Two of my favorite treats combined into one recipe? And it's healthy? Yes, I did it. Another peanut butter and chocolate recipe. And now you can too!
I don't have a big story to share behind this recipe, only that after dinner the other, as I was watching Downton Abbey (we'll discuss how amazing this show is in a second), and I really wanted peanut butter cookies. Like really, really badly. But I've come to discover that living in an NYC apartment has it's downsides. I have a mini oven. Mini enough that none, not a single one of my cookie sheets fits inside. So until I purchase new ones – I'm leaning towards these – my cookie cravings will need to be satisfied by something else.
I wracked my brain with ideas, but the longer and longer I contemplated, the later and later it got (and the more and more sucked into Downtown Abbey I became). I got to the point that I just didn't feel like baking anymore. But I needed my sweet, peanut butter fix. So I settled for this. A healthy version of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, in rice crispy fashion.
They're my Healthy “Reese's” Quinoa Crispy Treats.
And they're a-m-a-z-i-n-g.
But before we get to the recipe, can we just quickly discuss Downton Abbey? First of all, I started watching it maybe a week ago and I'm already to the end of Season 2. I'm obsessed. It's so, so good! The drama that surrounds all the characters – Bates on trial for Murder? Lady Mary and Captain Crawley finally together? Sybil running away with the chauffeur? – I'm addicted!
Now I just have to find a way to watch Season 3. Anyone have a place online to watch it?
Okay, thanks for letting me vent. Now it's time to indulge in these super peanut-buttery, chocolate-covered quinoa crispy treats. They're just the decadent (and healthy of course) dessert that I was looking for and pair perfectly with a night of snuggling on the couch, watching your favorite TV show.
Enjoy!
Healthy “Reese’s” Quinoa Crispy Treats
Ingredients
- 2 1/2 cups quinoa crispies
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1/2 cup raw honey
- 4 oz dark chocolate
Instructions
- Mix the quinoa crispies and salt together in a large mixing bowl and set aside. Line a square baking dish (8? x 8? should do the trick) with parchment paper.
- In a small sauce pan, heat the peanut butter and honey together. Stir until its liquidy and easy to pour. Pour it over the quinoa mixture and stir with a wooden spoon until everything is combined. Transfer the mixture to your prepared baking dish, and flatten with the back of a plastic spatula. Place in the refrigerator while you melt the chocolate.
- Melt the chocolate over a double boiler. Once melted, remove the quinoa bars from the fridge and pour the chocolate mixture over them. Tilt the pan to ensure they are entirely coated. Return the dish to the fridge and until cool and the chocolate has completely hardened.
- It’s best if you can wait for a few hours, but if you’re ansy (like me!), then you can probably get away with throwing them in the freezer for 15 – 20 minutes, although they won’t be as tasty.
by Alyssa
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories 283kcal Calories from fat 95 | |
| % Daily Value | |
| Total Fat 11g | 17% |
| Saturated Fat 3g | 15% |
| Transfat 0g | |
| Sodium 54mg | 2% |
| Carbohydrate 43g | 14% |
| Dietary Fiber 4g | 16% |
| Sugars 18g | |
| Protein 8g | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
Private:
Ingredients
Instructions
by Simple Recipe Pro
| Nutrition Facts | |
|---|---|
| Serving Size | |
| Amount Per Serving | As Served |
| Calories Calories from fat | |
| % Daily Value | |
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs:
| Calories | 2000 | |
|---|---|---|
| Total Fat | Less than | 65g |
| Sat Fat | Less than | 25g |
| Cholesterol | Less than | 300mg |
| Sodium | Less than | 2,400mg |
| Total Carbohydrate | 300g | |
| Dietary Fiber | 25g | |
These quinoa crispy treats have been shared on: Whole Food Fridays, Gluten-Free Fridays, Thank Goodness It's Quinoa
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Alyssa is the quinoa-obsessed girl behind Simply Quinoa. She's passionate about helping you find health, happiness and balance with wholesome recipes and lifestyle tips.
Hi sorry this may be a silly question but what is quinoa crispies I know what quinoa is but are the crispies the same thank u for ur advice
Hi Michelle – there’s no such thing as a silly question 😉 I’ve actually been getting lots of question about quinoa crispies. So basically these are the same thing as rice crispies, just made from quinoa! Which means they can’t be made at home. So, I purchase mine online from Edison Grainery. They’re amazing! Here’s the link: http://www.edisongrainery.com/store/grains/38-quinoa-crispies-cereal.html
Let me know how they work out for you. Hope you enjoy! xo
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How you make the quinoa crispies?
