Chocolate Quinoa Bars
Quinoa bars are the best way to sneak a little nutrition into a dessert recipe! Made with cooked quinoa, rolled oats, cocoa powder, and without refined sugar, these bars are a healthy yet decadent treat.
Servings: 9 bars
Ingredients
- 1 cup quinoa cooked and cooled in the fridge (see notes)
- 1 cup dates pitted
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1/2 cup almonds raw, unsalted
- 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp coconut oil melted and cooled to room temperature
for the top layer:
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tsp coconut oil
Instructions
- If you haven't already, cook the quinoa according to the package instructions (don't forget to rinse it first!); set it aside in the fridge. At this point, you should also melt the 1 tablespoon of coconut oil in the microwave and set it aside to cool.
- Add the dates, oats, almonds, coconut, and cocoa powder to a food processor and pulse for 30 seconds. With the motor still running, pour the maple syrup and coconut oil in through the top and continue pulsing until the mixture forms a giant ball. Scoop the mixture out into a large bowl, then add the quinoa to that bowl and stir to combine.
- Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper, leaving a 1" overhang, and spray the remaining sides of the pan with nonstick spray.
- Transfer the quinoa mixture into the prepared pan, then use a rubber spatula or your hands to press the it down into the pan. Place the pan in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to allow the bars to set.
- Once the 30 minutes are up, melt the chocolate: add the chocolate chips and coconut oil to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave in 30-second increments (stirring every 30 seconds) until the chocolate is smooth.
- Remove the bars from the refrigerator and pour the chocolate overtop, using the back of a spoon to smooth it out. Place the pan back into the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or until the chocolate has hardened.
- Pull on the parchment paper to remove the bars, then slice them into 9 bars and enjoy!
Notes
*Calories are per bar and are an estimation
*Make sure quinoa is completely cooled before adding to the recipe; otherwise quinoa may be too moist
Nutrition
Calories: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 3mg | Sodium: 19mg | Potassium: 384mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 49IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 76mg | Iron: 2mg
