These healthy no bake triple peanut butter bars are the perfect treat or dessert for any peanut butter lover out there- This recipe comes with two versions, both gluten free and one is vegan- Quick, easy and ready in under 20 minutes!
Peanut Butter lovers- This one is for you.
Alexis. This one is for you.
I actually had different content planned for this particular post. I spent the hours I was awake on my flight from Los Angeles to New York giggling to myself as I wrote a letter to Alexis’ parents. However, after an epic phone chat/preach session/motivational speech/comparison of accents- I wiped the original script and share with you this one today.
The blogging world is a funny one. When I first started out, I was in love with it for different reasons that I am today.
When I first started out, I was in love with the community aspect of it. The initial conversations you’d have with other bloggers more often than not ends in friendships. It felt weird admitting to myself that some of these people I’d never ever met face to face knew me better than some of my ‘in life’ friends.
Over time, I’ve noticed (and I know I’m not alone in this) that this ‘blogging community’ has it’s caveats which gets thrown in your direction with little notice. The longer I’ve blogged, the more apparent this has become. Those who were once with you at the beginning are like complete strangers, and you’d always be second guessing yourself before communicating with them again.
As sad as it is to look back over this, it’s a sad reality myself (and others) have had to face.
The last few months have been a huge learning curve for me in terms of myself as a blogger and my future endeavours. I’ve had to question many things and start looking at it in a different light, while staying true to my same beliefs and character. Speaking with Alexis put many things in perspective for me both as a person, a blogger and even a businessman.
No witty, quirky or humorous post in her honour today, but a genuine one from the heart.
Alexis, thank you for being the coconut palm sugar in a pool sprinkled with splenda.
***
So a confession as to this recipe in her honour- I made it twice and the first one we can dub…the visually unfortunate (yet delicious) no bake triple peanut butter bars. When I texted Alexis a picture of it, I was hoping she wouldn’t lose her appetite. Then again, she’s not one to ever lose her appetite so there.
I made it a second time to see if I could successfully vegan-ise it and it actually turned out way better looking than the original using packaged cookies. Win. Win. Kale. Kale. Hummus.
These Healthy No Bake Triple Peanut Butter Bars are so easy to whip up and are the perfect snack between meals or post dinner treat. The base uses mixture of peanut butter cookies, peanut butter, a tiny bit of crispy cereal of choice and a teeny bit of flour to help bind it all. The topping can be made two ways- Either melted peanut butter frosting or the cheat’s way of melted peanut butter chips.
For those whom are strictly vegan, instead of packaged peanut butter cookies, I made my grain free customisable cookies but subbed peanut butter for the cashew butter. These bars have a base like peanut butter fudge and while delicious at room temperature, are even better when refrigerated and thawed ever so slightly. Chewy, fudgy and full of peanut buttery goodness- You’re lucky it takes less than 20 minutes to whip up!
Make these healthy No Bake Triple Peanut Butter Bars and die a little inside knowing that it will be a whole year until you get the original post for today.
Happy Birthday Alexis.
Healthy No Bake Triple Peanut Butter Bars
Ingredients
For the peanut butter fudge base
- 1 cup crushed peanut butter cookies measured after crushing
- 1/4 cup crispy rice cereal of choice
- 1 cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoon gluten free flour of choice
- 3/4 cup gluten free oat bran
- 1/4 – 1 cup dairy free milk of choice I used blue diamond almond breeze*
For the frosting
- 1 package of peanut butter chips I used Trader Joe’s**
Instructions
- Line a 9 x 9 baking tray with parchment paper/cookie sheet and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the crushed peanut butter cookies, crispy rice cereal, gluten free flour, gluten free oat bran and mix very well. Set aside.
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt the peanut butter. Pour the peanut butter over the dry mixture and mix very well until fully incorporated.
- If the mixture is crumbly, using a tablespoon at a time, add the milk of choice until a firm batter is formed. Once it is, pour batter in the lined baking tray. Set aside to cool (you can put it in the freezer if you wish)
- Melt the peanut butter chips or make the vegan frosting linked below and top the peanut butter fudge base completely. Refrigerate or freeze immediately until firm. Once firm, cut into bars and enjoy!
Notes
** Please see link below for the vegan peanut butter frosting I tried successfully
Vegan peanut butter frosting available here. I used 1 1/2 tablespoons of this flour.
