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
http://www.thebakingbit.com/recipes/no-bake-chocolate-peanut-butter-coconut-bites/ ALERT: THIS SITE IS USING YOUR RECIPE AND PHOTO AS THEIR OWN! Just thought you might want to know that.
Mary says
Thank you for bringing this to my attention. As it turns out, The Baking Bit has permission to use that photo and link to my recipe. They are not claiming it as their own.
Anonymous says
I made these last night – and they are totally flippin' awesome! There is NO way I need to eat many of them, do you have any idea how long they will keep? Could they be frozen?
Lia K. Origins says
I am going to do something a bit different. Instead of using peanut butter & chocolate chips I want to use my Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter instead!
Unknown says
Just wondering if you know how much protein, caleries, etc is in this recipe
plasterer bristol says
This sounds really delcious. Gonna give this recipe a go. Tjhanks for sharing.
Simon
KENTUCKY LADY 717 says
This recipe is different from the one I make….will try your recipe tho…..found this on The Baking Bit blog….have question, why can't you use quick cook oats? What is the difference in them and rolled oats ? Thanks
Mary says
The quick oats won't provide the same texture to the recipe. It will work, but I definitely prefer the old-fashioned oats in this case. I hope that helps!
Juanita Michael says
Looks good
Vilma Duplantier says
hello
when you say 1 cup coconut do you mean the whole coconut or coconut from the can?
Thank you, looks delicious 😉
Mary says
This is sweetened flaked coconut that you would find in the baking aisle. It should come in a bag.
Jenny says
Is there anything you can substitute for the coconut if you’re not a fan of it?
Mary says
You can swap in additional oatmeal for the coconut.
Arlene says
They look delicious! How many fat grams in each bar?
Sandra niven says
These look easy and mighty good.
Linda says
Can you use instant oats or do they have to be rolled oats. This sounds so delicious, just wondering about the consistency of the oats.
Mary says
I think instant oats would work fine. Personally, I prefer the texture of the old-fashioned oats.
Diana says
Umm umm good
Susan behm says
Does the honey make it sweet enought that i Can uses natural peanut butter and unsweetened coconut do you think
Mary says
Between the chocolate and the honey, I think you’d be just fine with unsweetened coconut and natural peanut butter. If you try it, let me know how it turns out for you!
Julie says
I would love to make these but would so like to know how many calories.
Joanne says
Hi, do you have any idea how many calories are in each piece?
Thanks
Jo
Mary says
That is not information that I track. However, there are numerous websites available where you can copy and paste the ingredient list to determine the nutritional information. I hope that helps!
Zsofka says
How can I make this peanut butter? I live in Hungary and here is just salted peanut butter. Could someone give me a recipe? Thank you!
Mary says
You should be able to use salted peanut butter. Our peanut butter is salted as well.
Louise Frazer says
Mary, how many calories please? X