These no bake chocolate peanut butter cookies are an easy snack or dessert. The cookies are just 3 ingredients and don’t require any flour, eggs, added sugar, or butter. They can be made ahead of time and store well.
With summer and vacation over, I’ve been meal planning and prepping and also trying to do the same with snacks. What I love about these chocolate peanut butter no bake cookies is that they store well and taste just as good days after they are made. They are a very easy snack and dessert that my whole family enjoys.
Ingredients
- Peanut Butter
- Dates
- Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Peanut Butter: This recipe is made with unsweetened natural creamy peanut butter. Make sure the only things listed in the ingredient list in your jar of peanut butter are peanuts and salt because some brands of peanut butter will label their peanut butter “natural-style” but it still contains added oils. This recipe will not work with peanut butter that has added oils. Peanut butter can be substituted with natural almond butter or natural sunflower seed butter for a nut-free version.
Dates: This recipe uses Medjool dates because Medjool dates are big and contain a lot of soft flesh, which is what is needed to make a date paste. Dates are used as a natural sweetener for these cookies. They also create the structure and texture for the cookies.
Cocoa Powder: I used Dutch process cocoa powder, though I think it should also work with natural cocoa powder.
How to Make No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
The dates are first blended to form a date paste. The peanut butter and cocoa powder are then mixed in until a thick cookie dough forms. The cookie dough is then shaped into cookies and placed into the fridge until set. The cookies are then ready to eat.
No Bake Cookie Texture
Because these cookies are not baked or cooked, they will not have the same texture as a baked cookie. They are chewy and sweet, with a slightly crumbly texture.
These cookies are not super sweet. Everyone has different levels of sweetness they prefer. If you prefer these cookies to be sweeter, you can reduce the amount of cocoa powder, add more dates or add chocolate chips to the dough.
Recipe Tips
If your dates are dried out or hard, you will want to rehydrate them first. You can soak them in warm water and then pat them dry before using them in the recipe.
These cookies should not be baked – they are meant to be a no bake cookie. If you prefer a baked version, you should try my chocolate peanut butter meltaways.
If you are on keto, you can try my no bake keto chocolate peanut butter cookies.
These cookies store well. Keep them in an airtight container and they will keep at room temperature for a few days. You can also store them in the refrigerator or freezer.
More No Bake Cookie Recipes
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Banana Oatmeal Cookies
- 3 Ingredient Healthy No Bake Cookies
- 3 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies
- Chocolate No Bake Cookies
3 Ingredient No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 packed cup (165 g) pitted Medjool dates
- 1/2 cup (128 g) unsweetened natural peanut butter
- 2 tbsp (14 g) unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder
Instructions
- Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper.
- Add dates to food processor and pulse until a smooth paste forms. You will need to stop a few times and scrape down the sides of your food processor with a spatula to help it mix. If you are using older dates that are a little dry you may need to rehydrate them before using. See notes for more details.
- Add in cocoa powder and peanut butter. Pulse until they are evenly incorporated and blended in, with no cocoa or peanut butter streaks remaining. You will need to scrape the sides of your food processor a few times with a spatula to help the food processor mix. When you are done mixing, your mixture should be the consistency of cookie dough.
- Using a 1 tbsp cookie scoop, scoop out dough. Release onto prepared cookie sheet, spreading 1 inch apart. Repeat with remaining dough.
- Pick up a dough ball and roll between hands to form a round, smooth ball. Place back onto cookie sheet. Lightly press down on the dough ball so that it flattens into a thick disk. Use the back of a fork to make criss-cross pattern across surface of the cookie. Repeat with remaining dough balls.
- Place cookies into the fridge to help them firm up (I usually put them in for about 30 minutes). Store uneaten cookies at room temperature for a few days or longer in the fridge or freezer.
Notes
- You want to use dates that are very soft and moist in order for them to form a smooth date paste. If the dates you are using feel dry or hard you can rehydrate them before using. To do so, soak them in warm water for about 15 minutes. Drain from water, lightly pat dry, and then use.
- Make sure to pit the dates before measuring them.
- I use Double Date Organic Medjool Dates.*
- I used this 1 tbsp cookie scoop.*
- *This product link is an affiliate link. This means I earn a commission from qualifying purchases.
- These cookies are sweet but not super sweet. If you prefer sweeter cookies, you can reduce the amount of cocoa powder (by 1 tbsp), add more dates, or add chocolate chips (if adding chocolate chips, add them at the very end after the dough has formed).
- The cookies do not have the same texture as baked cookies. They are chewy and slightly crumbly.
Nutrition
The nutrition information provided are only estimates based on an online nutritional calculator. I am not a certified nutritionist. Please consult a professional nutritionist or doctor for accurate information and any dietary restrictions and concerns you may have.
These cookies are so so fantastic and I am going to adopt all these precious recipes into my daily breakfast and snacks.You cannot imagine how useful they are to me.Am so much happier to learn these and will put them all into practice because I love cooking my passion.Thank you so much.
We’re so glad you enjoyed them!
Peanut butter with added salt??
100% pure peanut butter is available. I get mine in Aldi.
Yes, most natural peanut butter in a jar has added salt in the ingredients list, but there are others like you mentioned. The salt also helps enhance the flavor of the cookies.
Hi Kirbie, This is a confession not a comment. Your recipe for “Two ingredient, no-bake, peanut butter cookies” sounded delicious! Peanut butter tends to bother my digestion. You had suggested natural almond butter so I bought a jar and a bag of Medjool dates. The cookies never materialized! I’m sorry. Once I’d opened the dates, I tried dipping one into some almond butter in a spoon. It’s a pathetic story after that. I can confess that the combo was scrumptious! The ingredients never quite made it to the desired, circular, cookie shape. Call it hunger or weakness, I’ll know better than to open either ingredient unless I’m going to mix them up and complete your recipe! Very Tasty!
Well, we’re glad you enjoyed your creation! We hope you try them in cookie form next 🙂
Are they soft and chewy? That’s the only way my family likes cookies soft and chewy
They are chewy with a slightly crumbly texture.
Worked great for my dad and grandchildren. Fun to make and eat. Bless you.
We’re so glad your family enjoyed the cookies!
Thank you for the awesome recipe they are amazing and easy for the kids to make ??
You’re welcome!
Superb
Thank you!
Love the sound of these cookies, but you didn’t specify whether they are made with fresh dates or dried ones. 🙂
The recipe uses fresh medjool dates. These are usually sold as fresh– I haven’t seen them sold as dried. However, you may think they are dried because of their wrinkly brown skin but the label should say “fresh Medjool dates” on the packaging
Thank you, Kirbie. Made for cookie monster hubby. I got to try ONE then turned round and they were all gone. I’m told I “need more practice” (this is one of his greatest compliments!)
We’re glad he loved them!
My husband saw this recipe online, and I just made it for our vegan, pregnant daughter. These cookies are SO good. Really easy and fast to make, and they taste great. I really like that they are not too sweet. Thank you for a wonderful recipe. I’m already thinking I need to make another batch tomorrow!
I’m so glad she enjoyed them!
VERY GOOD
I’m glad you liked them!
To bake not NO bake check your headline lol
I’m not sure I understand what you are saying. These are no bake cookies.
Looks good. Will try it out.
We hope you enjoy them!
I guess ur recipes r so simple especially the no bake cookies.. Incredibly easy… Yet so awesome ?? ? ?
I would like stove top recipes as i don’t hve. An oven. also Eggless yet simple ???
Do you have any cake or sponge recipes, large or small please?
We have lots of Cake Recipes you might like!