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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I made these but can't anymore!!! Mine didn't turn out in bars and I didn't read well and just mixed the chocolate chips in and I don't think I'm suppose to have eaten half of this in like 24 hours. I crave it. It has a taste that lingers and I stay full till I walk by the fridge again then I forget that I'm suppose to eat food besides this. IT will be a treat like at holidays and such …Thankfully Labor day is just around the corner. 🙂
Sarah, You’re too funny! I agree, they are addictive. 🙂
Can I use a Vitamix instead of a food processor? Of so would I just puree the dates? Thanks!
Kim, Yes, a vitamix should work fine. Just stop it when the dates form a ball.
Oh my these look delish…so looking forward to making these little guys.
I am curious if anyone has frozen these? I usually have a 100 calorie snack so would need to make this into 22 or 23 balls. That would take me over three weeks to eat them if I had one per day. I definitely want to try them but need to watch portion size. Thoughts??
Christy, I've never frozen them but I think they would freeze well.
Did you try freezing some? I just made my first batch and I'm tickled with the yuminess of this treat but if I keep them in the fridge I know I will eat them too quick. Guess I'll try freezing them, why not?
I made these protein bars:):) Added the chips into the quinoa mixture, not on top and no honey. They are awesome!!!
Thank you for sharing your Quinoa Protein bar recipe. We featured the recipe on our blog this week! http://www.thehappygal.com/20-quinoa-recipes-love…
I just made this, I eliminated the dates, honey and chocolate since my son can't have sugar and certain fruits and added in 2 1/2 swirls of agave and it came out great.
My friend and I just made these, but our nutritional info is way different and we're confused. We love how they taste but are coming up with only 8g of protein per bar – any idea what kind of pb you used? I wonder if that makes up the difference? Or what quinoa? Maybe different types have different amounts of protein?
HB, 14 is correct when it's 8 bars. If you are doing the 20 pieces, then the protein will be lower as will the calories.
What's the best way to store them?
Jen, Store them in an airtight container and they should keep for a few days. If you would like them to keep longer than that, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 weeks.
Help! I just made these bars (they have cooled in the fridge for about 3 hours) and they are very moist like raw cookie dough. They are very tasty but I was hoping for a more dense texture like the picture, more like a Larabar. Something easier to grab on the go. I did mix the chocolate chips in with the remaining ingredients. Any suggestions?
Jenn, These are not very dense. To get them less moist, less water can be used in the mixing process. It's important that the quinoa used is not too wet in the beginning.
My toddler gave me a high five as he ate this for the first time! And he is very picky – he will hardly eat anything and I am trying to work with him. These are a little messy and I had a hard time working with the chocolate (maybe I didn’t melt it enough), but the taste and nutritional content is AMAZING. Thank you for this exceptional recipe.
Can these bars be frozen?!
Michelle, Sure can! 🙂
How about gluten & dairy free options?
Pam, There are lots of gluten & dairy free options on the site. This recipe is gluten and dairy free if you use Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips, which we did.
Hi. Great recipe. I was wondering what size date you use. Do you use a larger variety like Medjool or a smaller variety like Deglet Noor. Thanks for your help!
Linda, I’ve used both with good results. Typically, I buy Deglet Noor because they come pitted, whereas Medjool often doesn’t.
The nutritional info states: yields 8 bars. The instructions say to form into 6 bars. The video shows 6 bars. So, if it’s 6 bars instead of 8, then calories per bar are going to be more than 376….????
Hi Carol, the nutritional info should also read 6 bars! I’ve fixed the typo, thanks for letting us know!