Nutty Chocolate Chip Cookie Blondies

Indulge in a truly delightful and wholesome treat with our signature flourless **almond butter chocolate chip cookie bars**! Crafted with a passion for nourishing ingredients and irresistible flavor, these bars promise a chewy, gooey texture that will satisfy your sweet cravings without any guilt. Perfect for a quick snack, a shared dessert, or a healthy addition to your meal prep, this recipe is designed to be both simple to make and utterly delicious.

Irresistibly Gooey Flourless Almond Butter Cookie Bars

If there’s one dessert recipe that has graced our kitchen countless times, it’s these phenomenal almond butter cookie bars. Their popularity stems from their incredible taste, coupled with their admirable health profile. These bars are a staple for anyone seeking a healthier alternative to traditional cookies, offering a rich, satisfying experience without compromising on dietary preferences.

What makes them truly stand out is their **grain-free** and **refined sugar-free** composition. This means you can enjoy a decadent treat that’s also packed with wholesome goodness. They’re an excellent option for sharing with friends and family, or for preparing a batch to freeze and enjoy later, ensuring you always have a nutritious dessert on hand. The base of these bars is a luscious, drippy almond butter, which provides a rich flavor and an incredibly moist texture. We’ve also experimented with variations, like our popular oatmeal peanut butter cookie bars, proving the versatility and enduring appeal of this cookie bar concept.

Our commitment to creating healthier dessert options means these almond butter chocolate chip cookie bars are not just a treat for your taste buds, but also a kinder choice for your body. They are a testament that delicious indulgence can coexist with mindful eating. Dive into this recipe and discover your new favorite flourless cookie bar!

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Simple Wholesome Ingredients

One of the best aspects of these delectable cookie bars is the minimal list of everyday, wholesome ingredients required. You won’t need to hunt for obscure items; just a few pantry staples are all it takes to whip up a batch of these incredibly satisfying treats. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in achieving that perfect chewy texture and rich flavor:

• Almond Butter: The star of the show! It’s vital to use an all-natural, drippy almond butter. The natural oils in a good quality, stir-required almond butter provide the necessary fat content for these flourless bars, ensuring they are moist and tender. Our personal favorite is the 365 brand for its consistency and flavor. If using salted almond butter, remember to adjust or omit any additional salt in the recipe.
• Coconut Sugar: This unrefined sweetener gives the bars a gentle, caramel-like sweetness that’s less intense than traditional brown sugar. It’s an excellent natural alternative. However, if you don’t have coconut sugar on hand, light brown sugar makes a perfectly suitable substitute, yielding a similarly delicious result.
• Coconut Flour: Don’t let the name fool you – coconut flour behaves quite differently from wheat flour. It’s incredibly absorbent, which is why only a small amount is needed. It provides structure to these grain-free bars and contributes to their unique texture. It’s a fantastic gluten-free option that also adds a subtle hint of coconut flavor.
• Eggs: We use two large eggs in this recipe. Eggs act as a binder, helping to hold the cookie bars together, and also contribute to their moistness and richness. They are essential for the overall structure and texture of the bars.
• Dark Chocolate Chips: For a balanced sweetness and a rich, deep chocolate flavor, we highly recommend dark chocolate chips. Their slightly bitter notes beautifully complement the sweetness of the coconut sugar and almond butter. However, feel free to use semi-sweet or even milk chocolate chips if that’s your preference. You can also mix in some chopped chocolate chunks for an extra luxurious bite.
• Vanilla Extract: A crucial flavor enhancer, vanilla extract elevates the taste profile of the almond butter and chocolate, adding a warm, aromatic depth that makes these bars truly irresistible. Don’t skip this essential ingredient!

Expert Tips for Perfect Flourless Cookie Bars

Achieving the perfect batch of these almond butter chocolate chip cookie bars is simple when you follow a few key tips. These insights will help you ensure a consistently delicious and wonderfully textured treat every single time:

• Ensure Your Almond Butter is Drippy: This is arguably our most crucial tip. When purchasing almond butter, look for an “all-natural” variety where the oil has separated and needs stirring. This ensures there’s enough natural oil and fat content in your mixture, which is vital for the bars’ moisture and prevents them from drying out. Thicker, less oily almond butters can result in a crumbly or tough texture.
• Avoid Overbaking at All Costs: For that signature ooey-gooey center, resist the urge to overbake. We personally prefer them slightly underbaked, allowing them to remain wonderfully soft and chewy. The edges should be set and lightly golden, but the center can still look a little soft. They will continue to set as they cool. Overbaking leads to dry, dense bars.
• Allow for Complete Cooling Before Slicing: Patience is a virtue, especially when it comes to these cookie bars! They need ample time to cool completely and firm up before you attempt to slice them. If you cut into them too soon, they will likely fall apart. We recommend letting them cool for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, or even longer if your kitchen is warm, to ensure clean, perfectly formed slices.
• Proper Pan Preparation: Whether you choose to grease and flour your baking dish or line it with parchment paper, make sure it’s done effectively. Parchment paper, with a slight overhang on the sides, is often the easiest method for lifting the entire slab of cooled bars out of the pan for effortless slicing.
• Don’t Be Afraid to Customize: While the recipe is perfect as is, feel free to get creative! Consider adding a sprinkle of sea salt on top before baking for a sweet and salty contrast, or incorporating chopped nuts like pecans or walnuts for added crunch. White chocolate chips or butterscotch chips can also offer a delightful twist.

