconut oil in a medium-size saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir frequently as the mixture melts.
When it has melted, remove from the heat and add the chocolate. Stir until the chocolate is completely smooth.
Add the oats, coconut, and pecans. Stir to combine. Pour the mixture into an 8×8 pan. Refrigerate until the chocolate hardens, at least 3-4 hours.
Slice into 1″-2″ square pieces. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
To make this in the microwave, combine the peanut butter, honey, coconut oil, and chocolate chips in a large glass mixing bowl. Microwave 90 seconds at high power. Stir and return to microwave. Heat for an additional 90 seconds, only until the chocolate has almost melted. Stir until smooth.
No Bake Cereal Bars
Rice Krispies Treats are the original no-bake cereal bar and I know very few people who can resist them. Want to know how to make gooey, soft, and chewy Rice Krispie Treats?
Chocolate-drizzled peanut butter cup rice crispy treats, coconut lover’s rice crispy treats, even chocolate-covered pretzel rice crispy treats – I love them all.
No bake cereal bars like these no bake crunch bars and these crispy chocolate bars can made with rice krispies or corn flakes. And for the ultimate treat for any peanut butter lover, no bake peanut butter bars can be made in mere minutes.
Those chewy, slightly crunchy, peanut butter cereal bars are loaded with pockets of gooey marshmallows and they are a huge hit every time we make them.
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Coconut Bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup peanut butter
- ½ cup honey
- ½ cup coconut oil
- 1¼ cups dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups rolled oats (not instant oats)
- 1 cup coconut
- ½ cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Melt the peanut butter, honey and coconut oil in a medium-size saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir frequently as the mixture melts.
- When it has melted, remove it from the heat and add the chocolate chips and vanilla. Stir until completely smooth. Add the oats, coconut, and pecans. Stir to mix well.
- Pour into an 8×8 pan. Refrigerate until the chocolate hardens, at least 3-4 hours. Slice into 1″-2″ square pieces. Store in the refrigerator. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
{originally published 3/3/13 – notes and photos updated 3/29/23}
Anonymous says
These look and sound so yummy! Thankou for explaining the difference in refined and unrefined coconut oils. I hought some awhile back not knowing what I should have been looking for! I do now!
Anonymous says
We don't get coconut oil in the UK – and even if we did it would be extremely expensive! What could I use instead of the coconut oil?
Mary says
Butter will work great!
Anonymous says
There is a recipe for the no bake drop cookies that uses cocoa, sugar and butter instead of chocolate chips and honey and cocoanut oil, the oats, peanut butter, cocoanut and nuts are the same. OH, it does have vanilla which this recipe oes not. It requires bringing the cocoa, sugar and butter to a full rolling boil and boiling for one minuet, then adding in the dry ingredients. I am not sure how it would work in bar form, but it should work OK as fudge will set up when boiled with these ingredients.
Anonymous says
I have just made these and they are awesome, except that I do not like the honey taste in them.
Can I omit the honey? Will they still come out right?
Mary says
You can substitute corn syrup or brown rice flour for the honey. I hope that helps!
Rachel O'Funky says
I've made this "personal" size (to make a tiny batch just for me!) by scaling it down from cups to tablespoons. (So, if it says 1 cup I use 1 tbsp, 1/2 cup I use a 1/2 tbsp, 2 cups is 2 tbsp, etc.) Deadly!!!
Jenny Pepper says
That's a very good idea! Thankyou for sharing, I would never have thought to try that. A lot of recipes sound really scrummy, the only problem is that they are in big proportions to feed a family. I usually just make half the recipe, but even then, it's still too much. The world doesn't cater for single people, despite them making up a considerable amount of the population.
Anonymous says
I love when people ask if they can substitute this for that and … that for this … and … geez, just make the recipe, people and tell us what you think!
Tracie Keeling says
There is no need to be rude – you obviously haven't thought that they may not be able to get specific ingredients outside the US or they may have food allergies! A little bit of consideration please!
Jenny Pepper says
Very well said Tracie. I never realised, just how many rude people there are in the world until I started to use the internet. I live in the UK and love cooking, so am always on the look out for new recipes. Like you said, a lot of people are allergic to certain foods. Which can mean the difference between life and death in a lot of cases. Also, a lot of items that are mentioned in US recipes are not available to buy in the UK, or to buy online and have them shipped over.
Anonymous says
Also those rude people don't think- maybe others can't afford the expense of some costly ingredient, but want to try the recipe with what they have on hand or can afford, if possible.
Julie says
You are so right about these looking much better in bar form! Can't wait to try!
CookingBug says
My family has made no-bake cookies since I was a child with a recipe similar to yours. I love the addition of coconut! I have been meaning to write to you and thank you for all the fantastic recipes you publish. Your site is my very favorite. Weekly I find a recipe I end up adding to my personal favorites…no small feat as I have been cooking for over 40 years. Thank you so much 🙂
Jen @ The Haute Mommy Handbook says
I'm always on the lookout for a great no-bake cookies. I can't wait to try this one!
Anonymous says
This is such a great recipe. We made it following the directions exactly and all love it!
Do you have any advise to keep it at room temp longer than 5 mintues? Seems to get melty very quickly.
Mary says
I do store mine in the refrigerator, but they are fine at room temp for much longer than 5 minutes. I'd reduce the coconut oil to 1/4 cup if they are that soft for you. That should make them firmer. I hope that helps!
Anonymous says
if you substitute butter for coconut oil, do you melt the butter?
Mary says
Yes, I melt the butter.
jburth1 says
I only have a huge vat of refined coconut oil right now but really wan to make these. Is there any way the bars would still taste good?
Mary says
Absolutely! I've used both, the coconut flavor simply won't be quite as strong with the refined oil. Enjoy!
Amy says
these look delicious, but I can't eat honey, can I sub equal amounts of sugar or golden syrup?
Thanks!
Mary says
You can use golden syrup! I've also used brown rice syrup in this recipe.
Amanda Schwartz says
Think this will work if I left off the chocolate?
Mary says
The chocolate helps bind the ingredients together. I'm guessing that it won't hold together without the chocolate.
Anonymous says
These sound good. I would use the chocolate peanut butter to have more chocolate. I have a No Bake Cookie Recipe I always use the dark chocolate peanut butter
Janet says
What can I use instead of the oats? I am on a grain free diet.
Jessica Davis Jeremias says
I wanted to write and tell you that I make these at least monthly for my husband. He can not eat Cane Sugar and these are PERFECT!! I substitute with the Hersey's SF Chocolate Chips. Thank you so much for sharing.
Anonymous says
Has anyone tried making this with almond butter instead of peanut butter? (Allergies are a problem in my home)
Anonymous says
"Coconut", I suppose that is shredded coconut sold in bags at the grocery store? But does it require the sweetened or the unsweetened version? Thanks.
Anonymous says
Does the pap need to be greased or lined with wax paper?
Mary says
You could line the pan if you'd like to lift the bars out for slicing. (I typically do it that way now, just because it's easier.) There's no need to grease it though.