Hi peeps! You probably know that I have a sweet tooth and there are days when it’s quite hard to resist chocolate and stuff. I guess I am not the only one, right? 😉 Therefore I wanted to make kind of a healthy vegan snack that I can grab when I am craving something sugary.
So I made these super yummy and super easy to make peanut butter quinoa-chia chocolate bars. OMG they are so good! I added some sea salt to the bars because I absolutely love the combination of peanut butter and salt. But I would still call it a sweet treat – with a salty touch.
Quinoa, hemp seeds, chia seeds and peanut butter are a healthy source of protein, essential fats and vitamins! The bears are gluten free, soy free, dairy free (of course!) and non baked. How cool is that?
As I mentioned before these bars are super easy to make. I got inspired by a similar recipe which I found in a cookbook from german vegan chef Attila Hildmann. I modified it a bit and added the peanut butter… et voilà.
ingredients you’ll need:
( I highly recommend using organic products)
- 2 1/2 cups puffed/popped quinoa
- 1/3 cup chia seeds
- 1 Tbsp hemp seeds
- 1 cup peanut butter (I used a smooth and unsalted & unsweetened one)
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1/2 cup maple syrup ( or agave, rice etc…)
- 150 gr vegan high quality dark chocolate
Method:
Mix the quinoa, chia, hemp and sea salt in a large bowl.
Melt the peanut butter on a water bath and stir in the maple syrup. Now add this to the dry ingredients and mix everything together. I think this works best with your (washed) hands.
Line a baking dish with parchment paper and scoop the batter into it. Use your wet hands to press everything together tightly into an even rectangle, roughly 2 cm high.
Put in the fridge (or freezer) while melting the dark chocolate on a water bath.
Pour the melted chocolate over the cold batter using a spatula to distribute it evenly. Put it back into the fridge until cold and firm. Cut the batter into squares using a sharp knife.
Oh dear, they taste amazing: the peanut flavor with this sweet and salty, crunchy, chocolate-y touch is really delicious. The bars are also a good and healthy snack to-go or even to eat post workout.
You should give it a try! If you like or try my recipe, please let me know, leave a comment or set a link to my instagram account #greenysherry , so I can find your recreation.
Have a nice day,
Sharon xx
Hmm sooo lecker!
Liebe Sharon!
Du hast hier genau das gezaubert, was ich schon so lange auf meiner Backliste stehen habe! Ich habe dir – glaube ich – schon gesagt, dass ich gepufften Quinoa gekauft habe, oder? Der steht nun im Schrank und wartet auf seinen Einsatz. Aber wenn es so weit ist, werde ich mit Sicherheit darüber bloggen und deine tolle Inspiration verlinken. 🙂
Liebe Grüße
Jenni
Liebe Jenni,
vielen Dank für Deinen Kommentar! Ich freue mich total, dass Dir diese Quinoa-Riegel gefallen, sind auch echt lecker 🙂
Das würde mich sehr freuen, wenn Du sie auch mal probierst. Ich bin mir sicher, du magst sie auch!
Wünsche Dir einen schönen Abend,
Liebe Grüße,
Sharon
Liebe Sharon,
wow, die sehen echt lecker aus! Ob ich wohl anstatt des Quinoas auch gepufften Amaranth einsetzen kann? Quinoa hat ja eigentlich keinen großen Eigengeschmack, dass man etwas vermissen würde, oder?
Viele Grüße
Jassi
Liebe Jassi,
vielen lieben dank für Dein Lob! Und ja, ich bin mir sicher, dass man auch gepufftes Amaranth nehmen kann. Das wollte ich auch schon probieren. Gepuffter Reis ginge bestimmt auch 🙂 Der Fantasie sind keine Grenzen gesetzt! Ich bin gespannt, wie Du sie findest!!
Liebe Grüße,
Sharon
What size dish do you use when making these? And how many bars does this recipe yield? They look delicious!
Hello Stef,
thank you so much for your comment, I am happy you like the recipe :).
I estimate my baking dish about 8 inch, and I made about 15 bars. It depends on the size of the bars. You should try it, they are so yummy 🙂
These look amazing. What is puffed quinoa??? I started a healthy, clean eating program in March 2017 and love that I can have my healthy sweets and still release weight! Thank you!
Hi Sheri,
thank you so much for your comment and I am happy to hear about your clean eating program, way to go 🙂 !
Puffed quinoa is like puffed rice (or puffed wheat), its taste reminds of popcorn, you should find it in organic food stores. Its so yummy and healthy!
