Meet your new favorite no-bake dessert! These easy no-bake cookies with dark chocolate, toasted almonds, and dried cranberries, have a secret oh-so-healthy ingredient.
Owen turned 5 years old last week. For practically my whole life, I’ve looked forward to being a mom and bringing in treats for my kid’s class at school. I remember frosting a million cupcakes with my mom the night before my birthday, and then loading them into my dad’s cardboard shirt boxes, praying they wouldn’t get smashed in transit. I was always so proud to help my teacher pass them out at snack time.
Of course, these days it’s not that easy. Because of food allergies, Owen’s elementary school doesn’t allow any food on birthdays at all. Instead, parents are invited to come in and read a book to the class. Which I did, and it was very sweet and fun. But… no cupcakes?
No Cookies and Cream Oatmeal Cookies?
No Healthier Granola Blondies with Chocolate Chunks?
No Chunky Chocolate Peanut Butter Blossom Bars?
I totally understand, and I feel very lucky to have two kids with no food issues, but still. I was a little disappointed.
These No-Bake Cookies with Dark Chocolate, Almond Butter and Sea Salt are just the sort of easy, healthy, kid-approved treat I would have loved to make for Owen’s class. Oh well. I guess that just means more for us! And trust me, Alex and I have devoured most of these on our own, no problem.
Would you believe these no-bake cookies are made with just six basic ingredients? I bet you have them all in your kitchen right now:
Dark chocolate chips
Almond butter
Toasted slivered almonds
High fiber bran cereal
Dried cranberries
Flaky sea salt
Did you catch that super healthy ingredient I snuck in there? That’s right, these cookies are made with high fiber bran cereal. I used Nature’s Path Organic Smart Bran, which I found at Whole Foods, but Fiber One is a great choice too.
I get it. You’re skeptical. I was too. But trust me, these cookies are SO FREAKING DELICIOUS. They are crispy and crunchy, super chocolaty, chewy from the cranberries, and topped with a little sprinkle of flaky salt. In other words, they hit all the major dessert notes.
Plus, can I just reiterate again that they are NO-BAKE? They literally take 10 minutes to make and will keep perfectly for a couple of weeks in the fridge, so they are also a great make ahead option.
I’m planning to make them again soon and top them with holiday sprinkles. You know… for the kids 😉
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No-Bake Cookies with Dark Chocolate, Almond Butter and Sea Salt
These easy no-bake cookies are made with just six basic ingredients! High fiber bran cereal is the secret, healthy ingredient.
Ingredients
- 10 ounces dark chocolate chips (one package)
- 1/3 cup almond butter
- 2 cups high fiber bran cereal like Nature's Path Organic Smart Bran or Fiber One
- 1 cup slivered almonds, toasted
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- flaky sea salt
Instructions
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Divide 14 paper liners between two muffin pans.
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Melt the chocolate in a large heat-proof bowl set over a pan of simmering water (alternatively, melt in 30 second bursts in the microwave). Stir in the almond butter until smooth. Stir in the cereal, almonds, and cranberries.
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Divide the mixture between the muffin cups. Sprinkle with a little bit of salt. Transfer to the refrigerator and chill until set. Remove the cookies from the paper liners and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to two weeks.