A ridiculously delicious peanut butter brownie bar is topped with chocolate ganache and creamy, dairy-free cookie dough in these Secretly Healthy Cavity Bars a.k.a. Cookie Dough Topped Peanut Butter Cookie Bars! Guys, these are the best dessert bars I’ve ever had!!!
I’ve seen a photo floating around Pinterest for some time now of a three layered dessert called a “cavity bar”. I pinned the image so long ago I can’t find it anymore but luckily my food memory is so powerful the image has been burnt into my memory for all eternity. The first layer was a cookie bar followed by a layer of thick chocolate and topped with a layer of chocolate chip cookie dough–and from what I can remember they were definitely not “healthy” by any means.
I’m not one to knock sugar filled desserts. I one hundred percent believe that real desserts are okay for the body (and even better for the mind) as long as it’s accompanied by a balanced lifestyle. Which is great for normal people but then there’s people like me who have an undeniable sweet tooth and need to have dessert once or twice sometimes…three times a day. That’s right. That’s why I make my desserts using [mostly] healthy ingredients.
Can we take a moment to admire the layers on these cookie bars. Layer 1: dense and chewy peanut butter cookie loaded with chocolate chips. Layer 2: a simple yet decadent two-ingredients chocolate ganache. Layer 3: sweet and buttery chocolate chip cookie dough. LITERALLY, ALL MY FAVORITE THINGS IN ONE BAR!
This isn’t the first time I’ve made cookie dough desserts. Check out a of my favorite cookie dough recipes.
- Cookie Dough Truffles – Delicious cookie dough bites coated in decadent dark chocolate for all those raw cookie dough eaters out there! This recipe is gluten-free, egg-free, refined-sugar-free and high in protein!
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Bites – This edible cookie dough recipe is not only healthy and high in protein, it takes just five minutes to make!
- Healthy Cookie Dough Fudge Layered Brownies – Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Fudge Layered Brownies made Gluten-free, Vegan and High in Protein! Whew… That title is a mouthful but trust me, it’s worth every delicious word.
- Healthy Cookie Dough Date Caramel Brownies – Uber fudgy brownies made using whole food ingredients, protein powder and then topped with date caramel and healthy protein packed cookie dough!
Secretly Healthy Cookie Bars Topped with Cookie Dough
Notes
*For a lower fat and sugar content use light butter and sugar-free chocolate. Coconut sugar can be replaced with a granulated erythritol. Comment any other substitution questions. 🙂
Ingredients
cookie bar layer
- 1 c natural peanut butter
- 1/2 c coconut sugar
- 1 egg, large organic free-range Milk and Eggs
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 1/4 c dairy-free chocolate chips
chocolate layer
- 3/4 c dairy-free chocolate chips
- 1/3 c unsweetened almond milk
cookie dough layer
- 1/2 c vegan butter, soft Milk and Eggs
- 1/3 c powdered erythritol
- 1/4 c coconut sugar
- 1/2 c almond flour
- 1/2 c gluten free oat flour
- 1/4 c dairy-free chocolate chips
Instructions
The cookie bar layer: In a large mixing bowl, beat the peanut butter and coconut sugar together until combined using a handheld mixer. Add in the remaining ingredients and continue mixing until a dough forms. Press the dough evenly into the bottom of an 8x8 inch pan prepared with parchment paper. Bake for 9-11 minutes at 350F. Let cool.
The chocolate layer: Once the cookie bars have cooled, place the chocolate chips into a glass bowl. Heat the almond milk in the microwave or on a stove top just before it reaches a boiling point (about 40 seconds in the microwave). Pour the milk over the chocolate chips and let sit for 2 minutes. After the two minutes, stir well until you have a thick chocolate ganache. Pour the ganache over the cookie bars and chill for 1 hour.
For the cookie dough layer: In a mixing bowl, beat the butter and the powdered erythritol until light and fluffy using a handheld mixer. Add in the remaining ingredients (except chocolate chips) and mix until well combined. Fold in chocolate chips. Drop the cookie dough in chunks oven the chocolate. Use a rubber spatula to smooth. Chill for at least 30 minutes before cutting into 20 bars and serving.
Nutrition Facts
Secretly Healthy Cookie Bars Topped with Cookie Dough
Serves: 20
|
Amount Per Serving: 1/20
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 302 | |
| % Daily Value* | ||
| Total Fat 18g | 27.7% | |
| Saturated Fat | 0 | |
| Trans Fat | ||
| Cholesterol | 0 | |
| Sodium | 0 | |
| Total Carbohydrate 20g | 6.7% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0 | |
| Sugars | ||
| Protein 14g | ||
| Vitamin A | Vitamin C | |
| Calcium | Iron | |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
Peanut Butter + Chocolate
