Crunchy Date Caramel Bites

 Are you a quinoa fan? I have tried cooked quinoa in salads, with sauces and veggies, with beans and chicken (when I used to eat meat) and didn't ever love it. But I've wanted to incorporate it into my diet knowing its health benefits which include : protein and complex carbohydrates. Recently I came across

crispy quinoa and immediately fell in love.  I love crunch! Pairing the crunch of quinoa with a creamy and healthy date caramel plus some dark chocolate, has me beginning to like this grain!

Check out the recipe below to try it:

Ingredients:

 2 cups. Organic Crispy Quinoa (you could also sub with brown rice crisps or rice krispies)

 1 cup Almond Butter

 2-3 Tablespoons Maple Syrup

15 dates

1/4 cup coconut milk

1/2 tablespoon of coconut sugar

 1 and a half Dark chocolate chips ( I use Enjoy Life)

 1 teaspoon of Coconut oil

8x8 parchment lined pan

mini muffin tin and cups OR cookie sheet with parchment paper.

Directions:

1. In a food processor, add 1 cup almond butter with 2 cups quinoa crisps. Pour in 2-3 Tablespoons of maple syrup. Process until mixture comes together.

2. Press this mixture firmly into a parchment covered 8x8 glass pan then freeze it for 10 mins.

3. As it freezes, make your date caramel--recipe link here!

4. Spread the date caramel onto the quinoa frozen crust in the 8x8 pan and freeze again for 30 mins.

5. Prepare the mini muffin tins with parchment liners.  

6. Melt the bag of dark chocolate chips in the microwave with a teaspoon of coconut oil Heat for 40 secs then stir. Repeat until the chocolate is smooth and melted.

6. After 30 mins,  you are ready to cut the frozen dates and quinoa combination into small squares--the date caramel does not freeze thoroughly but rather gets stiff and cold. 

7. Place the small square quinoa bites each into a muffin cup then spoon dark chocolate on top OR place the squares on a cookie sheet and cover with dollop of chocolate! 

8. Place them in the freezer until ready to eat!  (They melt quickly)

Enjoy!!

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