Toasted Quinoa Almond Butter Bars
These bars are really doing the heavy lifting on the parenting front in my house.
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Not only are they insanely delicious, packed with protein, loaded with fiber & free of refined sugars or sweeteners, but they're the PERFECT way to introduce nut butters to your teething toddler or growing kiddo.
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Swallow-safe, perfectly balanced and a good source of B-vitamins, iron, potassium, calcium and so much more - these truly are the ultimate snack for every age and life stage.
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So whether you're looking to mitigate meal-time fussiness or just wanting a nutritious snack the whole family can appreciate on-the-go, these toasty little snack bars have got your back.
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Keep on crushing it, Mama. You've got this.
Prep time: 15 miN
Bake time: 8 miN
Total time: About 25 min
Makes: 10-14 Bars
Ingredients:
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1 cup white quinoa, rinsed
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1/3 cup almond butter*
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2 small ripe (spotty) bananas
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1 tsp vanilla extract
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3/4 tsp cinnamon
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1/3 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
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1/4 cup hemp hearts
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*See notes at bottom of page
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line an 8 x 8 baking pan with parchment paper.
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Begin by tossing the rinsed quinoa into a dry skillet over medium-high heat. Toast quinoa (stirring frequently with a rubber spatula) until golden brown and popping. It may take a few minutes for the water to evaporate initially before any toasting/popping occurs - this is to be expected.
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Combine all ingredients except the quiona into a food processor. Pulse well, until a mostly smooth batter forms.
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Now add the toasted quinoa into the food processor and pulse 3-4 times until just combined.
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Spread evenly into the lined baking pan and bake for 8 minutes to set. Allow to cool completely before slicing into bars, teething spears, or bite sized pieces and ENJOY!
These bars save best in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for 4-5 days, but can also be frozen for 3-4 months in a freezer-safe bag or container. Just make sure to leave to thaw at room temp for one hour prior to serving :)
If you have older kids or are wanting a sweeter treat for yourself, feel free to add a drizzle or maple syrup or 1/3 cup chocolate chunks to the batter prior to baking.
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*Lastly, if you don't have almond butter on hand, feel free to substitute peanut butter or sunflower seed butter for an equally delectable treat.
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Happy snacking!
For more disease-fighting & drool-worthy
meal ideas, check out my other plant-powered recipes here: