No Bake Cocoa Quinoa Sesame Bars [Gluten, Nut, Dairy & Refined Sugar Free]
What’s better than making a healthy and nutritious bar without any processed junk in it that you and your family will enjoy? NOTHING in my humble opinion!
Yes, we all have different tastes in families, but most everyone loves the flavor of cocoa! Even if your kids or you don’t like quinoa, you won’t even know it’s in there!
My oldest picky “almost teen” loved these bars. Made especially for my boys with nut allergies so they could enjoy them. Even my daughter who doesn’t have a nut allergy likes them too. I on the other hand LOVE them! That they contain the healthy protein filled seed, QUINOA makes me super happy! Made with honey and coconut butter this recipe is amazing, even better that it’s no bake too. 🙂
Recently you’ve seen something similar to these if you follow my blog or subscribe to receiving my recipes via email. It all started when my daughter received her American Girl doll magazine and she made a no bake peanut butter granola bar that were fantastic! So I adapted them and shared them as, No Bake Chewy Cocoa Granola Bars that are nut free. Substituting the cereal I used for Quinoa, make these a winning recipe and tastes just as good.
One difference in those bars and these is that I used regular honey. I prefer using creamed honey which is thicker and will make the bars more hand-able but regular honey works here fine. Keep them refrigerated though, as once quinoa is cooked it needs refrigeration and they will be good for up to a week!
Other recipes you might like:
- Cocoa Baked Quinoa Bars: Gluten & Dairy free
- No Bake Chewy Cocoa Granola Bars: Refined Sugar, Gluten & Nut Free
- Fruity Baked Quinoa: Gluten, Sugar & Dairy Free
- Oat & Fruit Breakfast Bar: Dairy, Egg, Gluten, Grain & Nut free
- Whole Wheat Berry Crumb Bars
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Quinoa Parfait
- Fudgey Flourless Chocolate Brownies: Gluten, Sugar, Dairy free
No Bake Cocoa Quinoa Sesame Bars [Gluten, Nut, Dairy & Refined Sugar Free]
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder unsweetened
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 3/4 cup dry rolled oats use gluten free if needed
- 1/2 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/4 cup ground flax seed
- 1/4 cup sesame seeds
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon powdered stevia or 2 packets
- 1/3 cup softened coconut butter
- 1/3 cup honey or creamed honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large bowl stir together the first 8 ingredients until well blended.
- In a separate microwaveable bowl add the coconut butter, honey, and vanilla. Melt for 1 minute and stir completely until well incorporated.
- Pour into the dry ingredients and mix well.
- Line an 8 by 8 baking dish with parchment paper hanging over opposite sides. Spray the parchment paper with nonstick cooking spray.
- Pour the mixture into the baking dish.
- Spread to edges and press down with a spatula to even off the top.
- Refrigerate for 60 minutes.
- Lift by parchment paper onto a cutting board.
- Slice into squares or bars.
- Wrap individually to store.
- Keep refrigerated for up to a week.
Notes
Nutrition
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.
I had a friend who made these and i am sure she did not use any artificial sweetener nor sugar. I can’t her now, we are no longer in contact but are there any fruits or maybe Acave that would sweeten this?
If you want to replace the honey I used, you could use agave.
Hi Brenda! These look incredible can’t wait to bake them! Can i use coconut oil instead if coconut butter? Thank you for posting this recipe! Love love love!!!
That’s a good question, though I’ve never tried it. Please let me know if you do.
Hey Brenda
I love your blog,finally got a chance to blog about your recipe.This recipe is simple irresistible and turned out great,liked by all.I used almond butter to my preference.Thanks a ton.
I made them today with maple syrup instead of honey. Again, they were a huge hit!!! These are yummy (and addictive).
Thanks for sharing that substitution!
These were a huge hit in my house. I used coconut oil instead of coconut butter. So yummy!!!! 5 stars 🙂
thanks so much Claire and glad to know about your change and that it was successful!
These look great! I do a lot of batch cooking and then freeze them. Could you make a larger batch and freeze them or would they not hold up?
Thanks.
I was looking at these to make these for my children. My son has a tree nut allergy and one of his biggest reactions is to coconut, which is considered a tree nut. So, I am not sure that your recipe can be considered nut free? They look great. Is there is good substitution for the coconut butter? Thanks!
I believe all children with tree nut allergies need to check with their allergist, but mine says it’s not a problem and told me coconut is not considered a tree nut at all, maybe there is a controversy amongst allergists of whether it is or isn’t? My son has no issues with coconut.
You could use sunbutter instead of coconut butter.
Doctors estimate that 1 percent of the population has celiac disease, which is damage to the small intestine caused by a severe allergic reaction to wheat gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat and wheat products. Even people who don’t have celiac disease may display intestinal or immune system reactions to gluten, and doctors think that about 15 percent of the population may have a gluten sensitivity.`:*-
Take a look at our own webpage too http://www.healthmedicinejournal.com
A gluten-free diet might also exclude oats. Medical practitioners are divided on whether oats are acceptable to celiac disease sufferers or whether they become cross-contaminated in milling facilities by other grains.;.;;
My web blog http://healthmedicinejournal.com
Hmmm, looks yummi! Do you have any idea what to use instead of honey? I can’t eat it, it has too high GI. I know it’s for sticking it together though…
I followed the recipe using regular honey and cocunut butter to no avail… Didn’t stick together at all. Fun to eat with a spoon but not what I was hoping for. Will make another try now that I have found coconut butter.
You used coconut butter with the honey or you used something in place of the coconut butter?
Hi 🙂
Can this recipe be easily doubled? I’d love to get a bunch and share them.
Thank you so much for your fantastic recipes! The baked oatmeal was a hit at our house this weekend.
I’m sure it could be, but I haven’t tried it. thanks!
These are the best thing ever!! I didn’t have any coconut butter so I made some 🙂 Just posted on Instagram. Don’t know whether you’re on there or not but gave you credit!!
I’m on instagram, I will check it out, thanks!
I made these last night following the recipe as-is except I used steel cut oats and coconut oil because that’s what I had on hand (I’ve never seen butter, and fairly sure I can’t get it local). I’m trying to get my picky teenagers (one, a vegetarian who isn’t crazy about veggies) to do more clean, whole food eating. These went over well! In fact, they went to school with them!
Wow that is fantastic! Did you use dry steel cut and not cook them? Did you replace the coconut butter for the oil, same amount? Good to know the changes worked for you and the kids!
what can I use instead of coconut butter? I have no access whatsoever to anything more than coconut oil 🙁
I buy it online through iherb.com, if you want to order some my discount code is YAJ035. If not try just coconut oil instead.
Hey Brenda, I’m going to try making my own coconut butter, I’ll let you know if I can be as talented as you.
These look delicious. I love that you used quinoa . . . great idea!
Can’t wait to try these – try look great!!!
Just FYI, though – vanilla extract is NOT gluten free, and oats are iffy. So anyone that has Celiac’s or a severe gluten allergy, should skip those ingredients or replace with a safer alternative.
Thanks for the great recipe!
The vanilla extract I linked to is GF. I have many friends who have celiac and can enjoy oats as long as it is certified as GF oats. Thanks
Um, my daughter has Celiac and I use a gf vanilla extract with no issues whatsoever
And I buy my oats certified gluten free. Sorry just wanted to add that.
Hello I just found your blog last week and I just LOVE IT!!
However, I have two questions on your recipe.
1. Can I use evaporated cane sugar instead of the stevia?
2. Do you make your own coconut butter and if so how?
You can use whatever sweetener you like in the recipe. No I bought the coconut butter from iherb.com where I have a discount code you can use: YAJ035.