Next time you are craving something chocolatey but still on the healthier side, then give these chocolate quinoa bites a try! They’re crisp and crunchy, very flavorful, and made with wholesome ingredients, especially if choosing dark chocolate. Make for a perfect quick snack, post-workout pick-me-up, or tasty dessert you can make ahead. 100% vegan & gluten-free.
You won't believe how delicious and easy these chocolate quinoa bites are to prepare.
It's summertime (yay!) and all I want to make are no-bake treats. My whole family is obsessed with these peanut butter chocolate cups, and I'll also make these secretly healthy chickpea chocolate truffles and these peanut butter oats bars when I need wholesome snacks ahead of a busy week.
And now that I've made these chocolate quinoa crisps, my kids (and husband) keep asking for more, they are that good! I made a few batches during the testing phase and they all disappeared on the same day... this is a sign for you to give them a try!
All you need is dark chocolate, peanut butter and crunchy quinoa puffs, and you can make them within minutes, although you will need about 1 hour for them to set in the fridge.
They are sweet, crunchy, packed with chocolate flavor and they contain some plant protein, thanks to the peanut butter + protein-packed quinoa.
Let me know if you give them a try! ❤️
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❤️ Why you will love this recipe
- Ultra crunchy and satisfying
- Packed with chocolate + peanut butter flavor
- Require only 3 ingredients
- Great make-ahead dessert or snack
- Kid-friendly
- Vegan & gluten-free
🗒 Ingredient notes (+ substitutions)
- Puffed quinoa: They might be hard to find in stores, but they are very easy to purchase online. I get these quinoa puffs from the brand Wholefort, which I found on Amazon. Nuts.com also has some quinoa puffs that you can purchase from their website.
- Chocolate: I used the vegan dark chocolate chunks from the brand Enjoy Life, but feel free to use your favorite brand. I recommend choosing at least 70% since there is no extra sweetener in this recipe.
- Peanut butter: a natural kind of peanut butter (the kind that is pourable) is best for this recipe. You can choose smooth or chunky peanut butter, both work! You can also use other nuts or seed butter, such as almond butter or pumpkin seed butter for a nut-free recipe.
⭐️ Quantities down below in the recipe card!
📝 Variations
- Vanilla: add about 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract for extra flavor.
- Salt: love a sweet and salty combo? Add a pinch of salt when melting the chocolate, or even better, garnish the bites with coarse sea salt before the chocolate sets.
- Extra inclusions: feel free to throw in a little shredded coconut, dried cherries, chopped nuts and more.
- No puffed quinoa? use puffed rice or Rice Krispies instead!
🍽 How to make chocolate quinoa bites
Step 1: Add the chocolate chunks and peanut butter to a medium-large bowl.
Step 2: Warm up using the microwave: start with 90 seconds, then add 20 sec at a time until mostly melted. Let the bowl rest for 1-2 minutes, then stir until all melted and smooth.
Step 3: Add the quinoa puffs.
Step 4: Stir until all the puffs are covered with the chocolate.
Step 5: Divide the chocolate-quinoa mix over a baking sheet or a large plate covered with parchment paper. Use about 2 tablespoons per bite and shape them into rounds.
Step 6: Chill until the bites are set, about 1 hour. Enjoy!
⭐️ Detailed recipe (+ video) down below in the recipe card!
💡 Helpful tips
- Use a big enough bowl when melting the chocolate so there is room to add the puffs once melted.
- These are no-bake treats, so feel free to shape them the way you want! Make a heart shape on Valentine's Day and an egg shape on Easter (use a cookie cutter to help with the shaping), then decorate them once cooled down. So fun!
❗️Storage tips
I recommend keeping them in the fridge so the quinoa bites stay crunchy and the chocolate won't melt. They should be good for a whole week.
❓ FAQs
It is possible to puff quinoa at home yourself, but I would not recommend it. It can be hard to have consistent results and the texture will vary from what you get from the store.
🌱 More vegan chocolate treats you might like
I hope you like this chocolate quinoa bites recipe as much as we do! If you try it, please leave a comment below and rate the recipe to let me know how it was. Your feedback is so helpful!
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📖 Recipe
3-Ingredient Chocolate Quinoa Bites
Equipment
- Mixing bowl
- Microwave
- Measuring cups
- Baking sheet or plate (+ parchment paper)
Ingredients
- 1 cup dark chocolate chunks or chips
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- 1½ cups quinoa puffs - I used the quinoa puffs from Wholefort that I got online on Amazon
Instructions
- Add the chocolate and peanut butter to a medium-large microwave-safe bowl. Warm using the microwave for 90 seconds, then warm extra 20 seconds at a time until almost completely melted. Let the bowl rest for 1-2 minutes, then stir until all melted and smooth.
- Add the quinoa puffs and stir to cover all the puffs uniformly.
- Place a layer of parchment paper over a large plate or a baking sheet, then divide the quinoa mix using about 2 tablespoons for each bite (you should end up with about 11 crisps). Flatten them slightly, then transfer in the fridge until set, about 1 hour. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Use a big enough bowl when melting the chocolate so there is room to add the puffs once melted.
- These are no-bake treats, so feel free to shape them the way you want! Make a heart shape on Valentine's Day and an egg shape on Easter (use a cookie cutter to help with the shaping), then decorate them once cooled down. So fun!
- Nutrition: please note that the nutritional information is an estimate per serving provided for informational purposes only (calculated by software) and accuracy is not guaranteed. Consult with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian if you need precise nutrition calculations for health reasons.
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