These vegan monster cookie bars are chocolatey, chewy and incredibly easy to throw together.
Monster cookies are most often made with peanut butter, oats, chocolate chips, and m&m candies. These vegan monster cookie bars will be made with all of those ingredients (YUM!), except for the m&m's. Unreal vegan peanut gems will be used instead as they are dairy-free and do not include any food dyes.
Most monster cookies do not use any flour, however in this bar version we are using a bit of oat flour to help the bars stay together and create an extraordinary chewy texture.
Furthermore, if you love vegan chocolate chip bars, be sure to check out these pumpkin blondie bars as well.
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Vegan monster cookie bar ingredients
- GF Rolled oats
- Oat flour
- Peanut butter
- Coconut sugar
- Maple syrup
- Flax milk
- Vanilla extract
- Baking soda
- Salt
- Chocolate chips
- Unreal dark chocolate peanut gems (check out the substitutions below if you don't have these on hand!)
How to make vegan monster cookie bars
First, add all wet ingredients to a mixing bowl and stir together.
Next, add the dry ingredients directly to the wet and stir again.
Thirdly, fold in the chocolate chips.
Finally, pour batter into a parchment lined baking dish and smooth evenly. Top with additional chocolate (optional), candies, and sea salt flakes. Bake until golden.
For measurements and detailed step-by-step instructions, head to the recipe card below.
Tips for recipe success
- If using homemade oat flour, ensure the flour is finely ground.
- Ovens differ greatly, so be sure to keep an eye on the cookie bars around the 15 minute mark. Bake until lightly golden around the edges.
- Let the bars cool completely before cutting for less messy bars (or dig in with a spoon, I won't tell anyone).
- Don't panic if you can't find the vegan m&m's! Adding chopped dates, peanuts, and additional chocolate chips is just as delicious.
Substitutions
Peanut butter: swap with almond butter or cashew butter. For a nut free option use granola butter, tahini or sun butter with taste variations to be expected. If using sun butter or tahini increase the amount of sugar as these ingredients have a less sweet taste profile.
Coconut sugar: substitute with light or dark brown sugar.
Unreal chocolate peanut gems: these are a vegan version of peanut m&ms. Unreal also has dark chocolate crispy gems that will work too or swap with your favorite vegan chocolate candy. For a simple alternative; use chopped dates and peanuts.
These vegan monster cookie bars are already packed with flavor and chocolatey goodness. Despite this, feel free to customize them and go big! Here are a few additional ingredients you can add;
- Shredded coconut
- Vegan white chocolate chips
- Hemp seeds
- Chopped nuts (peanuts, walnuts, pecans, or macadamia nuts)
Storage
- Room temperature: store on the counter/in the pantry in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerator: store in the fridge for up to a week.
- Freezer (my preferred method): store in an airtight container, with parchment paper between bars.
If you made these vegan monster cookie bars, leave a star review and a rating below! Also, be sure to tag @notablyvegan in your creations on Instagram and/or Twitter. Looking forward to connecting with you!
📋 Recipe
Vegan Monster Cookie Bars
Equipment
- 8 x 8 baking dish + unbleached parchment paper
- measuring cup + spoons
- mixing bowl + spatula
Ingredients
- ½ cup peanut butter (creamy or crunchy, just make sure it's pourable)
- ¼ cup coconut sugar, packed (or sub with brown sugar)
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- ¼ cup flax milk (or plant milk of choice)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup oat flour (or sub sorghum flour)
- ½ cup GF rolled oats
- ½ + ⅛ teaspoon baking soda
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt (omit if using salted peanut butter)
- ½ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
Toppings
- ½ cup unreal dark chocolate peanut gems (or sub with chopped dates, mini chocolate chips and peanuts)
- sea salt flakes
- additional chocolate chips (optional)
Instructions
- Prep: preheat the oven to 350°F and line an 8 x 8 baking dish with parchment paper.
- Combine ingredients: add all wet ingredients to a mixing bowl and stir until combined. Add the oats, oat flour, baking soda, and sea salt (if using) directly to the bowl and stir again. Fold in the chocolate chips.
- Top and bake: Pour batter into the lined baking dish. Top with unreal candies, gently pressing them in. Sprinkle with sea salt flakes. Bake on the middle rack for 17-20 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
- Cool: remove from the oven and let cool completely before cutting into 12 bars.
Notes
- Room temperature: store on the counter/in the pantry in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Refrigerator: store in the fridge for up to a week.
- Freezer (my preferred method): store in an airtight container, with parchment paper between each bar.
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