If you love crunchy, chocolatey snacks but want to keep things on the healthier side, these quinoa puff balls with dark chocolate are your new best friend! They’re easy to make, deliciously satisfying, and packed with nutrients, protein and fibre.
Ingredients:
- 120 g puffed quinoa (store-bought or homemade*)
- 85 g melted dark chocolate (70% cocoa or higher)
- 15 ml coconut oil
- 5 ml vanilla extract
- A pinch of sea salt
Optional:
- 1 TBSP honey/maple syrup or 1/4 TSP stevia (adjust to taste)
- Chopped nuts, dried fruit, or shredded coconut
- 1-2 TBSP almond or peanut butter
This recipe makes about 12-15 quinoa puff balls, serving approximately 4 people. These little bites are best stored in the fridge and will keep for about a week (if they last that long!).
Instructions:
- Prepare the quinoa – If you’re making puffed quinoa from scratch, heat a dry pan over medium-high heat, add moistened raw quinoa (a ratio of 4:1 with water) and flatten it into a single layer. Once the quinoa starts crackling and popping (like mini popcorn!) shake the pan around. They will turn golden brown and smell toasty and nutty; this usually takes 15-30 seconds. Store-bought works just as well.
- Melt the chocolate – In a heatproof bowl, melt the dark chocolate with coconut oil using either a double boiler or a bain-marie.
- Mix it up – I personally like my chocolate really dark, so I prefer not to add a sweetener. But if you wish to add sweetener, stir it along with the vanilla extract and a pinch of salt. Then, let the mixture cool for a couple of minutes and fold the puffed quinoa until evenly coated.
- Shape the balls – Using a spoon or ice cream scoop, place bite-size quinoa puff balls onto parchment paper.
- Chill and set – Refrigerate for about 20-30 mins until firm. Enjoy every crunch!
Pro tips:
- For extra crunch, toss in some chopped nuts (e.g. almonds) and seeds (e.g. sunflower or chia seeds).
- For a fruity twist, mix in dried cranberries or chopped apricots.
- If you love the combo of chocolate and coconut, sprinkle coconut shavings before chilling.
- If you are a nutty person, then add some almond or peanut butter to the mixture.
These quinoa puff balls perfectly balance crispy, chewy, and chocolatey goodness. Whether you’re looking for a post-workout snack or a late-night treat, they’ve got you covered!
For other tasty chocolatey snacks and recipes, click here.
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