Dark Chocolate Cherry Quinoa Bites {Recipe Redux}

Remember these?

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While these rich cookies packed with dark chocolate and tart cherries are perfect for marathon baking session the day before you get married (as a random example), they are a definite sometimes food. Yet the flavors of chocolate and cherry needn’t be confined to extravagant desserts.

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Now that I’m going back to school, my interest in portable lunches and snacks has grown faster than an inverse Rhubarb Meter. That’s why this month’s Recipe Redux theme is so awesome.

Bars & Bites for Brown Bags: Whether you pack your lunch in a bento box, a brown bag or a retro cartoon character lunch box, don’t forget the bars and bites. Small squares or round bites can pack nutrition into a sweet or savory taste. Show us your favorite way to jazz up any type of lunch box.

This theme pushed me to find a way to incorporate my favorite classic combination of chocolate and cherry in a nutritious bite. With an abundance of red quinoa thanks to Peter “I can only buy in bulk” THIH, I developed a easy-to-make bite that uses my favorite kitchen tool – the mini-muffin pan.

Where did that bite go?
Where did that bite go?

These protein-packed bites make a perfect finish to any lunch or a quick snack you can bring anywhere.

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Of course, I had to stack them. I could have stacked more than three, but nah. I just want you to know I could.

Dark Chocolate Cherry Quinoa Bites

  Prep Time: 10 minutes

  Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients (24 bites)

  • 1/2 cup red quinoa, rinsed well
  • 1 cup water
  • 2 tablespoons chia seeds, ground
  • 3/8 cup water
  • 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup dried cherries
  • 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter or other nut butter
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup

Instructions

In a small saucepan, combine quinoa and 1 cup water. Bring to a boil, then lower heat and cover. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Set aside and allow to cool. In a small bowl, add ground chia seeds to 3/8 cup water and stir. Set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large bowl, combine quinoa and chia seed mixture with remaining ingredients. Spray mini muffin pan with cooking spray. Spoon mixture into cups and bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until centers are set. Remove and allow to cool for 1 minutes before removing bites. Cool on wire racks. Place bites in airtight container and store in refrigerator.

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P.S. I’m all about the portable snacks nowadays!  Check out more bites here.


12 Comments

  1. Wow I love this recipe. I normally go straight from work to the gym and this would be a great snack to hold me over until dinner. Chocolate and cherries are just meant to be together! Thanks for sharing

  2. Love all the flavors combined. Anything that includes quinoa and cherry has my attention. What a perfect breakfast, or snack option! Take care, Terra

  3. I need healthy treats like this in my life! Perfect for stress eating or just general after-work snacking. Can’t go wrong with chocolate and cherry combined.

  4. Glad you’re back at it…although you’re no longer my neighbor in S. Illinois…OR is beautiful! And wait, you’re a Cherry Garcia fan too? Fro Yo of course….but the real stuff in college. (:

  5. 1. The bites looks delicious. I think chocolate and cherries are a match made in some sort of a culinary heaven

    2. GOOD LUCK to you with B-School!!!!!!

  6. Mmmm, dark chocolate, tart cherries, red quinoa and peanut butter….that looks absolutely yummy! I’ve never made anything sweet using red quinoa, but that’s such a great ingredient to try in sweet snacks! Love this! I look forward to reading about your portable lunches and snacks and interesting school-related stories!

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