Energizing Quinoa Protein Bites

When I set out to make this recipe, I’d originally planned on making protein bars, not bites. I wanted to make something using quinoa, because not only is it a great source of energy, it also contains more protein than most other grains and carbohydrates (and, also, I’d just made a bunch and wanted to use it up).

But, unsurprisingly, the quinoa ended up making bars that were really crumbly, so I decided to improvise and make them bite-sized instead. They turned out awesome! Not too sweet, with just the right amount of coconut, cherries and, of course, chocolate. They’re perfect for a pre-workout meal or a snack to energize you any time of the day.

Also, they’re really easy to make, so don’t get intimidated by the ingredient list. You can also improvise and the recipe to your heart’s content depending on what you’re craving and what you have on hand when you’re making them.

Here’s how to make energizing quinoa protein bites:

Ingredients:

1/3 cup cinnamon whey protein (vanilla will work too)
2/3 cups quick cooking oats
2/3 cups cooked quinoa
1/8 tsp sea salt
2-3 Tbsp honey or agave syrup
1.5 Tbsp melted coconut oil
1.5 Tbsp almond milk
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/8 cup ground flax seed
1/8 cup chopped dried cherries, chopped (optional but delicious )
1/8 cup unsweetened dried coconut, chopped (optional but delicious)
About 1/3 of a dark chocolate bar (I used 88%)

Directions:

Cook the quinoa beforehand, making sure to rinse it well before cooking. Once the quinoa is cooked, stir in the dry ingredients, then add the oil, honey or agave, and almond milk and stir until everything is well mixed together. Add in the chopped cherries and coconut and stir.

Once you’ve stirred everything together, you’ll want to stick the mixture in the fridge for an hour or so or in the freezer for 15-30 minutes to make the dough easier to work with. After the dough is chilled, take it out of the fridge or freezer and form it into 2-inch balls. It’s going to be a bit messy! Melt the dark chocolate in the microwave or a stovetop, then take the balls and roll them in the chocolate, sticking them on wax paper or foil before putting them back into the freezer.

You can eat these quinoa protein bites either frozen or refrigerated, but I found I liked them the best after freezing them and then allowing them to thaw for about 3-5 minutes before chowing down. Yum!

 

Macros (per 1/8 recipe):

Calories: 157
Protein: 6g
Carbs: 17g
Fat: 7.5g
Fiber: 3.5g




















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