raving a sweet treat without the refined sugar? You’re in the right place. While most no-bake cookie recipes rely on sugar to get that classic sweet flavor and texture, it’s entirely possible to make a delicious batch without it. The secret lies in using natural, whole-food ingredients that provide sweetness and bind the cookies together just as well.

This guide will show you how to make a truly healthy, guilt-free version of your favorite no-bake cookies using ingredients like ripe banana and dates.

Table of Contents

The Recipe: Healthy No-Bake Banana Cookies

This recipe is simple, delicious, and completely free of refined sugar. The ripe banana adds natural sweetness and moisture, resulting in a soft and chewy cookie.

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 5 minutes
Chilling Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yields: 18 cookies

Ingredients

½ cup creamy, natural peanut butter (no added sugar)
1 large, very ripe mashed banana
¼ cup coconut oil
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
¼ teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 ½ cups quick-cooking oats
¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut

A close-up shot of no-bake peanut butter banana oatmeal bites topped with shredded coconut.

Instructions

Prepare the Pan: Line a cookie sheet with waxed paper and set it aside.
Melt the Wet Ingredients: In a saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the peanut butter, mashed banana, salt, and coconut oil. Stir continuously until everything is melted and completely smooth.
Add Flavor: Remove the saucepan from the heat and stir in the vanilla and unsweetened cocoa powder. Mix until it’s smooth and has a beautiful, rich color.
Add Dry Ingredients: Add the quick-cooking oats and shredded coconut. Stir until everything is thoroughly coated in the chocolate mixture.
Portion and Chill: Using a 1 tablespoon measuring spoon or a cookie scoop, portion out the cookies and place them onto your prepared baking sheet. Place the sheet in the refrigerator or freezer for about 20 minutes, or until the cookies are firm.

Natural Sweeteners The key to a successful sugar-free no-bake cookie is using a natural sweetener that also provides moisture. A very ripe, mashed banana is an excellent choice as it’s sweet and helps bind the oats. You can also use dates by soaking and blending them into a smooth paste. These options give you a delicious cookie without any refined sugar.

Important Note on Texture Because you’re not using honey or maple syrup, the texture of these cookies will be slightly softer and more cake-like. Be sure to use a very ripe banana to get the most sweetness and to help with the binding process.

Add-Ins To boost the flavor without adding sugar, consider stirring in a handful of unsweetened add-ins like chopped nuts, chia seeds, or a pinch of cinnamon. You can also use different unsweetened nut butters, like almond or cashew, to change the flavor profile.

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