These healthy chocolate quinoa cookies are no-bake, gluten-free and vegan. Think you've got to sacrifice on flavor? Not with these!
No-bake cookies. One of the best inventions ever. Especially for someone who has no desire to turn on the oven (????this girl) Hooray for one-bowl treats!
This is my life right now. I have pretty much zero desire to step foot near my oven. Partly because it’s a bajillion degrees out and warm desserts? Meh. And partly because my tiny oven, in my tiny apartment, heats up the entire space in seconds and by the time I’m done making a batch of cookies? Sweaty mess. Hi, I'll just be over here standing in front of the air conditioning. (which clearly does not help)
So no-bake cookies? Happening.
![Healthy cookies without turning on the oven? These NO-BAKE chocolate quinoa cookies are amazing! [gluten-free + vegan] | recipe on simplyquinoa.com](https://www.simplyquinoa.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/no-bake-chocolate-quinoa-cookies-5.jpg)
I saw this recipe from Two Peas and Their Pod on Pinterest and I knew I had to recreate them with a quinoa version. I was not only digging the no-bake awesomeness, but that chocolate + sea salt…yes please.
I didn’t make too many tweaks to her original recipe, just swapped out the oats for some cooked quinoa and quinoa flakes, and changed the almonds to coconut flakes.
And yes, that sprinkle of sea salt is pure perfection.
(ahem, don't mind the chipped nail polish????… need a mani ????)
One of the things I really love about these cookies is that you store them in the freezer. Since they’re not baked (duh), they don’t really hold up well at room temp, so keeping them in the freezer not only helps them keep their shape, but the texture is amazing.
You guys, it reminds me of little pieces of chocolate fudge, but with a softer, gooier, cookie-like feel. The chocolate and coconut flavors both come through, along with a hint of almond, and since there’s only a little bit of sweetener, they’re ultra dark and decadent.
Yep, these are going to be a standard dessert item from now on.
And making these cookies couldn’t be easier. You just need a small saucepan, a baking sheet, and a cookie scoop. Stir everything together in the pot, drop it onto your sheet and pop them in the freezer to chill. Simple as that.
So turn off the oven friends and let’s get no-baking!
PS: if you make this recipe (or any others!) make sure to snap a pic and share it on Instagram using hashtag #SIMPLYQUINOA – I want to see your creations!
More No-Bake Recipes To Try:
- Vegan Snickerdoodle Energy Bites
- Almond & Coconut Quinoa Granola Bars
- No-Bake Snickers Banana Bites
- Mini Raspberry No-Bake Cheesecake
- No-Bake Raspberry Quinoa Cookies
No-Bake Chocolate Quinoa Cookies
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup almond butter or nut/seed butter of choice
- 1/2 cup cooked quinoa
- 1/2 cup quinoa flakes
- 1/2 cup coconut flakes
- Coarse sea salt for sprinkling optional, but recommended!
Instructions
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- In a small sauce pan over medium, melt together coconut oil, syrup and cocoa powder. Whisk until combined. Add the almond butter and stir again until smooth.
- Remove saucepan from the heat and fold in the quinoa, quinoa flakes and coconut flakes.
- Using a cookie scoop, drop the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, shaping slightly with your hands if desired. Sprinkle with sea salt and place in the freezer to set for about 30 minutes.
- Store in an airtight container in the freezer for best results, but can also be stored in the fridge (they'll just be a lot softer!).
Video
Notes
Nutrition
I love them! I substituted peanut butter instead of the almond butter because I prefer the taste and I had several one 1 cups measured of quinoa in the freezer so I just got out a couple of them before I actually read the recipe because I can find all kinds of things to do with cooked quinoa! And I wanted to share some with my daughter who is also diabetic like me.
What can I substitute for the maple syrup since I am a cancer survivor I cannot have sugar..?
sugar-free maple syrup might work for you
This recipe is AWESOME!!!!! I used GF oatmeal (rolled oats) rather than the quinoa flakes just cause I love rolled oats. I have been eating these every day for a couple weeks now. They are not sweet so they really satisfy. This is one of the tastiest,, easiest no bake recipes and super healthy too. I am going to try with the quinoa flakes next time and maybe even do a mix of quinoa flakes and hemp seeds cause I love me some hemp seeds. Thank you for an amazing recipe!!!!
