Pack these delicious bars for your mid-morning snack or before your next workout.
When you’re craving a less-than-healthy snack, look to these Quinoa Protein Bars instead. They’re a great way to satisfy your cravings while still maintaining a healthy diet. This delectable snack combines quinoa and dark chocolate, as well as other superfoods, to create a tasty treat. It’s a perfect snack for before or after a workout, and it definitely satisfies when that afternoon sweet tooth craving hits.
If you’re on a gluten-free diet, you’ll especially love these Quinoa Protein Bars. Having quick and easy access to a healthy treat that also happens to be gluten-free is like hitting the jackpot! Unlike store-bought gluten-free snacks that are packed full of refined sugar, all the sugars in this tasty treat are naturally occurring from the dates and raw honey.
Superfood Quinoa
Quinoa is one of the most versatile superfoods you can eat. Superfoods are natural, unprocessed foods that are low in calories and high in nutrients. They help the body fight disease and provide it with what it needs to be in excellent health.
As compared to other grains, quinoa contains higher-than-average levels of nutrients. It’s an excellent source of fiber, and it also happens to be a complete protein. That means it contains all the essential amino acids your body needs (just like meat), so it’s a great plant-based way to get your protein. It’s also full of antioxidants and minerals, like manganese, folate, iron, and zinc.
Luckily, quinoa is super easy to cook, too (and we have a few secrets for making the perfect light and fluffy quinoa). Once you let it cool, you can easily throw together the remaining ingredients and whip up a batch of these tasty, nutritious Quinoa Protein Bites. You can store them for several days, so enjoy these as a grab-and-go snack all week long!
Have Some Fun with this Recipe!
To create a little variety in your quinoa protein bars or to accommodate any food allergies, sunflower butter and pumpkin seeds are great alternatives to peanut and almond butters. You can make your own alternative nut butter, or check out these seven healthy nut butter brands if you want a store-bought option. As far as other modifications go, feel free to add the chocolate chips directly to the mixture instead of melting them and drizzling on top. Or, omit the chocolate altogether if you’re trying to watch your sugar intake.
Speaking of sugar, you’ll love the way the dates keep the bars moist without providing a distinct flavor. They’re also a healthy, naturally occurring sugar source. They’ll give you a burst of energy without creating a crash later because they’re considered low on the glycemic index.
TIP: Make this recipe into 20 Quinoa Protein Bites, and you’ve got a snack that’s under 100 calories! For more low-calorie snacks, check out these 100-calorie gluten-free snacks, or curb your cravings with one of these foods.
Quinoa Protein Bars Recipe
Quinoa Protein Bars
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup quinoa pre-rinsed
- 2/3 cup water
- 16 whole dates pitted, no sugar added
- 1/2 cup almonds raw, with skin
- 1/3 cup peanut butter natural, crunchy (almond butter is an option)
- 1/4 cup chocolate chips
- 1 tablespoon honey optional
Instructions
- Add quinoa and water to a small sauce pot, cover it, and bring it to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for approximately 15 minutes or until all water has been absorbed. Cool to room temperature and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Using a food processor or high-powered blender, add dates and pulse until they form a ball. Remove dates and place in a medium mixing bowl. Add almonds to the food processor and pulse until finely minced. Be careful not to process the almonds too long or they will turn to almond flour.
- Add the dates, almonds, peanut butter, and chilled quinoa to the food processor and pulse until the ingredients are well combined. Return the ingredients to the mixing bowl, shape into six 2-inch x 1-inch bars, about 1-inch thick.
- In a small saucepan, add chocolate chips and honey and melt the mixture over low heat or in a double boiler. Evenly spread a thin layer of chocolate over the top of each protein bar, return to the refrigerator, and allow the chocolate to harden. Bars can be stored in an airtight container for several days.
- Optional: omit the honey and add chocolate chips to the food processor when adding the quinoa.
Nutrition Information
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These quinoa protein bars are easy, healthy, and delicious. They’re unbelievably convenient for when you’re on the go, and they can be stored for several days.
Have you made this recipe for quinoa protein bars? Let us know what you think in the comments!
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Isn't 370 cals a bit too much for a snack?
I just cooked up 1 cup of quinoa tonight. I may have to try dividing my cooked quinoa into thirds and trying this out. Thanks!
Not a healthy snack. Divide the bar in half and you still have a filling snack. Also, try making the mixture into balls for a quick and low cal pick me up.
GREAT! Keep us posted Nikki.
It's a protein bar, its supposed to be high. Its good for you protein If you workout and follow a high protein diet, its fine!
your "date cake" sounds wonderful. any chance i can get that recipe? I love dates.
Date Cake?
These are so good! I just made them for the second time and left off the honey/chocolate top and added raw cacao nibs into the mixture. It still combined well.
Kris, Thanks for the tip…I'll have to give it try. 🙂
These are amazing with soy nut butter!
These are amazing! Didn't even need the honey. Can I freeze them? If not, how long will they last in my fridge?
How much cooked Quinoa do I add? I made a bunch recently, but not the measurements listed here. It is cooked up and sitting in a bowl, but I want to make sure the ratios are correct!
Roughly how much cooked quinoa is 1/3 cup uncooked?
I have some left over and am looking for ways to use it up.
1 cup
Made these yesterday! Shocked at how delish these are — the dates sweetened it nicely. My picky eater thought they were good. I made 16 smaller 2-bite bars. Entered the recipe on myfitnesspal and it said 123 calories, 14 carbs, 7 fat, 3 protein, 10 sugar, 3 fiber for 16 bars. Did not use honey (doesn't need it), and used semi-sweet chocolate chips (on hand). Tip — store them in airtight container or the quinoa gets a little dry/crunchy on the outside of the bar.
i'm confused why this post is on 'skinny ms.' but the calories are 376 – none of the protein bars in the store even use that many calories! and 33 grams of sugar? that's more than a coca cola! why in the world would you eat this? it's not skinny or good for you at all.
Casey, Great question! The Quinoa Bars nutritional info is based on a fairly large bar, so you might consider making half a bar or rolling into balls. With that said, our bars are made with only Whole Foods. Almonds are high in fats and calories, but they are healthy fats and a great source for antioxidants. Quinoa is a complete protein and a complex carbohydrate, which makes this a perfect food for lasting energy. Dates are probably nature’s sweetest candy. We use dates to sweeten a lot of our desserts and never use refined sugar. Dates too are a superfood and ultra healthy. We realize a lot of people are concerned about calories, as are we. This is why, we give suggestions for lowering calorie content by cutting down the size of the bar. Our focus is primarily on whole minimally processed foods and less on calories. I hope this helps! Feel free to email me with additional questions at gale@skinnyms.com. 🙂
My goodness these things are DELICIOUS and addictive! I love them! Used a small scoop and drizzled them with chocolate what an Awsome snack! No more cookies for me 😉
Julie, Thank you!!! I’m so happy you enjoyed. 😉
Just made these and they are delicious. I only had cocoa almonds (not chocolate covered), but the were delicious anyway!
That’s a good thing since it doesn’t call for chocolate covered almonds. 🙂