Why buy a candy bar when you can easily make your own! The Master Chefs at HealthBarn came up with the idea of a healthy chocolate bar, and here is the Quinoa Crunchie! Quinoa is a complete, plant-based protein, and lightly toasting it on the stove makes it warm and nutty. We use semi-sweet chocolate for the antioxidant power, and a graham cracker crust at the bottom adds some fiber. This no-bake bar is the perfect dessert that’s not too sweet, but all too tasty!

Ingredients:

½ cup quinoa (any color)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
5 graham crackers

Directions:

  1. Prepare a 9×9 pan with parchment paper. Arrange the graham crackers in the bottom of the pan, so the whole bottom is covered. Set aside.
  2. Set up a double boiler to melt the chocolate. Set a metal bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Add the chocolate chips to the bowl, and mix slowly to melt the chocolate. When the chocolate is completely melted, turn off the stove burner and leave the chocolate over the heated water so it does not re-solidify.
  3. Toast your quinoa on the stove. Set a dry frying pan over low-medium heat, and put the quinoa in the pan. Constantly stir or shake the pan so the quinoa does not sit still in the hot pan. When the quinoa begins to take on a brown color and starts to smell nutty, remove from heat and add to the bowl with the chocolate. Stir to combine.
  4. Pour the chocolate-quinoa mixture over the graham crackers and smooth out evenly so no graham cracker is visible. Put the tray in the freezer overnight to set the chocolate.
  5. Cut into 16 pieces, and enjoy!

Makes 16 servings (1 bar per serving)

Nutrition Facts per serving: 90 calories; 4g fat (2g sat fat, 1g mono, 0g poly, 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 13g carbohydrate (1g fiber, 7g sugar); 1g protein; 20mg sodium; 4% DV iron.

– Stacey Antine, MS, RDN is the author of Appetite for Life, founder of HealthBarn USA, and director of the HealthBarn Foundation and HealthBarn Nutrition Academy Celebrating 20 years of inspiring strong bodies and healthy minds, HealthBarn USA has become a national model for hands-on nutrition education. Stacey was named one of the Top 10 Dietitians in the Nation by Today’s Dietitian magazine for her groundbreaking work in children’s health and wellness.

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