No-Bake Energy Cookies

5 from 1 vote

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These no-bake energy cookies are easy to make in a food processor with simple, wholesome ingredients and can easily be customized to your preference or whatever you have on hand.

Stack of 5 no-bake cookies made with dates, nuts and seeds.

Ingredient Notes

I went with calling these energy cookies because I couldn’t really think of what else to call them, there’s just so much good stuff in them. I think they deserve the title though.Here’s what we got:

  1. Dates. Dates are my go-to natural sweetener because in that package of sweetness also comes minerals, vitamins and fibre. Plus they taste like caramel, so bonus.
  2. Pepitas (raw pumpkin seeds). Pumpkin seeds are one of my favourite seeds for their high zinc content.
  3. Walnuts. Walnuts blend beautifully adding a creamy texture to these cookies and they’re a good source of omega-3 essential fatty acids.
  4. Toasted Millet. The toasted millet in these is optional but it adds a unique texture and crunch to the cookies that’s kinda fun! To toast millet, just add it to a skillet and heat over medium-high heat while stirring until it starts to pop and turn brown. Millet is a gluten-free grain that’s a good source of magnesium, calcium, manganese, phosphorus, fibre and B vitamins. You can substitute toasted quinoa if you like, they have a similar flavour, texture and nutritional profile.
  5. Hemp Seeds. Hemp seeds are a great source of vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, iron and magnesium. They also add some protein to the cookies. I include them in my diet daily.
  6. Sesame Seeds and Tahini. I love sesame seeds for their calcium content and the tahini (sesame seed paste) adds creaminess, flavour and helps hold everything together.

This list is not complete. Please see the recipe card at the end of the post for the complete ingredient list with measurements and detailed instructions.

To make these cookies, just add all of the ingredients to a food processor and blend until you have a thick dough. If you’re adding the toasted millet I would recommend leaving it out until the end and just pulsing it in though.

Vegan Gluten-Free No-Bake Cookies with Walnuts and Dates - Running on Real Food

Once the dough is ready, roll it into equal sized balls then shape the balls into cookies, if desired, or you can just leave them as ball shapes. You can also make energy bars by pressing the dough into a parchment paper-lined baking pan, freezing then lifting out and cutting into bars.

Vegan No-Bake Cookies with Superfood Ingredient - Running on Real Food

Customize Your Cookies

In total I used 2 cups of nuts and seeds plus the optional 1/2 cup of toasted millet. You can mix and match any nuts and seeds up to 2 cups, choosing from:

  • Seeds: chia, hemp, sunflower, pumpkin and sesame. 
  • Nuts: walnuts, cashews, almonds, pecans and hazelnuts.

I wouldn’t recommend ground flax as it’s a bit too dry for these. The tahini can be substituted for sunflower seed butter, almond butter, cashew butter or peanut butter, just make sure whatever your’e using is nice and drippy. If it’s too dry the cookies won’t have the same creamy texture or hold together as well.

I love the flavour and nutrition tahini adds and would recommend sticking to that if you have it however if you’re not a fan, go ahead and use another nut butter.

Healthy No-Bake Cookies - Running on Real Food

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How to Make No-Bake Cookies - Running on Real Food
5 from 1 vote

No-Bake Energy Cookies

By: Deryn Macey
These delicious, flavourful. soft but crunchy cookies are made from ingredients like dates, walnuts and hemp seeds. They make a delicious dessert or snack any time.
Prep: 10 minutes
Total: 10 minutes
Servings: 16 cookies
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Ingredients 

  • 2 cups lightly packed, soft, fresh pitted dates (400 g)
  • 1/2 cup hemp seeds, 80 g
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, 60 g
  • 1/2 cup sesame seeds, 75 g
  • 1/2 cup pepitas, 75 g
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp sea salt
  • 2 tbsp tahini, 30 g
  • 2 tbsp water, if needed
  • 1/2 cup toasted millet or quinoa

Instructions 

  • Add all of the ingredients to a food processor and mix until it forms a thick dough. Pulse in the toasted millet if you’re using.
  • Roll the dough into 16 equal sized balls, then shape the balls into cookies. Place in the freezer for 2 hours then enjoy. Store in the freezer or fridge. They’re amazing straight from the freezer so I’d recommend storing them there.

Notes

You can either shape the dough into cookies, roll in into balls or press into a parchment paper-lined baking pan and then lift out and cut into energy bars.
Nuts and seeds can be mix and matched up to 2 cups total.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cookie, Calories: 209kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 11g, Fiber: 4g
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About Deryn Macey

Deryn Macey is a nutrition coach, certified personal trainer, and the creator of Running on Real Food, where she's been sharing nutritious recipes since 2013. She holds a science degree and offers strength training and nutrition coaching through Onward Strong, focusing on strength, sustainable eating habits, and breaking free from diet culture.

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