Hi Rodolfo – you actually can’t make quinoa crispies at home. Sadly, because I’d love to! I purchase mine online from Edison Grainery – they’re amazing! Here’s the link: http://www.edisongrainery.com/store/grains/38-quinoa-crispies-cereal.html
Please enjoy! Let me know how they turn out for you 🙂
Why do you tell people they can’t be made at home? I found a great recipe for quinoa crispies. http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/quinoa-crispies. I made them and used them with recipes. Yummy! Tastes great by themselves too!
Hi Rosario – thanks for sharing that recipe. Those actually aren’t the same as the quinoa crispies that I’m referring to in this recipe. The quinoa crispies in your recipe is just fried quinoa and although I’m sure it would be DELICIOUS as a garnish, I don’t think it would work very well in this recipe. I’m afraid that they would be too greasy. However, if you try it, definitely let me know 🙂 I’ll be interested to see how it works!! xo
I found a recipe for Puffed Quinoa, seems like it might be similar/same to the quinoa crispies:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/432717-how-do-i-make-puffed-quinoa/
Thanks for sharing, Kelly, but those aren’t quite the same. The crispies go through a different process and are much more puffy. I think it would be worth a shot trying this recipe with thse, but I’m not sure that we’d have the same “crispy treat” texture 🙂
These look amazing! What are quinoa crispies? Can I find them at Whole Foods? Thank you!
Hi Susannah – Basically, quinoa crispies are rice crispies, but made out of quinoa! I’m not sure if you can get them at Whole Foods, but my guess would be no. I purchase mine online from Edison Grainery. Here’s the link: http://www.edisongrainery.com/store/grains/38-quinoa-crispies-cereal.html
xo!
Downton Abbey Season 3 is available on pbs.org and amazon instant video.
AS far as the USA Pan: I have their quarter size (13″ x 9″) for my mini oven. The quarter sheets are nice for cookies as well as bars or sheet cake that’s not too thick so they serve multiple purposes that completely flat cookie sheets can’t. In a very small urban apartment less really is more if you choose wisely. I’d double check with a tape measure that something as large as 14″ will fit your oven. That size would be too large for mine. USA Pan make great products. They are a nice weight, brown evenly, are truly non-stick (never use pans without some greasing) and clean up very easily. They are very much worth the investment.
Woo hoo!! Thanks so much for sharing (both the Downtown info as well as the pans!). I currently have a USA Pan loaf pan and I LOVE it! I definitely want to expand my collection, and I’m glad to hear they fit in a mini oven. Will be picking some of these up ASAP. Thanks!! xo
How do you make the Quinoa Crispies?
Hi Christina – You actually have to buy quinoa crispies – you can’t make them at home. Here’s a link to the ones I like: http://www.edisongrainery.com/store/grains/38-quinoa-crispies-cereal.html
Enjoy! xo
Can’t wait to try these!
Downton Abbey can also be viewed on Hulu 🙂 Wait until you see what happens at the end of Season 3 – GASP!!!
The recipe directions don’t include how to make the quinoa crispies. could you please send. These treats looks absolutely yummy. Thanks
Hi Dayna – I think we chatted over FB, but were talking about Downton, not these awesome crispies 🙂 So, quinoa crispies actually can’t be made at home (at least not that I know of). I purchase these gems from Edison Grainery: http://www.edisongrainery.com/store/grains/38-quinoa-crispies-cereal.html
They’re just like rice crispies but made from quinoa. Amazing! Hope you enjoy 🙂
Sorry to add to the thread about the quinoa crispies, but would they be the same thing as ‘puffed quinoa’?
Just want to say, this comment thread is exactly why I love you and your blog. You are so sweet! How many people can ask what quinoa crispies
are and whether you can make them at home?! And yet you answer them all with the patience of Job. You are so sweet. And the reciepe looks fabulous too 😉
Hi Theresa – this seriously just made my day. You’re such a sweetie!! Thanks so much for reading and I’m so happy you enjoy QofQ. It’s super fun to share all my kitchen adventures with you 🙂 xoxo
Hiiii! I just made these and they are fantastic! Ate a few too many actually and going for a run as we speak to burn off some calories! Quick question: how do you store them and how long to the stay good for?
Thanks for another amazing recipe!
I’m so, so happy you enjoyed them! I ate my fair share too, but at least they’re way healthier than the alternative 🙂
Seriously amazing! My boys have nut allergies so I have been missing PB! YUMM We have some awesome recipes this week!! Thanks for linking up at our Gluten Free Fridays party! I have tweeted and pinned your entry to our Gluten Free Fridays board on Pinterest! 🙂
Thanks for linking back to the Gluten Free Fridays post!
Cindy from vegetarianmamma.com
Thank you, thank you! These could easily be made with a seed butter and would still taste amazing 🙂
Hi Cristina,
Is there a way to pinterest this one? I don’t see the option.
