No-Bake Coconut Almond Quinoa Granola Bars

Pump up your usual homemade granola bars with the addition of quinoa. You can mix in whatever accompaniments you desire but this time I went with coconut and almond.

When it comes to traveling, I never skimp out on the food experience part. This fact however is the very reason my pants are a bit too snug these days after a summer of travel, eating my weight in local fare, and not working out as much. Of course when I do work out I have pumped up my squats so that’s not exactly helping my thighs and behind fit into my pants either but at least that’s a more productive flux.

Now that my calendar is starting to calm down a little bit (not completely mind you), I am making more of an effort to pay attention to what I eat. Granted, that doesn’t mean I don’t have full-fat ice cream solidifying in my freeze as we speak/read (and will be sharing tomorrow) but it does mean that during my latest rendition of homemade granola bars I decided to pump up their nutritional value a bit with the addition of quinoa.

Four years ago: Brownie Fruit Pizza

NO-BAKE COCONUT ALMOND QUINOA GRANOLA BARS

Makes 1 dozen bars

Ingredients:

BARS

1/4 cup coconut oil, soft but not melted

1/4 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup creamy natural almond butter (or homemade)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup gluten-free quick oats

1 cup uncooked quinoa

1 cup shredded coconut

1 cup chopped dried fruit (I used dates and cherries)

1/2 cup chopped almonds

TOPPING (optional)

1/4 cup dark chocolate chips, melted

Coarse Sea salt

Directions:

1. Line the bottom and sides of an 8 x 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper, set aside.
2. In a large sauce pan, add coconut oil, brown sugar, honey and nut butter. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally until the mixture starts to bubble. Once bubbling, cook for 2 minutes while stirring. Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
3. Stir in the oats, quinoa, coconut, dates, cherries, and almonds. Stir until well coated. Pour into the prepared pan and press the mixture evenly into the pan. Drizzle with melted chocolate and sprinkle with coarse sea salt.
4. Place the bars in the refrigerator and let cool for at least 30 minutes before cutting into bars.

Source: Adapted from my No-Bake Gluten-Free Cherry Pistachio Granola Bars.

Made something from the blog?

Be sure to share it 

on Instagram with the 

tag #TheSpiffyCookie