Quinoa Crunch Bars

Years ago, we used to get a crispy quinoa cereal from a particular company that I ordered various grains from regularly.  My kids absolutely loved it!  Unsweetened but so satisfyingly crispy, a tiny sprinkle of sugar or even just plain with milk would make them happy.  My eldest even created a beautiful dessert out of it.  That company no longer carries those crispies, so I went looking for some recently and was very pleased to find several options.  Thanks, Amazon. These bars are a combination of healthy and indulgent.  Cashew and honey are a match made in heaven although these could easily be vegan by using golden syrup or vegan honey instead, making sure to also use vegan chocolate and omitting the optional butter.

Honestly, these taste like amazing little candy bars and still have a decent addition of protein and fiber.  Let's take the "Snickers satisfies you" ad campaign and compare.  I don't know about you, but eating a Snickers, while momentarily pleasurable, will still leave me hungry within 15 minutes, and craving sugar.  So, compared to a full size Snickers (1.86 oz), one of these bars ( ~2.1 oz.) has about 23 fewer calories, 18% less saturated fat, 57% less sodium, 28% less carbs, less than half the sugar (57% less), over three times the fiber (that's 230% more), and 25% more protein.  Plus, one bar will keep you full for a good 2-3 hours!  So forget about all the numbers.  These are super tasty, a total treat, and a much healthier and satisfying snack than a candy bar while they still tasting like one!

If you have a nut allergy, these would work with sunflower seed butter and pepitas.  I imagine tahini would work nicely as well, oooo, even chocolate tahini!

For just a little treat, cut one in half and have a super tasty ~100 calorie snack!

Quinoa Crunch Bars  
makes 10 bars 

    ½ cup creamy cashew butter (make sure to stir well if separated)
    ⅓ cup honey
    1 tsp vanilla extract
    ⅓ cup gluten free rolled oats
    ½ tsp butter (optional)
    ½ cup crispy quinoa cereal
    ⅓ cup flaxseed meal
    ½ cup roasted, salted pistachios, roughly chopped (I used honey roasted)
    pinch of sea salt (optional)
   
    For the dark chocolate topping:
    2.5 ounces bittersweet or dark chocolate chips (about ⅓ cup)
    1 tsp coconut oil
    2 tbsp crispy quinoa cereal or chopped pistachios
    flaky finishing salt, for sprinkling on top (I used Murray river, Maldon works as well, even Kosher salt)

Instructions

    Line an 8½ x 4½-inch loaf pan with parchment paper.  Set aside.
    Add the oats and optional butter to a medium pan and place over medium low heat. Toast the oats in the pan for 3-6 minutes or until they begin to turn a slight golden brown color.  The oats may also be toasted in the oven at 325ºF for 8-10 minutes.  Once done toasting, set aside.
    In a medium bowl, mix together the cashew butter, honey and vanilla until smooth. (You will notice the viscosity of the cashew butter increase significantly once the honey is incorporated.)  Add in the oats and quinoa cereal, along with the flaxseed meal, and chopped pistachios.  Taste and add a pinch of salt if desired.  Stir until all ingredients are evenly combined.
    Scoop mixture into the prepared loaf pan and spread out evenly, then press mixture down in the pan very firmly.

    Add the chocolate and coconut oil to a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 30 second intervals until melted. Pour over base and tilt the pan to evenly coat with chocolate. Add a couple tablespoons of the cereal quinoa and/or chopped pistachios on top. Sprinkle with the flake salt and place the pan in the fridge for 4 hours or until the mixture has completely hardened. Remove the bars from the pan and cut into 8-10 squares or bars. Store bars covered or in an airtight container in the fridge.

I would say don't eat them all too fast, but they truly are so satisfying, you won't even feel the need to overindulge! 

Be sure to check out the rest of our Q recipes:

• Jolene’s Recipe Journal: Loaded Quinoa Breakfast Bowl
• Palatable Pastime: Quebecoise Pommes Persillade
• Karen’s Kitchen Stories: Whole Wheat Quinoa Bread
• Food Lust People Love: Glazed Orange Quick Bread
• Culinary Cam: Quesabirria Tacos
• Blogghetti: Sheet Pan Quesadillas
• Sneha’s Recipe: Quick Potato Instant Sambar - Without Dal
• A Messy Kitchen: Quinoa Crunch Bars
• Mayuri’s Jikoni: Quinoa Paniyaram

 

If you want the full nutrition per bar:
For a 2.1 oz portion which is 1 bar, ⅒ of the full pan:

227 calories
Total fat        14.7g
Sat fat           3.7g
Sodium         54.2mg
Total carbs    23g
Fiber             3.3g
Sugars           12g
Protein           5g