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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My favorite!! Every Sunday I make a new batch! I have one every morning as soon as I get up before my workout!
Tanya, Thanks so much for letting us know. This is one of our favorites. I’m doing a cooking show today and this is one of the recipes I’ll be making. 🙂
I made these today. they are delicious. Did you know there is no chocolate listed in the ingredients?
Janet, Somehow that got deleted from the recipe. I just added it back in. It calls for 1/4 cups chocolate chips. Thanks! 🙂
Lisa, Add 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips. Thank you for pointing that out. 🙂
Lisa, It’s 1/4 cup chocolate chips! 🙂 I made these today and shaped them into 1″ balls, dropped a little of melted chocolate in the center and they were yummy & pretty. I called these Quinoa Protein Drops. 🙂
I have a tree nut allergy so I can do the peanut butter no prob but not the almonds. Can I substitute walnuts for the almonds? Thank GOD I'm not allergic to them HAHA!!!
Rosalynd, Sure…better yet, raw cashews. 🙂
Just tried this with cashews instead of almonds… they are delish!
These were the BEST protein bars I have ever made! I combined everything together (using mini chocolate chips), and made 16 bars. Think I'll try the balls next time I make these. Thanks so much for the recipe!
Jennifer, GREAT!!! My fav too. 🙂
These are delicious! Thanx so much for the recipe. Having to cut out sweets has been hard for me but this fits the bill.
I totally love these but is there a better way to store them? They got gooey in the air tight container.
Dot, I would recommend refrigerating.
I made these a few days ago and just stored them in a Pyrex container in my fridge (I'm still eating on them). Made them into balls, got about 25. They are SO good. Will definitely be making them again. Thanks for the great recipe!
Glad you’re enjoying the bars. Thank you!
Just made these – yummy!! And I'm one of those who HATES dates! I did make 2 changes; one intentional, one unintentional. Instead of using peanut butter, I used peanut butter powder (no chemicals, organic, and only 45 calories per 2T vs. 190 calories in real peanut butter). I added a little water and honey to compensate for the dry powder. I added the chocolate chips to the food processor so I wouldn't have to mess around with frosting these; mixed a bit too long and ended up with chocolate batter. I also just patted the mixture into a loaf pan lined with saran wrap… Thanks for the recipe!!
Sheryl, GREAT!!! Thanks for the feedback. 🙂
These were really good! I made them with prunes instead of dates, my choco almond pistachio butter i make in place of pb (since i have an allergy to peanuts), caroub chips with some dark choc. chips & also added some banana & cream & vanilla protein powder to up the protein. Definitely making these again!
Finally had a chance to try these. Amazing!!!
I made them with prunes instead of dates, added 2 tablespoons of chia seed, added the chocolate chips to the mix, and made them into 24 tablespoon size balls. I don't have a large food processor, so I mixed it by hand and they turned out great! Thanks for sharing!
Christina, Thanks for the tips! 🙂
I'm new to chia, but hear great things about it.
Do you have to do anything to the seeds before you add them?
Heather, I usually add them to a little water to soften them up first.
Has anyone tried adding Acai powder to these? I am trying to find a tasty way to get my boys to eat Acai, but it just tastes terrible in everything.