Chocolate Quinoa Crunch Bites (Printable)
Crunchy no-bake chocolate quinoa bites with oats and coconut, ready in under 30 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Base
01 - 1 cup puffed quinoa
02 - 1 cup rolled oats (gluten-free if desired)
03 - 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
→ Chocolate Mixture
04 - 1 cup dark chocolate chips or chopped dark chocolate
05 - 1/4 cup natural peanut butter or almond butter
06 - 2 tablespoons coconut oil
07 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup
→ Optional Add-ins
08 - 1/4 cup chopped nuts (almonds, pecans, or cashews)
09 - 2 tablespoons dried cranberries or raisins
10 - Pinch of sea salt
# How-To Steps:
01 - Line a mini muffin tin or baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - In a large bowl, combine the puffed quinoa, rolled oats, and shredded coconut. Fold in any optional chopped nuts or dried fruit if using.
03 - In a medium heatproof bowl, combine the dark chocolate, peanut butter or almond butter, coconut oil, and maple syrup. Melt together using a microwave or double boiler, stirring every 30 seconds if microwaving, until completely smooth.
04 - Pour the melted chocolate mixture over the quinoa-oat mixture and stir until every piece is thoroughly and evenly coated.
05 - Scoop rounded tablespoons of the mixture into the prepared mini muffin tin or onto the baking sheet. Press each portion down gently to form compact, uniform bites. Sprinkle with sea salt if desired.
06 - Refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or until the bites are firm and hold their shape.
07 - Remove the bites from the tin or peel them off the parchment paper. Transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- They taste like a candy bar you would pay good money for, but you can feel smug about the ingredients.
- No oven required, which means you can make them even when your kitchen feels like a sauna in summer.
02 -
- If you skip the coconut oil the bites will still taste fine but they will be softer and lack that satisfying snap when you bite in.
- Press firmly when shaping because loose crumbly bites will fall apart the moment you try to pick them up.
03 -
- Toast the oats and coconut in a dry pan for five minutes before mixing and the flavor deepens in a way that makes people ask what your secret is.
- A tiny pinch of cinnamon in the chocolate mixture adds warmth without anyone being able to identify exactly what changed.