These look like brownies don't you think? Well they could certainly pass for one but the secret is QUINOA!! You cook some up and boy you can do some many things with it. I've made a bunch of quinoa salad recipes with it and lately have been enjoying baking with it. It is gluten free and works really well when combining it with other fabulous ingredients.
This recipe takes only about 10 minutes to put together and bakes for about 45 minutes but once you make it you've got a great grab-n- go snack for your family!
Mix some wonderful ingredients together in your blender or food processor and bake it like this or add some toppings!
Here I added some grain sweetened chocolate chips and roasted sunflowers. Dried fruit and chopped nuts would be fantastic. These are only slightly sweet on their own without chocolate chips so if your family is used to sweeter snacks you may want to add in some stevia. But my family enjoyed it like this. 🙂
They hold their shape well and you can easily take them to go. They aren't dry like the texture of a granola bar, but if my picky 12 year old liked them I think ANY kid will. My son is surely HARD to please!
P.S. I NEVER told him they were quinoa bars. He knows only the name chocolate baked bars to go!
YUM! Enjoy some and then store in the fridge.
Wrapping individually with plastic wrap ensures they won't stick together, makes it easier to handle and it's perfect to pack into lunches as well.
*adapted from WholeFoodsMarket.com
*Check this post if you are not sure how to cook your quinoa
I've adapted this recipe to be completely SUGAR-FREE as well as in the CROCK POT! Check it out here: CROCK POT SUGAR-FREE CHOCOALTE QUINOA BROWNIES!
- Ingredients
- ½ cup raw almonds*
- 1-½ cups almond milk*, unsweetened (or milk of choice)
- 1 cup pitted dates
- 2 cups cooked quinoa
- ¼ cup chia seeds
- ¼ cup applesauce*, unsweetened
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder, unsweetened
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup flaxseed meal*
- optional: ½ teaspoon liquid chocolate stevia, ¼ cup chocolate chips, ½ cup sunflower seeds, chopped nuts, shredded coconut, dried chopped fruit
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Chop your almonds in your blender or food processor.
- Add your pitted dates and almond milk in a high powdered blender or food processor (slowly, a few at a time).
- Add chia seeds, applesauce, cocoa and salt and blend until smooth.
- Transfer to a bowl and add your cooked quinoa and flaxseed meal.
- Prepare an 8 by 8 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or use parchment paper.
- Place your cocoa quinoa mixture into the prepared dish and spread evenly.
- Add optional toppings.
- Bake for 45 -60 minutes or until firmly set on top. Mine were perfect at 45.
- Let cool for 30 minutes before cutting into 12 squares.
- Keep refrigerated or wrap in plastic wrap and freeze.
Other Baked Quinoa recipes you might like:
- Baked Quinoa Bites from SFM
- Quinoa Spinach Bake from The Healthy Apple
- Fruity Baked Quinoa from SFM
- Baked Quinoa Pudding with Raisins from Simply Gluten& Sugar Free
- Mini Zucchini Quinoa Cheese Bites from SFM
About Brenda
Brenda Bennett is a certified Nutritional Therapy Practitioner, certified Sugar Detox Coach, certified Keto Coach and certified Life Coach. She has been Sugar Free & Refined carb free for 17 years and has written 2 cookbooks, Sugar-Free Mom, and Naturally Keto and her 3rd book The 30-Day Sugar Elimination Diet, is a four part program to help you detox from sugar, eliminate cravings, balance blood sugar and lose weight all while eating a delicious, nutrient dense whole foods. Meal plan offers two tracks to follow, low carb or keto. She is the founder of the Sugar Free Fresh Start course and Sugar Free Tribe weight loss membership. Learn more.
Judy
I found these to be a bit bland. I added 1 1/2 tsp vanilla and 2 tsp of nutmeg and they taste really good. I found it better to use my high speed blender because I had a lot of splashing of almond milk when I used the food processor. This is a really good snack for folks who are whole food plant based.
Mark
Great dish but can you clarify, is it 2 cups measured AFTER you cook the quinoa or do you measure it before you cook it? Thanks
Brenda
It's 2 cups after it is cooked.
Lynsey
I have these baking right now for my toddler's morning breakfast! So excited for him to try them, hopefully he enjoys it! He just recently turned 2, and thus we have entered the infamous "terrible twos". My previously fantastic eater has not become a picky pain in the butt and I'm desperately trying to find things he will eat besides cheerios. Due to his sudden picky-ness, I'm also trying to pack in as much protein, fat, and nutritious ingredients into everything. I'm trying this tonight with some modification for his diet :quinoa cooked in "super milk" and coconut oil, half homemade coconut milk and half "super milk", almonds and walnuts, raisins, shredded coconut, and a very ripe banana. Thanks for a great recipe!
kim
what could you sub for the dates? raisins?
Brenda
Raisins might work, let me know if you try it!
T
Any one have suggestions for these WITHOUT FLAX. I deathly allergic and don't know what to add/subtract to make up for it.
N
Hi,
Did you find an alternative to flax because Im making them for a party and friend is allergic as well. If so, please please please share your secret??
Thank you!!!
Lisa
My daughter has a fructose allergy so we can't do applesauce. Can I substitute oil or is there something healthier you can suggest? Thanks!
D
Hi just wondering if you did find a way to substitute the apple sauce as I can't have it either...?
Thanks!
Gluten free shop
Somehow I dont like chia seeds, can there be some good alternative to this.
Alicia
Can you provide other recipes that you use chia seeds in? I found them at the store but they were super expensive. I could justify it if I could use them in more than 1 recipe. Thanks!
Brenda
Here's a chia seed almond pudding recipe: https://www.sugarfreemom.com/recipes/chocolate-chia-almond-pudding-dairy-free-sugar-free/ and here's a No bake overnight mango chia oat recipe: https://www.sugarfreemom.com/recipes/no-bake-overnight-chia-mango-oats-naturally-sweetened/ and here's a no bake chocolate peanut butter chia oat recipe: https://www.sugarfreemom.com/recipes/no-bake-chocolate-peanut-butter-chia-oats/