Storage Solutions

Proper storage is key to maintaining the freshness and delightful texture of your almond butter chocolate chip cookie bars. Once baked, ensure the bars have cooled completely to room temperature. This prevents condensation from forming inside the container, which can make the bars soggy. After cooling, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will remain wonderfully fresh and delicious for up to 3-5 days. Chilled bars often have an even chewier texture, making them a fantastic grab-and-go snack or dessert straight from the fridge.

How to Freeze for Long-Term Enjoyment

These cookie bars are incredibly freezer-friendly, making them perfect for meal prepping healthy treats or simply having a batch ready for unexpected cravings. Freezing extends their shelf life significantly, allowing you to enjoy them for months. Here’s our recommended method for freezing:

1. Slice and Arrange: Once the bars have completely cooled, slice them into individual portions. Arrange the sliced bars in a single layer on a parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. This prevents them from sticking together during the initial freeze.
2. Flash Freeze: Place the cookie sheet with the bars into the freezer for at least 1 hour, or until they are firm. This step is crucial for preventing them from clumping together when transferred to a larger container.
3. Transfer and Store: Once flash-frozen, transfer the firm cookie bars into an airtight freezer-safe container or a gallon-size freezer bag. Make sure to remove as much air as possible from the bag to prevent freezer burn. Store them in the freezer for up to 3 months.
4. Thawing and Enjoying: To enjoy, simply remove a bar from the freezer and let it thaw at room temperature for about 15-30 minutes, or warm it slightly in the microwave for an extra gooey experience.

Frequently Asked Questions About Almond Butter Cookie Bars

To help you perfect your baking and enjoy these delicious cookie bars even more, here are some common questions we receive:

• Can I use a different nut butter? Yes! While almond butter is featured, you can absolutely substitute it with other creamy, natural nut butters like peanut butter or cashew butter. Just ensure it’s a drippy, stir-required variety for the best texture, similar to our oatmeal peanut butter cookie bars.
• Is coconut flour essential? Can I substitute it? Coconut flour is very unique in its absorbency. It’s crucial for the texture of these flourless bars. Substituting it directly with other flours like almond flour or all-purpose flour is not recommended without significant recipe adjustments, as they behave very differently.
• What if my almond butter isn’t drippy? If your almond butter is on the thicker side, you can try gently warming it in the microwave for 15-30 seconds to make it more fluid. This will help incorporate it better into the batter and ensure a moist final product.
• Can I make these vegan? We haven’t tested a vegan version of this specific recipe. The eggs are critical binders. However, you might be able to experiment with flax eggs (1 flax egg = 1 tbsp ground flaxseed + 3 tbsp water, let sit for 5 minutes). Note that this would change the texture.
• How do I know when they’re done baking? The bars are ready when the edges appear set and lightly golden, and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, but not wet batter. Remember, slightly underbaked is preferred for that gooey texture!
• Can I add other mix-ins? Absolutely! Feel free to customize your bars with a handful of chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans), shredded coconut, or even a different type of chocolate chip (white chocolate, butterscotch). Just don’t overload the batter to ensure proper setting.

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Almond Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

These grain-free chocolate chip cookie bars are made with almond butter, coconut flour, coconut sugar, eggs, and dark chocolate chips!

By:
Lee Funke

Prep:

10 mins

Cook:

15 mins

Total:

25 mins

Servings:
9

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Ingredients

Wet Ingredients

• 1 cup creamy almond butter, unsalted (if you’re using salted, omit additional salt from the recipe)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Dry Ingredients

• ⅔ cup coconut sugar, or light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons coconut flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ⅛ teaspoon sea salt
• ½ cup dark chocolate chips, + more for topping

Instructions

• First, preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Lightly spray an 8×8-inch cake pan with coconut oil cooking spray or line it with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on the sides for easy removal.
• In a large mixing bowl, combine all the wet ingredients (almond butter, eggs, and vanilla extract) and mix thoroughly until completely smooth and well-incorporated. In a separate medium bowl, whisk together all the dry ingredients (coconut sugar, coconut flour, baking soda, and sea salt) until evenly distributed.
• Gradually add the dry ingredient mixture into the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined and a thick, cookie-dough-like batter forms. Be careful not to overmix. Gently fold in the dark chocolate chips.
• Transfer the dough into your prepared baking dish. Use your fingers or a spatula to evenly press the dough into the pan, making sure it reaches all corners. If desired, press a few extra dark chocolate chips onto the top of the bars for a visually appealing finish.
• Bake the cookie bars in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes. The edges should be set and lightly golden, but the center should still appear slightly soft for that perfect gooey texture. Baking time may vary depending on your oven, so keep an eye on them.
• Once baked, remove the pan from the oven and let the cookie bars cool completely on a wire rack for at least 30 minutes before attempting to slice them. This cooling time is crucial for the bars to firm up and hold their shape. Serve with an optional sprinkle of sea salt to enhance the flavors.

Tips & Notes

• A 9×9-inch or 6×10-inch pan would also work, but keep in mind that the cook time would vary slightly. A larger pan might require a shorter baking time for thinner bars, while a smaller one for thicker bars might need a bit longer.
• Seriously, make sure to let the bars cool for at least 30 minutes (or longer!) before slicing. This allows them to fully set and prevents them from crumbling when cut.

Nutrition

Calories: 276 kcal, Carbohydrates: 24 g, Protein: 7 g, Fat: 17 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sugar: 18 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.

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