Toasted Quinoa Almond Butter Bars
These bars are really doing the heavy lifting on the parenting front in my house.
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.
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.
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.
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
*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.
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.
Combine all ingredients except the quiona into a food processor. Pulse well, until a mostly smooth batter forms.
Now add the toasted quinoa into the food processor and pulse 3-4 times until just combined.
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.
*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.
Happy snacking!
For more disease-fighting & drool-worthy
meal ideas, check out my other plant-powered recipes here: