These little bites of gooey, buttery goodness are to die for. I am not kidding when I say these might be the most addictive snack on my blog (so far;). These no-bake peanut butter turtle cookies are the perfect sweet treat to satisfy your sweet tooth but also provide nourishing ingredients for your body. These no-bake cookies are made with unrefined sugar and healthy nut butter, resulting in the most perfect texture.
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Why “turtle” cookies?
Well, traditional turtle cookies are some shortbread or chocolate dough for their base. Then they are drizzled with caramel and fudge and topped with a pecan half to represent the turtle. But these no-bake peanut butter turtle cookies are a spin-off of the original. It uses peanut butter as the flavor (there is no better choice) and makes a peanut butter caramel using unrefined sugar (pure maple syrup). It replaces the pecan with a date half, filled with chocolate chips (instead of fudge), to give these no-bake cookies an extra chew and flavor factor. The Medjool dates are completely optional, but they make the cookies look so precious and provide extra satisfaction.
What makes these no-bake cookies so easy to make?
Well, to begin with, they are no-bake. Meaning the only inconvenience you have when making this recipe is being patient enough for the cookies to harden in the fridge. The mixture of peanut butter, coconut oil, and maple syrup is heated in a small pot until medium, creating an ooey caramel of goodness. It is then mixed with the oat mixture, and after assembly and refrigeration time, voila. You are left with the easiest, most perfect, and most healthy dessert to serve or snack on throughout your day. If you are looking for another no bake recipe, try my nut-free larabars, or no-bake oatmeal chocolate chip protein bars!
What substitutions can be made?
For starters, this recipe can be made gluten free, nut free, and it is naturally vegan! Our ingredient list is super versatile, and these are the swaps I recommend to cater this recipe to YOU.
If you want a gluten-free recipe, replace…
- Rolled oats for certified gluten-free oats
If you want a nut-free recipe, replace…
- Peanut butter for sunflower seed butter
Not a fan of dates?
- Be traditional and use a pecan half! Otherwise, omit completely, and just top with chocolate chips! That’s what I do for some of my family members who arent huge date fans;)
No-Bake Peanut Butter Turtle Cookies
Ingredients
- ½ cup peanut butter can sub a nut-free butter!
- ¼ cup refined coconut oil
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup old-fashioned rolled oats can sub GF!
- 5 Medjool dates optional, but recommended for the "turtle" look!
- ¼ cup chocolate chips to fill the dates with;)
Instructions
- Over a medium pot, mix together the peanut butter, coconut oil, and maple syrup. Once it starts bubbling for about 30 seconds, remove it from the heat. Make sure to be whisking constantly as it gets closer to the boiling point.
- Next, whisk in the vanilla extract into the peanut butter mixture.
- Finally, add the oats right into the pot (off of heat still) and fully combine the oats with the peanut butter carmel.
- Scoop the mixture into about 10 cookies with a cookie scooper on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Now the best part,, the decoration! Make these no-bake peanut butter cookies "turtle" cookies by adding a juicy date half and filling the crevasses with a few chocolate chips. Move fast, as the cookies will begin to set up as they cool.
- Place the cookies in the refrigerator for about 2 hours, or until set.*
- Enjoy, and serve! These should be stored in the refrigerator. These will last for about 1 week, stored in an airtight container.
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