This internet famous healthy treat defies all logic! One glance at the ingredient list and you think “no way can this really taste like cookie dough”. The main ingredient is chickpeas?! I had to check it out for myself. The results: an unbelievably addictive “cookie dough” that is as guilt free as it is delicious! There are MANY renditions of this healthy no-bake cookie dough online…thousands of people can’t be wrong! My inspiration came from Chocolate Covered Katie. Our variation of healthy cookie dough has been my go-to for several years! I have made this dozens of times for our family and sold countless orders when I had my meal prep business. Every batch of Healthy No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is as scrumptious as the last!
What makes this Cookie Dough Healthy?
As with all of The Special Belly’s recipes, this cookie dough is grain-free and sugar-free. It contains a fair amount of fiber and protein from the chickpeas and peanut butter. We also use natural liquid sweetener: honey or maple syrup (preferred for their health benefits) or agave. While sugar is sugar and should be consumed in moderation, honey and maple syrup do have some advantages over other more processed sugars.
Honey: has a slightly lower glycemic index and contains more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, such as calcium, potassium, vitamin C, zinc, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. It also contains bioactive substances that promote its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.
Maple Syrup: does not contain any additives, and the processing allows it to retain its nutrients, including manganese, riboflavin, zinc, magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Maple syrup is rich in antioxidants and also has anti-inflammatory and prebiotic activity, so it helps support gut health and may guard against various illnesses.
How to eat No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
My favorite way to eat this treat is simply with a spoon! Who doesn’t just love eating cookie dough with a spoon?! And actually, my personal preference is to leave out the chocolate chips entirely. The ‘dough’ part itself is just that good! If it’s a dip you’re looking for, try fresh fruit like apples or grain-free cookie thins.
This No-Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is made with a secret ingredient that actually makes it as healthy as it is addictive! One taste and you’ll see why this will be your new favorite treat.
Ingredients
Scale
1 can cooked chickpeas
1/4 cup peanut butter
3 (or more) Tbsp liquid sweetener like honey, maple syrup or agave
2 tsp vanilla
1/8 tsp baking soda
1/8 tsp salt
1/3 cup chocolate chips
1–2 Tbsp milk of choice (only if needed to thin out the dough)
Instructions
Drain and rinse canned chickpeas VERY well.
Place all ingredients into a food processor and mix. This will take a couple minutes. Scrape down the sides and continue to process until the dough is SUPER smooth. As you are processing, taste and adjust for sweetness. 3 Tbsp is perfect for me, but everyone’s taste is different. If the dough is too thick, add milk of choice 1 TBSP AT A TIME!
Once a silky-smooth dough is formed, pulse in the chocolate chips if using.
Refrigerate for 1-2 hours. The dough tastes great right away but gets EVEN BETTER as it sits and cools down.
Notes
For an SCD legal version, use white beans instead of chickpeas and honey. Omit the chocolate chips. White beans make a slightly thinner dough, but still tastes great!
Feel free to sub any nut butter of choice for the peanut butter. I’ve tried cashew and almond butters. Both are delicious but we and others seem to enjoy the peanut butter version the most!
