Hey Friends! How’s it goin?
Happy Friday 13th/Day Before Valentine’s Day! I’m think I’m more worried about Friday 13th than I am excited for Valentine’s Day. Although you wouldn’t know that by my food choices since, I’ve got a second chocolate recipe for ya this week: Chocolate Cranberry Quinoa Bars.
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen that I rediscovered my obsession with quinoa this week. There was a time – early last year – when I’d have quinoa with almost every meal. My Sundays weren’t complete until I cooked up a batch of those little seeds. Then, I moved apartments and got further away from bulk barn – which is the only place I buy quinoa – and my daily dose of quinoa eventually stopped.
So this weekend, when I decided to hit up bulk barn in search of some hard to find flours, I took to opportunity to stock up on quinoa. And I made a batch the same night. Since then, I’ve been eating quinoa like a crazy person. Seriously, for every meal. And yesterday, these chocolate cranberry quinoa oat bars became the newest quinoa infused meal of my life.
These have actually been on my ‘to-make’ list for quite some time, just without the quinoa. But when I was adding the ingredients to my mixing bowl I decided to throw some quinoa in. And boy am I glad I did.
When I first tried them, I wasn’t too sure exactly what they were. They tasted amazing, but, in my opinion, they were just a little too sweet to be everyday breakfast – although they’ll definitely work for breakfast on Valentine’s Day. And they were too hearty to be a regular dessert. So I sat around munching on a bar until it hit me. They were perfect for 10am, after breakfast dessert. Yes, that’s a thing.
These chocolate cranberry quinoa oat bars are hearty, chewy, chocolatey, perfectly sweet, slightly tangy, full of fibre and contain a bit more protein than your usual oat bar. Perfect for satisfying your mid morning cravings.
- 1 cup quick cooking oats
- 1 cup cooked quinoa
- 3 tbsp cocoa powder
- 2 tsp ground flax
- pinch of salt
- ½ cup creamy peanut butter
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup dairy-free milk (I used silk almond/coconut blend)
- 2 tbsp dairy-free chocolate chips
- 3 tbsp dried cranberries
- Preheat oven to 350F, line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper and set aside
- Add dry ingredients to a large bowl and whisk together until well incorporated
- Add peanut butter, maple syrup and milk and mix well
- Fold in chocolate chips and dried cranberries
- Pour the mixture into prepared dish, spread the batter out evenly in the pan and top with extra cranberries if desired
- Bake for 20-25 minutes and allow to cool fully before cutting
- Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days
What about you?
Are you a quinoa fan? Do you ever made quinoa oat bars before? What are your plans for Valentine’s Day?
Share in the comments below!
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More Valentine’s Day/Chocolatey Desserts:
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- Dairy Free Chocolate Bark
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These look insane! I love adding quinoa to anything. Ups the nutrition and gives a nice texture. Yum!
Angela @ Happy Fit Mama recently posted…Pink Pancakes with Greek Yogurt and Warm Berries
These look so good! How creative to use quinoa!
Annmarie recently posted…Foodie Friday: Chocolate Covered Strawberry Haze Frozen Parfait
I have not made quinoa bars before but they look deliciously chewy and yum — plus nutritious! bookmarking recipe!
jennifer recently posted…Fast, Fit Family Valentine Dinners – Mix and Match Menu
I AM a quinoa fan, though I’ve never used it in bars before! Plans for Vday are yet to be determined hahah hopefully something!
Erin @ The Almond Eater recently posted…Cranberry Orange Muffins with Orange Glaze
The quinoa in here! O goodness….this is my perfect bar!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Friday Finisher 2/13/15
I feel like I go through phases with quinoa. Sometimes I’ll love it, and sometimes it’ll just taste funny or I’ll want something a little fluffier. Right now I’m crushing on buckwheat BIG TIME. Chocolate, though? Always in the mood for that 😀
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…. s’mores truffles .
I get what you mean. Quinoa is pretty heavy especially when you bake with it. Also, I’m only just starting to experiment with buckwheat but so far so good!
SOUNDS AND LOOKS DELICIOUS AND QUINOA IS SUCH A HEALTHY GLUTEN FREE GRAIN.. THANKS FOR SHARING ON REAL FOOD FRIDAYS. PINNED & TWITTED!
Marla recently posted…Real Food Friday #75 – Living The Healthy Good Life
Chocolate and cranberries! Yum. We’re neighbors on Gluten Free Fridays and I’m glad I stopped by. Pinned!
Barbara Bianchi recently posted…Broiled Salmon with Gluten Free Spicy Mayo Sauce
Those look amazing. I can tell by the photos how chewy they really are– like a healthier brownie 🙂
Michelle @ Vitamin Sunshine recently posted…Valentine’s LOVE Truffles
These look fantastic! I love quinoa in sweeter dishes!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Strange But Red Velvet [Recipes]
Another great one! You are all on top of using the grains in sweets right now, I LOVE it! I need to learn from you oh wise one 😉
Tina Muir recently posted…Meatless Monday- Vegetable Pad Thai
Haha thanks Tina 🙂
I also have quinoa obsession and these look great! Thanks for sharing and joining us for Meatless Monday today
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Vegetarian Shepherd’s Pie-Meatless Monday
I can’t wait to make these!! They look absolutely fantastic 🙂
Monique @ Burpees to Bubbly recently posted…A Sugarbush Getaway
This is such a clever idea! Thanks so much for sharing!
-Cindy
They look delicious, what a great idea. Popping over from #RecipeOfTheWeek
Sarah James recently posted…Home Made Multigrain Bread with Easy Step By Step Instructions
I need cranberries ASAP so I can make these… I love a chewy bar. I tried making quinoa bars and failed once but I think you got it locked up!
Cassie recently posted…Field Trip: Scribe Winery
These look delicious…so fudgy, and I love the addition of dried cranberries.. Definitely going to pin these for later! 🙂
Lauren recently posted…What I Ate Wednesday (3/25/15)
Thank Lauren! Let me know what you think when you try them 🙂
I used old fashioned oats instead of Quick Oats (because I didn’t have them). I just made sure to let the oats soak in the milk while I prepped the quinoa, etc. I was worried they’d be too chewy due to the use of OF oats, but they were perfect! Also– I used honey instead of maple syrup and only used half of the amount to reduce the sugar (since my PB already had sugar in it). They turned out great!
Glad you liked them, Molly! I’ll have to remember that trick with the oats & milk since I hardly ever buy quick oats anymore.
I’ve never cooked a lot with quinoa, but since oats seem to bother my tummy in large quantities, I’ve been experimenting more with the quinoa/oatmeal combination. I’ll have to give these a try!
Hopefully these will go easy on your stomach, Joyce 🙂 Let me know what you think if you give them a try!
Hi,
I have a nut allergy is there something you could substitute for the peanut butter?
Thanks!