Awww yay!! I’m so so glad 🙂 thank you for sharing, Cammy!!! xox
DELICIOUS! I forgot the coconut milk and my quinoa flakes were spoiled, so I used all cooked quinoa. I pressed them into an 8×8 Pyrex instead of making cookies. If you do this, don’t freeze them or they don’t come out of the pan easily! YUM!
Awesome!!!
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Wow! These are amazing. Subbed oats for the quinoa flakes, used dark cocoa powder and doubled the recipe….I had 1 cup of leftover quinoa from another recipe that I usually end up throwing away. What a great use for it!
Amazing!! So glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Hi Alyssa,
I just tried these tonight and they were INCREDIBLE!!!!! I accredited you on my blog post about my experience making them.
Thanks for the recipe, it was a hit with my family!
Livvy
OMG yassss! This is awesome 🙂 So glad you enjoyed them! xox
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Made these, added some pure vanilla extract and some liquid stevia for added sweetness, loved them!
So glad you liked them! xox
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What can I use to substitute for the coconut flakes?
I think you could try chopped nuts or seeds!
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Hey, if you want these cookies to hold together without the freezer business do this: make sure you let the melted mixture come to a rolling boil for no less than 2 minutes and no more than 2 and 1/2 minutes. Remove from heat. Then add in the nut butter etc. Then once all the goodies are in there stir vigorously till it’s starting to look dull. Then scoop them out. Leave them right on the counter top to harden up. The regular old school oats version of this recipe has been in my family for years. This is the trick to make them stick!
Awesome, thank you so much!
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These are wonderful
So glad you enjoyed them, Sandy! xo
These are Great!!! I really don’t like the flavor of dark amber maple syrup, so I use the light amber which has a very subtle maple flavor. My brothers made me drink a concoction of maple syrup, worcestershire sauce, etc., and have hated dark amber maple syrup ever since. BUT fabulous cookie with light amber!
Glad you enjoyed the recipe! I’ve got a raspberry version up my sleeve for next month 😉
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I’ve never heard of quinoa flakes. Can I put something else in?
You could swap in quick cooking oats 🙂
Thanks! That’s what I was about to use. About to make these for kiddos treat after a rainy day of school.
Can’t wait to hear what you think! xo
Try Bulk Barn
Sounds yummy crunchiness!!!
You commented about your chipped nail polish, I may have a solution for you. If you are up for it. 🙂 Have you heard of Jamberry wraps? The wraps last up to 2 weeks on your fingers and 6 on your toes. It really is incredible! I can hook you up with some samples if you would like to try it out. Just contact me! 😀 email, or go to my FB page: www.facebook.com/camdeninman.jamberrynails/
Also, THANKS FOR THE RECIPE!!! I an BEYOND excited to try it out. My husband LOVES quinoa and no-bake cookies so this looks like the perfect treat for him. ^_^
These are soooo good! I’ll be making them again.
Can’t wait to hear what you think!
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These really are so good! I made my own roasted almond butter too. Definitely a nice treat to keep in the freezer for when company comes over.
Oh yum! I love the idea of the roasted almond butter 🙂
Can real butter be substituted? Some of the people I know are allergic to almonds.
I haven’t tested it with real butter, but I think you could try! You’ll definitely want to keep them in the fridge I think since they’ll probably get pretty soft with the warm weather 🙂
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Quinoa flakes?
What are quinoa flakes? Is this uncooked quinoa?
Quinoa flakes are the rolled oat version of quinoa — the whole quinoa seeds that have been put through a grain flaker 🙂 If you can’t find them you can just use quick cooking oats in their place!
is it ok to eat quinoa flakes uncooked? stragiht from the packet?
Yep!
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Those chocolate blobs of goodness look delicious!