Home » Recipes » Cuisine » American » Quinoa Almond Joy Bars
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4.34 from 6 votes
by Gale Compton
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Published: March 14, 2016 Last Updated: June 28, 2022
Taste like the real thing but without all the calories.
Our skinny mini bars clockin at 94 calories each and are made with four superfoods. Take these mini desserts to work and snack on one when that afternoon sweet cravinghits. Our skinny mini desserts were created to encourage eating smaller portions while still enjoying your favorite treats. 100% of our desserts are clean eats. Check out these 3 skinny mini desserts: Strawberry Cheesecake, Banana Pudding, and Strawberries in Balsamic-Yogurt Sauce.
4.34 from 6 votes
Quinoa Almond Joy Bars
You will have no regrets when you enjoy one of these scrumptious almond joy bars, packed with superfoods and delicious flavors.
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Yield 14 people
Serving Size 1 mini bar
Course Dessert, Snack
Cuisine American
Author Gale Compton
Review Recipe PIN RECIPE Print Recipe
Ingredients
US Customary - Metric
- 1/3 cup quinoa dry
- 2/3 cup water
- 12 whole dates no sugar added
- 1/2 cup whole almonds with skins, optional 1/2 coarse almond meal
- 1/2 cup coconut finely grated
- 2 to 3 teaspoons water
- 1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (for gluten-free chips we usedEnjoy LIfe)
Instructions
Add quinoa and water to a small saucepan, cover and bring to a boil, reduce heat to a simmer and cook approximately 15 minutes or until all water has been absorbed. Cool to room temperature and refrigerate at least 2 hours...overnight will work. One cup cooked quinoa can be used if already made.
Add dates, almonds, coconut, and cooked quinoa to the food processor and pulse until ingredients are well combined and a ball forms. Return ingredients to the mixing bowl, and add one teaspoon of water at a time, until mixture holds together. Shape into 14 - minibars.
In a small saucepan, add chocolate chips and melt over low heat or in a double-boiler. Drizzle warm chocolate over each bar. Refrigerator and allow chocolate to harden. Bars can be stored in an airtight container for several days or frozen in a freezer-safe dish.
Nutrition Information
Serving: 1mini bar | Calories: 94kcal | Carbohydrates: 10g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 2mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g |
SmartPoints (Freestyle): 4
Keywords Budget-Friendly, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian
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Gale Compton
Gale co-founded SkinnyMs. with a goal to provide women with delicious recipes, fitness routines, and ways to reach their ideal weight. Gale has been featured on the Today Show in which she won a cook off for the best Lasagna. Be sure to search for her winning recipe, Skinny Lasagna Rolls.
Guided by her firm belief in healthy eating and the power of exercise, Gale has written two cookbooks and several fitness ebooks. She earned her Fitness Training Certification from, National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association. Gale loves to run with her dog Maggie and has completed numerous half-marathons.
More by Gale
6-Ingredients or Less Almonds Chocolate Chocolate Chips Coconut Flakes Dates Quinoa Video
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Soooooo good. Not as sweet as the original.
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Do you use flakes or seed in the quinoa
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Quinoa seeds only.
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Can you use almond meal/flour instead or would it be to fine?
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Sarah, I think too fine. This recipe needs the almonds to be a little more course than flour consistency.
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Is it is ok to use chocolate almonds?
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Heather, I wouldn’t recommend it since they contain a lot of refined sugar. That’s if you want to keep it clean. 🙂
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Made these last night for a 4th of July party and they turned out great!! I did not end up having to add any water because the mixture was plenty sticky coming out of the food processor. Thank you for the recipe, it was very yummy.
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Zoe, GREAT!!! Happy to hear they were a nice addition to your 4th! 🙂
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I am allergic to coconut, can I substitute oats or dried fruit instead?
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Kriste, Sure, other dried fruit would work. Also, you might like to try our Quinoa Protein Bars. https://skinnyms.com/quinoa-protein-bars/
I want to make these but have a nut allergy. Coconut doesn't bother me. What can I substitute for the raw almonds?
