Cookie dough crunch bars are no bake, high in protein and a combination healthy candy bar and homemade protein bar. Only 4 ingredients, gluten-free, dairy free, made in minutes.
These cookie dough crunch bars have the flavor of classic cookie dough and the chocolate crunch flavor of Nestle's crunch bar. No need for baking. These bars combine a creamy, peanut-butter-based cookie dough layer with a crunchy chocolate coating made from puffed rice or quinoa.
They’re naturally dairy-free, vegan, and gluten-free, making them suitable for a variety of diets. The combination of protein, fiber, and healthy fats also makes them a more balanced option than typical candy bars.
Best of all, it’s quick and simple to make, with minimal cleanup. If you’ve ever wanted a treat that feels indulgent but isn’t loaded with refined sugars or oils and is naturally vegan, dairy free and gluten free, this is it!
👉 Similar no-bake desserts: Oreo Brownie Balls • Cocoa Date Balls • Cosmic Brownie Bites • No Bake Chocolate Brownies • Sweet Potato Brownie Balls
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💡6 Reasons to Love Crunch Bars
- Only 4 wholesome ingredients
- Crunchy chocolate candy bar coating
- Naturally gluten free, vegan, and refined sugar-free
- High in protein chocolate treat
- Easy to mix in one bowl
- Ready in under 15 minutes
- Kid-friendly, lunchbox friendly
Ingredients
- Almond flour (buttery flavor; oat flour works too)
- Peanut butter (cashew or almond butter for less peanut flavor)
- Maple syrup (or agave, honey if not vegan, or date paste)
- Chocolate chips (1 cup to melt, ½ cup to mix in)
- Puffed rice or puffed quinoa
See the recipe card at the bottom for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Steps to Make Cookie Dough Crunch Bars
For more detail, visit the complete and printable recipe at the bottom of this post, but here are general steps.
Step 1: Mix almond flour, peanut butter, and maple syrup in a bowl until dough forms.
Step 2: Fold in ½ cup chocolate chips.
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Step 3: Press mixture evenly into a parchment-lined loaf pan.
Step 4: Freeze for 5 minutes, or until firm enough to cut cleanly. Slice into 5 bars.
Step 5: Slice into 5 bars. Microwave 1 cup chocolate chips until melted. Stir puffed quinoa or puffed rice into melted chocolate. Dip each bar into the chocolate coating. Place on parchment and let set.
Pro tip: Use puffed rice or popped or toasted quinoa - if using the popped quinoa, the kernels are crunchier than puffed rice, and the protein will be 19 grams per bar.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Up to 1 week in an airtight container.
- Freezer: Up to 3 months; thaw 5–10 minutes before serving.
Recipe Tips
- Use creamy peanut butter for best texture; avoid dry or natural butters that separate.
- If dough feels too dry, add a splash of plant milk.
- For extra crunch, sprinkle puffed rice on top before chocolate sets.
- Either buy puffed/popped quinoa or make it. To make it, dry pan fry it - here is my post with steps.
FAQS
Yes, use sunflower seed butter or tahini instead of peanut butter.
Semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips melt smoothly and balance the sweetness.
No, puffed quinoa works the same way and adds extra crunch.
More Healthy Barks
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📖 Recipe
Cookie Dough Crunch Bars (no bake, high protein)
Ingredients
for cookie dough bar
- 1 cup almond flour
- ½ cup peanut butter or cashew/almond butter
- ⅓ cup maple syrup or other liquid sweetener
- ¼ cup chocolate chips, whole
for crunch chocolate coating
- 1 cups chocolate chips, melted
- ¾ cup puffed rice or puffed quinoa
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Instructions
- In a bowl, stir together almond flour, peanut butter, and maple syrup until dough forms.1 cup almond flour, ½ cup peanut butter, ⅓ cup maple syrup
- Fold in ½ cup chocolate chips.¼ cup chocolate chips, whole
- Press dough into a parchment-lined loaf pan.
- Freeze 5 minutes or until firm.
- Cut into 5 bars.
- Melt 1 cup chocolate chips in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring until smooth.1 cups chocolate chips, melted
- Stir in puffed rice.¾ cup puffed rice or puffed quinoa
- Dip each bar into the chocolate mixture and place on parchment.
- Let set, then refrigerate until serving.
Dee Dine says
Cookie dough crunch bars are made in one bowl, no bake and high in protein.