When you’re longing for a treat and don’t want to spend an hour waiting for a cake to rise (or heat up the entire kitchen with your oven), no bake dessert recipes are where it’s at. They’re easy to make and really give your ingredients the chance to shine, plus you can pack them with nutrition. And easy no bake desserts are a fun way to get kids in the kitchen! 

We love desserts (we have two dessert-focused modules in the Culinary Nutrition Expert Program!) and we always create them with taste and nutrition in mind. Natural sweeteners, along with fat, protein and fibre are a winning combination for a no bake dessert that can:

Stocking Your Pantry for healthy No Bake Desserts

Want to make a spur-of-the-moment no bake dessert? Keep your pantry stocked with the essentials and you can whip one up in no time. 

Key ingredients we like to have for healthy no bake desserts include: 

• Nuts and seeds (cashews are very versatile for no bake dessert recipes, and we also like hemp seeds, Brazil nuts, pecans, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds)
• Almond flour
• Dark chocolate
• Chocolate chips or cacao nibs
• Natural sweeteners (we like coconut sugar, honey and maple syrup, but choose which ones you love and are local to you)
• Shredded coconut
• Dates
• Dried fruit (cranberries, ginger, goji berries, raisins)
• Coconut oil
• Coconut milk or coconut cream
• Gluten-free rolled oats

Then you can add fresh, seasonal ingredients when you’re ready to ‘no-bake’!

What about cashews (and other nut allergies)?

It’s true that many no bake dessert recipes are nut-based, and can be particularly cashew-heavy as cashews have a neutral flavour and are easy to blend into a thick, creamy substitute for dairy. Many recipes can swap the nuts for seeds. For recipes that rely on cashews for texture (like no bake cheesecake), you could try coconut cream, coconut oil or cacao butter.

And remember: there is always chocolate! It’s simple to make nut-free chocolate creations. 

More No Bake Dessert Recipes

best no bake dessert recipes of 2022

These easy no bake desserts are some of our favourites!

Carrot Cake Energy Balls

Carrot Cake Energy Balls by Laura Hearn Wellness (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

Packed with nuts, seeds, fresh carrots and spices, this no bake recipe is a two-bite delight!

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Blueberry Chocolate Crunch Cups

Blueberry Chocolate Crunch Cups by Jessica Mitton (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

Get your chocolate fix – and a dose of antioxidants – with these crunchy dairy-free chocolate cups.

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Chocolate Avocado Pudding

Chocolate Avocado Pudding by Jennifer Barr (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

A delectable vegan no bake dessert recipe that will aid your digestion and set you up for bliss by improving your mood. 

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No Bake Cookie Dough Brownies

No Bake Cookie Dough Brownies by Okonomi Kitchen

Cookies and brownies all in one? YES PLEASE.

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Strawberry Cheesecake Bars

Strawberry Cheesecake Bars by All The Healthy Things

Now this is one of those no bake desserts that will become a summer staple in your kitchen!

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Snickers Chia Pudding

Snickers Chia Pudding by Ellie Likes Cooking

Chia seeds are incredibly versatile, and they make the best puddings that you can enjoy for dessert, snacks or breakfast. We like to swap pecans or almonds in this recipe!

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Dairy-Free Mango Coconut Parfait

Dairy-Free Mango Coconut Parfait by Jessica Yeager (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

A delightful treat that has no added sugars – all the sweetness comes from the fruit.

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Vegan Edible Cookie Dough

Vegan Edible Cookie Dough by Jessica In The Kitchen

A bite-sized no bake dessert recipe – but we bet you can’t eat just one. 

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Vegan Tiramisu Fudge Bars

Vegan Tiramisu Fudge Bars by Vegan Richa

This no bake dessert takes a little more work because you create dual layers, but the extra effort is one thousand percent worth it!

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No Bake Coconut Cupcakes

No Bake Coconut Cupcakes by Sweet Potato Soul

All the deliciousness of cupcakes without the need for an oven. This is a great summer dessert to bring to your next get together.

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Hungry for more dessert inspiration? The Culinary Nutrition Expert Program has an entire module on gluten-free baking, and one devoted to sweet and nutritious treats. Grab all the details and sign up below. 

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Raw, Nut-Free Chocolate Brownies

Raw, Nut-Free Chocolate Brownies by Sondi Bruner (*Culinary Nutrition Expert Program Head Program Coach)

A three-ingredient raw chocolate brownie that tastes like dense, fudgy heaven. Great to nibble on for dessert at your next BBQ, or a mid afternoon treat.

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Chocolate Peppermint Cups

 

Chocolate Peppermint Cups by Bakerita

No roundup of no bake desserts would be complete without a chocolate-mint combo! This version is vegan, gluten-free and Paleo.

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Vegan Strawberry Milkshake Fudge

Vegan Strawberry Milkshake Fudge by Wallflower Kitchen

Keep these stashed in the freezer for a hit of milkshakey goodness whenever the mood strikes.

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Crispy Quinoa Cacao Cookies

Crispy Quinoa Cacao Cookies by Healthy Little Vittles

This is the recipe for you if you love no bake desserts with a little crunch! If you can’t find puffed quinoa, try puffed rice cereal instead. 

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Dairy-Free Strawberry Cheesecake

Dairy-Free Strawberry Cheesecake by Melissa Torio (*Culinary Nutrition Expert))

This stunning summer dessert contains only a few ingredients and we love the use of pistachios in the crust for a unique flavour and flair.

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Almond Butter Chocolate Oatmeal Squares

Almond Butter Chocolate Oatmeal Squares by The Renata Collective (*Culinary Nutrition Expert)

These bars are a great make-ahead option and last a while in the fridge (though we doubt they’ll last long in there). 

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Chocolate Cream Pie

Chocolate Cream Pie by Meghan Telpner (*Culinary Nutrition Expert Program Founder + Director)

This Paleo and vegan recipe is always an enormous hit! Make it and share with friends as a tasty summer dessert.

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Key Lime Pie Bars

Key Lime Pie Bars by What Great Grandma Ate

An ideal mashup of sweet and tart you’ll adore.

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Sugar-Free Keto No Bake Cookies

Sugar-Free Keto No Bake Cookies by Food Faith Fitness

A no bake cookie recipe that uses monk fruit as the sweetener, for those of you who are monk fruit fans.

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No Bake Nutella Fudge Bars

No Bake Nutella Fudge Bars by Rainbow Plant Life

A delectable mix of hazelnuts and chocolate that’s impossible to resist.

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Honourable Mention: Chocolate Hemp Spread

Chocolate Hemp Spread

While we have been known to eat this recipe by the spoonful, it’s not a ‘dessert’ all on its own. It is, however, incredible as a frosting for no bake desserts like cookies, cakes, squares and bars. You can also drizzle it over fruit, ice cream or yogurt. It’s one of the most beloved recipes for students in the Culinary Nutrition Expert Program!