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Edana, Cashews or peanuts will work.
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I can't eat any nuts at all. Do you think it would work if I omit them?
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Edana, I would replace either with sunflower, pumpkin seeds, or rolled oats.
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I made this and I thought it was far too sticky! I did not care for how sticky it was. Wish there was a solution to that.
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Kathy, Try using a touch of water on your hands when shaping the bars.
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Can you add protein and/or ground flax to these?
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Dana, Sure! I would recommend replacing the oatmeal, or a portion of it, with the flax seeds.
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I just made these, and although they taste terrific, I had a hard time keeping them together and shaping them into a bar or a ball… It kept falling apart. I followed the recipe and added water one teaspoon at a time just as instructed, but still, it kept falling apart. I ended up placing all of it on a cookie sheet and shaped it into a large square, then refrigerated it. Hopefully, they will firm up enough so that I could pick them up… Could you tell me what went wrong??? Thanks!
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I think I used too much water because I had very mushy bars and balls. I will try it again with very little or no water like someone else did. Nice flavor though 🙂
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What could be substituted for the dates?
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There really is no exact substitute for dates, which act as both a binder (they're sticky) and sweetener in this recipe. You can experiment with using a nut butter and a small amount of honey in place of the dates. If you do let us know how it goes.
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I'm allergic to all nuts. Wondering if this might work with plain dry-roasted pumpkin seeds?
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Kristen, Omit the almonds altogether and just make the recipe with same measurements, perhaps adding slightly less liquid. Pumpkin Seeds will probably not be a good substitute, but the recipe will still be delicious without the almonds.
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YUMMY! Thanks for posting this, it was delicious. As other commenters noted, they are a bit wettish. I didn't add the water, but still noticed it. To make it easier, I pressed the mixture into a pan, then simply spread the chocolate on with a spatula. After they chilled in the 'fridge, and I saw the consistency while trying to cut them, I decided to put them in the freezer. That worked great! I just keep them in the freezer and eat them frozen and they are scrumptious!
I always feel like I'm eating something really decadent, but the macros aren't bad at all. Thank you!Reply
Luz, You're welcome!
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They look so yummy! And better of all, super healthy. Pinned!
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i often use prunes, they are sticky too 🙂
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I only have dried cherries on hand…would they sub for the dates?
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Sarah, Cherries aren't the best for this recipe. I highly recommend wait until you have the dates. 🙂
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Ashish
Please I want this recipe with proper weight not with 1 cup and 2 cup.
ThanksReply
Not sure what you mean, with proper weight. Please explain!
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I think she means with the oz/grams listed for each ingredient instead of cup measurements.. I’ve seen that a lot
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They sound so awesome…do you think you can substitute dry figs for dates?
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Maura, Yes, definitely. It will change the taste, just so you know. 🙂
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If you don’t have a food processor.. What else can you use ? Or how can you do it ?
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Bethanie, A blender will work but you probably will have add a little at a time.
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The photo does not seem to reflect the directions. It looks like the chocolate is coating something and then placed on the date mixture? Does the nutrition information include the almond on top as that is not in the directions?
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Pam, It doesn’t include the extra almond. I’ve added the original photo, made by yours truly. 🙂
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Ah, that looks like the recipe! Thanks for the new photo. Looking forward to trying these.
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Quinoa is new to me. I have a package but it says to rinse. Quinoa seeds is what is used in this recipe based on questions and answers in the comments. Is there a difference in the seeds and what I have on hand? Please and thank you.
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Quinoa should be the same.
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Made them today, yum! Made it in a slice pan and cut into 16 pieces, even though I could have made bars because the consistency was good
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We’re glad you loved the bars, Carolyn!
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Hi Carolyn,
Just found your recipe on YouTube for no bake almond joy bars and clicked the link to get here. The above recipe is not the same as the YT one. It didn’t have quinoa or dates.
Would like to have the YT recipe please!!!
Thanks,
CaryReply
Cary, They are the same recipe.
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Thanks Gale.
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