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No Bake Gluten Free Peanut Butter Fruit & Nut Cookies (V, GF, DF): an easy, one bowl recipe for no bake peanut butter cookies bursting with dried fruits and nuts! Protein-Packed, Vegan, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free.
Good morning! 🙂 I just literally wrote “Happy Monday,” then crossed it out because apparently reading such a thing (make that an allegedly false thing) makes certain folks even grumpier. Let’s just say I may or may not have friends who have a bad case of the Mondays.
O-kaaaay… I might be part of that group, too. Let’s be honest.
So what’s a gal to do when those Mondays just keep, er, coming? Well, COOKIES!! Make that No Bake Gluten Free Peanut Butter Fruit & Nut Cookies. Take that, Monday! Take that, sir! Ya know, my case of the Mondays really isn’t even that bad this week. And I have PB2 to thank for that.
Before I get all rambly, as is my M.O., I’d like to dedicate these peanut butter cookies to PB2. Because, ya know… peanut butter!!
In case you missed it, in my last post, I mentioned a new addition to our family—wait, before you get too excited, it’s not Erik and mine’s, it’s my sister Jenny’s! Can you imagine me being pregnant and not even saying one word to you guys and just popping the sucker out?
Okay, don’t tell Jenny I called a baby a “sucker.”
So if you’ve been following along with BB for awhile, you know about PB. PB is the nickname for my recently turned four-year-old nephew Dylan. He’s the pride and joy of our entire family, and a delightfully sassy little sir. He’s basically a fast-moving ball of energy that’s always bouncing off the walls, calling people funny names (like Mr. Tooty) and just growing up so fast.
He’s the first grandchild in the family, first little nephew for all of us aunties, and has basically opened all of our eyes to how important it is to make time to slow down, live life and make time for hugs (my fave, of course). Here’s a little more about him in this post, this one and this one.
So a few months into Jenny getting pregnant, he started calling the baby PB2. We’ve all had a little laugh over that one… but all jokes aside, once the baby came out, I may or may not have accidentally called him “PB” once or twice…
Anyway, recently, we were SO excited to welcome PB2 aka/real name: Kai to the world. Isn’t his name amazing? It’s so beautiful and unique. I mentioned this in the other post, but, while Erik and I were frantically finishing up work so we could go see Kai, his dad sent a pic over. And I just started bawling. Like a baby.
I know, how appropriate. 😉
Erik teared up big time. Like red eyes and everything. It’s just so crazy to think that this time, just four years ago, Kai’s big bro came into the world, completely changing our lives. And now that PB2 is out, and looking exactly like his brother did as a wee one, I can’t help but reflect.
Like, where were we 4 years go? How did we feel about everything? Where were we in our careers, our relationships, our whole life-progess chart? Intense, I know. But I’m pleased to report that things are so much better.
When PB was born, we’d just starting recovering from family tragedy and plenty of heartbreak. It was like PB came into this world as a beacon of hope, a signal that everything would change, for the better. And thank goodness, it DID. Dylan made us laugh again, smile again, feel light again.
And now that PB2 aka Kai is here, we can’t wait to show him this bright new world. There will be so many firsts, so many new, fun embarrassing stories to share (you can’t wait, I’m sure), so much joy.
So will you join me in welcoming Kai? 🙂 I hereby dedicated these No Bake Gluten Free Peanut Butter Fruit & Nut Cookies to PB2. We love you, little sir.
Now let’s talk about the recipe! These no bake delights are one of my current biggest faves! Erik’s already talking about making batch after batch. You know, recently, he’s really gotten into making my recipes. He gets a bit nervous operating the kitchen equipment (think: whisk and spatula lol), and is super careful about measuring out every ingredient.
Once he’s done, he’s like a proud child! Chest puffed up, biggest smile you’ve ever seen on his face. Glowing like the sun, I like to say. And when I bite into that cookie/muffin/bar and grin, he jumps up and down and wiggles his eyebrows like, see!!! I knew I could do it!! And I’m like, of course you can!!!
Anywho, back to the recipe (darn it, maybe I do have a case of the Mondays… or just a regular and consistent inability to focus on one subject lol). These cookies are soft, chewy, deliciously textured and packed FULL of your favorites: peanut butter, oats, dried cranberries, raisins, almonds and more. Oh, and while I’m on the subject of totally delish cookies, you’ve got to check out my friend Maya’s gluten-free shortbread cookies on her amazing blog, Wholesome Yum. Just remember to use vegan butter or coconut oil to make them vegan & dairy-free. 😉
Aaaaand… there I go again with my tangents! Blushing over here… Back to these fab cookies. They’re SO easy to make. No baking, no heating, no cooling required! Okay, there’s a little freezing. D’oh! They come together pretty quickly. And once you’re done, you’ll be very pleased with yourself. Kind of like Erik, I like to think. 😉
Here are a few highlights, just in case. These No Bake Gluten Free Peanut Butter Fruit & Nut Cookies are:
- made in just one bowl
- wonderfully soft and chewy
- vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free
- bursting with delicious dried fruit
- packed with nuts
- awesomely protein-packed
- made with the simple, healthy, whole ingredients you love
- plant-based and allergy-friendly
- whole grain and refined-sugar free
- super easy to customize with your favorites
- perfect as on-the-go healthy snacks
- great for a post-workout energy boost
- amazing as a guilt-free dessert
- dedicated to a super special little guy, PB2
Grab a bowl and your favorite fruits and nuts (or follow the recipe, whatever floats your boat) and meet me in the kitchen! It’s high-time we get our no-bake on! It’s truly such a pleasure to make these homemade bites of delight with you. I seriously can’t wait to hear what you think of this recipe. In the mean time, tell me:
What no bake cookies would you like to see me make next?