Happy monday,
Sharon 🙂
I can’t wait you make these! What brand peanut butter do you use? Have you tried making them with almond or cashew butter?
Hi Terri,
I used a german brand from an organic fair trade store. No I actually haven’t tried making these with almond butter, but its a good idea, I should try this 🙂
What exactly is a water bath? The only thing that came to mind was a double boiler.. ? Definitely will try this recipe!
Hello Haley,
thank you for leaving a comment. To melt chocolate in a water bath (bain marie) you heat up a large pot of water – keep water hot but avoid any boiling. In a small heat-proof bowl (or smaller pot), break the chocolate you want to melt into pieces. Then you put the bowl with chocolate pieces inside the larger pot of water and let it melt.
I hope this helps you. Please let me know how you like the bars 🙂
What is a water bath? Then only thing that came to mind was a double boiler.. Excited to try this!
Where do you find puffed quinoa please ?
Hi Debra,
you should find puffed quinoa a wholefood stores / organic food stores. I hope this helps you 🙂
IS there a way you can use regular quinoa in this recipe? These look so yummy, and I have quinoa (but not puffed) in my cupboard 🙂
Hi Gina,
thank you for your comment 🙂
For this particular recipe you need the puffed quinoa, it tastes a bit like popcorn. You can find puffed quinoa in wholefood or organic food stores or online 🙂
I hope this helps you,
Sharon 🙂
I haven’t used puffed quinoa before. Do you cook it first as with regular quinoa? Thanks
Hello Deidre,
thank you for your comment. No, I only use puffed quinoa, means I buy it in organic food stores. You actually can puff it yourself, but I have never tried it before 🙂
Hi Sharon,
Look really good. How long will these keep in the fridge?
Hello Pia,
thank you for your comment! You can keep these in the fridge for at least up to one week 🙂
The quinoa used is cooked or just rinsed?
Hi Dina,
for this recipe you need puffed quinoa, you can purchase in organic food stores 🙂
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Thank you very much 🙂
Hello, can these be frozen and eaten later?
Hi Katy,
unfortunately I’ve never tried to freeze them before, but I think it should work 🙂
These look amazing, and easy to make! Love the healthy ingredients. ?
Dear Ashley,
thank you so much for your feedback, I’m glad you like these. Enjoy 🙂
I am so in love with this recipe! I can’t stop eating them. What is considered serving size, and do you have calorie count? I might have overlooked it!
I have got to try these!
If puffed quinoa is the same as popped quinoa, you can do it yourself just google it.
Yes it is same as popped quinoa! Thank you Daphne, I am very glad you like my recipe 🙂
Did you hydrate the chia seeds or mix them in dry?
Hi Angi,
I used dry/raw Chia seeds 🙂
I was super excited to make these, thank you Sharon for this wonderful recipe! I just made my first batch. Yummy! My hubby gave me the feedback that he’d love it even more if the puffed quinoa was crunchy. Might you have any suggestions of how I could do that?
I think next time I’ll try a little less maple syrup as they seemed a bit on the sweet side. Also the chocolate top coating cracked quite a lot when I cut it. Do you think I should cut it shortly after putting it in the fridge, & then put it back in again to continue firming up, do you think that might help? (Or could it be that my knife wasn’t sharp enough?) I appreciate any feedback you might have!
I make a lot of this kind of snack. This is my favourite recipe so far. Do you know the nutritional information for these bars?
Dear Denise,
thank you for your kind words and feedback! Very glad to hear you like my recipe. I’m sorry, I don not know the nutritional information for these bars though.
Greetings from Germany,
Sharon
Looks awesome. Can’t wait to make these. You cook the puffed quinoa frost correct? Just wanted to ask so I didn’t mess anything 🙂
Thanks!
Hi Jordyn,
thank your for your kind words. I use puffed/popped quinoa that I don’t have to cook. You can buy it ready puffed/popped at organic food stores or online. Enjoy!
These look so good! What a great way to get a crunchy texture with health benefits!
Thanks for sharing! Do they keep long?
Hi Sherry, thanks for sharing. I’ve tried your recipe and love it ? altho I made some changes since I do not have hemp seed and vegan choco.
Thanks so much ? for yummy recipe
Mine fell apart ! I’m gutted because they weren’t cheap to make . What actually holds them together? I should have thought it through first ?
Hi Sandi,
oh sorry to hear that! Usually the peanut butter should hold them together, maybe a bit more peanut butter can help? Let me know!
Sharon x