Want more No Bake Bar recipes with a healthy twist? Check these out!
Cashew Coconut Protein Fudge (Paleo, Vegan, Gluten Free)
Healthy Copycat Lindt Truffles (Gluten Free, Vegan)
Paleo No Bake SunButter Bars (Paleo, Vegan, Gluten Free)
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. I may earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any products or services from this website.
I love desserts made with almond milk! Scratch that…I love when professionals like you create recipes with almond milk so I know it’s going to be good. Sometimes I replace things with almond milk and it doesn’t turn out well at all lol. I’m ALL about the PB. I’ve tried other nut butters and nothing compares, in my humble opinion. The blog world is weird, isn’t it? It’s like I have this whole other life online with friends who actually have the same passions as I do haha. What’s not to love? Oh yeah, the kind of stuff you post about on Man Sass Mondays. Those things drive me up a wall. But other than that the blogging world is the bomb 🙂
naw you called me a professional…your so epic.
When we hang out, you’re going to pen a post about how you met God. :p
What a nice birthday surprise for Alexis, who by the way, I just found out I will be meeting this summer at the wild blueberry event in Maine! This recipe looks amazing. I have been salivating the whole time I was reading your post. looks just like PB fudge, which I absolutely love. Saving this recipe and making soon. Just one thing – the link to the frosting is going to your home page – can you update? 🙂
Oh wow! Please throw blueberries at her, she’s a gem! Oh wow, thanks so much for clearing that up- Will change it asap!
OH MY GOD.
OH MY GOD.
OH MY GOD.
I want these so bad but I’m lazy and probably ever won’t make them. Will you please make them for me when I come to NYC???
YES. If you come. I will even make you a peanut butter body rub.
…ew.
These look and sound amazing! I’m sure they taste delicious being gluten free and/or vegan!
Thanks so much, Kristy 🙂
seriously drooling AGAIN AS ALWAYS from your recipes!!!!!!
🙂 Waiting for you and the little one in NYC!
Of course I love this recipe 🙂 The more peanut butter the better! I have definitely formed some real blog friendships, even though a few of them are with people I still haven’t met! And yes, I consider them as close to me as my “real’ friends, if not closer sometimes!
ALL the peanut butter! Same- Two of my best friends are bloggers! 🙂
OH my god I am drooling over these! I can’t wait to try them. You are brilliant.
Please do, Danielle! Thanks 🙂
can you please show the one that failed visually? we need a failed recipe picture link up party! LOL!
YES. Remind me on FB i will it’s so bad!
I want to smear these on your face…!!! And lick it off? OKKKKKKAY um… LMFAO!
Please do…only you though 😉
ALL THE PEANUT BUTTER.
It’s weird to think of how much the blogging world has changed – I’ve been at it for almost 3 years now, so I’ve seen some different aspects and phases. As for friendships made on the internets – some of fizzled, some have been strong for years.
Also, my birthday is in October. If you want to send me a batch of these that’s cool 😉
YES. It really is- Lucky there are some gems and mug cakes which look like……
I DON’T HAVE A WHOLE 20 MINUTES TO WAIT FOR NUT BUTTER TO ENTER MY STOMACH I JUST DON’T!
I actually feel like I’m intruding on a personal letter by commenting on this personal and emotional post, but I just wanted to add that this was just too lovely! Hummusapiaen is one lucky gal. Getting a post dedication and being made of hummus.
Thanks Eva- Appreciate it! 🙂
What you talk about here makes me look forward to my future in blogging! 🙂 and these look killer. Thanks for sharing, I can’t wait to try them!
🙂 Any advice, you’re more than welcome to shoot me an email Ariel 🙂
How come you didn’t put chickpeas in these? Come on, Arman, THAT would have been a true tribute to Alexis. 😉 Kidding–these look fabulous and like the perfect birthday treat.
Hahahahaha. Touche.
But….she is the human chickpea so she may bite herself 😉
I guess I started and continue to blog because I like to get my thoughts out there and the community is great. I’m not as involved to know if people have changed, but you’re right, I’ve met some pretty great people. Alexis must be a really special person to get TRIPLE peanut butter bars!
She is amazing 🙂
These look amazing! What kind of peanut butter cookies did you use for the crust? Thanks!
Hi Kate! I used my own flourless peanut butter ones and also tried a version with Udi’s soft peanut butter coconut cookies 🙂