Sending you all my love and maybe even a dove, xo Demeter ❤️
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No Bake Gluten Free Peanut Butter Fruit & Nut Cookies (GF, Vegan, Dairy-Free, One Bowl)
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- ¾ cup gluten free rolled oats
- ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- ¼ cup sliced almonds
- ¼ cup peanuts, chopped
- ¼ cup dried cranberries, chopped
- ¼ cup raisins
Wet Ingredients
- ¾ cup natural, unsalted creamy peanut butter
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
Optional
- 2 tablespoons raisins & chopped cranberries
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, stir together the dry ingredients: oats, coconut, almonds, peanuts, cranberries and raisins. Stir until well mixed.
- Add peanut butter and maple syrup. Stir and fold until thoroughly combined and thickened, like cookie dough.
- Using a 2-tablespoon cookie scoop, scoop and drop balls of cookie dough onto the prepared baking sheet, evenly spaced apart. Using a fork, flatten cookies to desired thickness. Optionally, press raisins and cranberries into the tops of each cookie.
- Chill in the freezer for 10-20 mins, until firm. Enjoy! Storing instructions below.
Notes
- Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator or at room temperature for up to 1 month.
- Freezer instructions: store in an airtight, freezer-friendly container in the freezer for 1-2 months. Allow to thaw for 5 minutes before enjoying.
- More Cookie recipes (all v, gf, df): no bake peanut butter coconut oatmeal cookies, trail mix cookies, double chocolate chip oatmeal cookies.
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If you enjoyed this No Bake Gluten Free Peanut Butter Fruit & Nut Cookies recipe, then you’ll just love these plant-based, allergy-friendly recipes:
☀︎ More Gluten Free Vegan Protein-Packed No Bake Cookies & Bites Recipes
4 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Cookie Energy Bars (Vegan, GF, DF) | 4 Ingredient No Bake Peanut Butter Coconut Energy Bites (V, Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free) | Easy Oatmeal Raisin Cookies (V, GF, Flourless, Whole Grain) | No Bake Almond Joy Bites (Vegan, GF, Dairy-Free) | No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, GF) | Gluten Free No Bake Brownie Energy Bites | and just for fun… Gluten Free Maple Pecan Pumpkin Muffins! 😉
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Easy and delicious! Will make these often.
The two best words when it comes to healthy snacking! 😉 So glad to hear you liked these, Gloria. Enjoy!
You could hear the brain screaming “WAIT, IT SAYS NO BAKE…… GO BACK ,” lol. Ahhh I love no bake. Love it , Love it ,Love it! Thank you for sharing , can’t wait to make these today.
That’s awesome!! Haha. No bake ALWAYS stops me and my family in our tracks (mostly because we’re way too hungry all the time haha). Thanks for stopping by! Can’t wait to hear what you think. 🙂
Had a chuckle at reading a recipe and then seeing your nephew’s name is Kai. In Maori the word kai means food. It’s quite common for kiwis (both Maori and Pakeha which is the word for non Maori kiwis) to say they are grabbing some kai, or popping out for some kai. So you can give Kai some of your kai when he’s old enough. Am off to try some of your awesome looking recipes now … DD15 is home sick from school and spotted the 4 ing. PB bars so into the kitchen I go to bring a smile to her face.
Lol! Thanks for sharing that bit of information, Lisa! I’ve got to tell my sister–she (and I, and honestly my entire family) are HUGE lovers of food. So maybe it was a subconscious name choice. Haha. I hope that your DD feels better and really enjoys the 4 ingredient PB bars. 🙂 Now I’m off to tell my sister that for dinner, she can give some kai to her Kai. 😉
pb2 is adorable! and these cookies look amazing
Aw thanks Patrick! 🙂
Hello from Providence (the geographical location not the concept), Your posts are always a joy to read, you weave the light and dark strands of your life so deftly together. Thank you. I may have teared up at the sight of that freshly born perfect little baby Kai.
Nicole and I over at Yumsome have an ongoing schtick that we need to get our hubbies together and film them trying to cook from out recipes, while we drink wine and goad/cheer them on. You want in? Lol. -Hanne
Aw, thanks so much, Hanne! It’s always a joy to hear from you. I love how you phrased that: “you weave the light and dark strands of your life so deftly together.” You seriously have such a way with words. 🙂 Isn’t Kai so precious? <3 LOL on your idea!! What a ball that would be! xo