Regards,
Beatriz
These are sooo good!!! PB and chocolate combo is one of my favorites. I ordered the quinoa crispies from Edison Grainery and they arrived very fast! Thanks for the great recipes!
Yay!!! Sooo happy you enjoyed them and I’m super glad you found them on Edison Grainery. They’re the best!
I am allergic to honey. I know, everyone says that no one is allergic to honey and I have even had a few doctors tell me that. Guess I am one in billions, lol. Would I be able to use something in it’s place?
Hi Cindy – allergic to honey? I’ve never heard of that before, but there’s a first time for everything 🙂 So a few things you could substitute in this recipe – you could try maple syrup, agave or brown rice syrup. Consistency wise, I think brown rice syrup would be the best since it’s thick like honey, but if you opt for one of other two, I would do one (or both of two things). First, reduce the sweetener amount by a little bit to compensate for the more liquidy nature and second, more nut butter. Let me know how they turn out!
These look absolutely delicious!!! I love chocolate with peanut butter. I’m going to have to PIN these and try making them as soon as I can find some quinoa crispies. YUM!!
Made these last night! So easy to make, and so yummy! Thanks for the recipe! Now if we can only get them to carry quinoa puffs in the grocery store….
I hate people who change recipes and then talk about how good they are, but that’s what I did! (*shame) I used coconut nectar in place of honey because I wanted the lower glycemic index product, and it’s just as thick, so it worked out well. And I used cashew butter in place of the peanut butter. I ordered the quinoa from Edison and made these today – what a great idea! They are really yummy and healthy too. Would like to use hazelnut butter and make “Nutella Bars”, but it’s twice as expensive as other nut butters, so I’ll save it for homemade “Nutella”. But the recipe is obviously versatile as well as healthy, so I look forward to experimenting with it. I love being able to make healthy and yet tasty substitutions for desserts in my husband’s diet. Thanks for posting!
Thank you so much for this recipe! I pinned it and then couldn’t find it when I wanted to make it, so mine were slightly different than yours – but the inspiration was brilliant!
I wrote about how much my son loves these candy bars – he has severe food allergies and we haven’t been able to find much “treat” like to feed him, candy-wise, so this is a joyous creation for us!
Mine weren’t as healthy as yours, since I used rice puffs instead of quinoa puffs. Actually, where do you find quinoa puffs? I’ve never seen them before! (I linked back to you since I – obviously – finally found your original recipe! Check it out so you can see that I gave you proper credit. http://cradlerockingmama.com/crispy-butter-candy-bar/)
Thanks again!!
I wasn’t thrilled with the quinoa puffs as a “cereal”, so I had a bag sitting here with no idea what else to do with it. I saw your recipe and knew it would be just the ticket! I must confess, however, that I did not feel like melting chocolate today. Instead I remembered the unopened jar of Nutella in the cupboard and topped the bars with it. I’m telling myself I traded nutritionally because I used fresh ground natural peanut butter. Don’t judge – LOL! Thanks for a perfect recipe!!
Sorry – I also meant to note that I got my quinoa puffs from Nuts.com. Love that vendor! I see that they now only carry red quinoa puffs; the ones I had at home were the regular white. Anyway, they are a FAB company to deal with!
Ok so this comment is not about the treat but about downton abbey. I have watched all seasons on: watch-tvseries.net (LOVE IT!)
Can’t wait to try your quinoa treats 🙂 thank you
I’m so obsessed! I can’t wait for the new season to start 🙂
I would love ti try these treats but the shipping charge for these crispies is twice as much as the product. I hope they are carried in a store in the future so I can try them
Here’s where you can get your Downton Abbey fix:
http://www.simplyjune.org/p/downton-abbey.html
I couldn’t find the crispies in a store either, but I found them in my local bulk food store (Bulk Barn) so try that!
Thanks for sharing Laura! I have never been able to find them in a store, so it’s great to know that it’s possible 🙂 I always buy mine online!
Where on line? I just tried amazon and couldn’t find them
Found quinoa crispies on Amazon. Company is Edison Granary. These bars are delicious!
I’m allergic to almond and I notice that this recipe has almond flour in it. Is there something I can substitute for this or does it have to have almond flour?
Just made these! How long would you say they’ll last? 🙂
At least a few days! But I would recommend storing them in the fridge so they stay hard 🙂
I just found a recipe for quinoa cripies on this same website. about to try it. I will let you know how it goes!
http://www.simplyquinoa.com/how-to-make-quinoa-crispies/
Can’t wait to hear how they turn out! I haven’t tested them with my own quinoa crispies yet 🙂
How did it go? ^_^