If you’re looking for a delicious, easy to make snack, this just might work for you. It’s very easy to put together and has a wide variety of possible flavors. I made carob bites but mocha, coffee, vanilla, pumpkin, etc., etc., etc., would work. It’s very easy to do.
First, line a small baking sheet with waxed paper. In a medium bowl combine:
1 cup cooked quinoa (I packed my 1 cup measure like one would brown sugar)*
1/4 cup carob powder (or other powder of choice, see variations below)
1/4 cup date syrup (agave, coconut, maple or honey all would work depending on the flavor desired)
1/4 cup seed or nut butter (again can vary depending on flavor)
1 tablespoon whole chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
Mix all the above together until well combined. Using a small cookie scoop (mine was 1 tablespoon), scoop out the mixture and drop on the prepared baking sheet. Freeze for 1-3 hours depending on size. My 1 tablespoon scoop produced 24 bites and they froze within 1 hour.
*Quinoa is very quick and easy to cook. For this recipe combine 1/2 cup quinoa, a pinch of salt, and 1 cup of water in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to low. Cook for approximately 15 minutes or until water is gone and quinoa is translucent.
VARIATIONS:
COFFEE: Use 1/4 cup instant coffee and delete the vanilla extract, add coffee extract or a little water if mixture is too tight
MOCHA: Use 2 tablespoons instant coffee and 2 tablespoons carob powder (or cocoa if possible)
PUMPKIN: Use 1/4 cup pumpkin flavored protein powder (not pumpkin seed protein powder which has no taste)
VANILLA: Use 1/4 cup plain or vanilla protein powder; I would suggest using white quinoa and white chia seeds for vanilla as well as agave nectar
ALMOND: Use 1/4 cup almond butter, a 1/4 teaspoon almond extract and plain protein powder
MAPLE: Would probably work best with 1/4 cup maple syrup, maple extract instead of vanilla and the mildest of butters, perhaps tahini or cashew with plain or maple flavored protein powder
Use your imagination! As many combinations as we can think of would be possible for these bites.
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