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    Home / Recipes / Chocolate Desserts

    Chocolate Quinoa Scotcheroos

    Dec 14, 2019 · Updated: Mar 13, 2023 by Dee Dine · Affliate links disclosure.

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    Chocolate Quinoa Scotcheroos piled on a white board with a blue napkin behind them.

    These chocolate quinoa scotcheroos are a protein-rich twist on the classic Rice Krispies recipe. Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar free.

    stack of quinoa scotcheroos

    This chocolate quinoa scotcheroos recipe is a traditional treat, made from peanut butter and a puffed cereal, and it is made healthier here with puffed quinoa, dark chocolate, nut butter and maple syrup. Extremely easy to make, and even easier to eat! Don't have puffed quinoa? Use any puffed cereal or kashi cereal like this one found online!

    The beauty of this recipe is it results in a sweet treat, that is powerfully nutritional, with a healthier cereal at center stage. More cereal bars to try include my chocolate crunch bars, and my soft chocolate chip granola bars.

    Why You'll Love These

    A healthy Rice Krispie substitute. This version, using puffed quinoa, is a protein-rich treat, a far cry from the sugar-ladened, fun but unhealthy commercial treat made from marshmallows and Rice Krispie cereal. 

    Protein-rich treat. Quinoa is so high in protein that it supports every cell process in the body and the chosen food of NASA for its astronauts while on space missions. 

    Super easy to make. Just mix in a bowl, spread in a pan and chill. These bars are also easy to customize. Add in chocolate chips, nuts, hemp seeds, or even dried fruit to change things up.

    Ingredients

    for the Scotcheroos

    Popped quinoa (or your favorite puffed cereal)

    Nut butter

    Maple syrup

    Flavorings: vanilla, salt

    For the chocolate top

    Chocolate chips

    Coconut oil

    steps to make quinoa scotcheroos

    Steps to Make

    Prep

    1.Sit jar of coconut oil in a pot of boiling water to melt enough to use.

    2.Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Rub sides with melted coconut oil.

    3.Measuring out the popped quinoa into a large mixing bowl.

    Make Scotcheroos

    1.Add the nut butter and maple syrup to a 2-cup pyrex measuring cup and set that into boiling water. Don't let water enter the cup, and keep stirring until the mixture combines and thickens.

    2.Remove from heat and add in the vanilla and salt.

    3.Pour the mixture on to the popped quinoa in the mixing bowl. Quickly but gentle fold the popped quinoa and the syrup/butter mixture together.

    4.Then pour the combined mixture into the pan, and press down and flatten the mixture using the bottom of a metal measuring cup or other flat utensil.

    5.Freeze for one hour to solidify the crisps before pouring on the chocolate top.

    Make Chocolate Top

    1.Place the chocolate and coconut oil in a 2-cup pyrex measuring cup. Microwave for 60 seconds, remove and stir the chips until all are melted.

    2.Pour the chocolate over the chilled quinoa mixture. Tip the pan to help the chocolate reach all sides. Then tap on the counter to help the chocolate level out.

    3.Refrigerate the pan for one hour and then slice into squares.

    Storage

    Store in a covered container at room temperature for two days. You can refrigerate after that for a week, but add a paper towel so they remain crispy. These won't freeze well, they will become soggy.

    Variations

    Popped quinoa. The version I used was store-bought but not that easy to find. Kashi cereal or a puffed cereal is an excellent substitute.

    Maple syrup. Instead of maple syrup, agave syrup or date syrup can be used instead.

    FAQS

    What Are Scotcheroos?

    Scotcheroos are a treat made by a USA cereal manufacturer, popular in the 1960s. Scotcheroos got their name after an important ingredient used to glue it together - butterscotch.The recipe was originally printed on boxes of cereal in the 1960s. Fun to eat, but full of sugar. Want to learn more about this iconic recipe? Visit Wikipedia here.

    What is Quinoa?

    Quinoa is a gluten-free pseudo-grain considered a superfood these days, because of its strong and unusual nutritional profile. Pronounced "KEEN-wah", quinoa is one of the few plant foods that offers a complete protein profile, all nine of the essential amino acids. Essential because your body cannot produce them on its own. Quinoa is also high in fiber, iron, zinc, copper, thiamin and vitamin B6, potassium and magnesium, phosphorus, manganese and folate. One cup of quinoa yields 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber.

    Quinoa is so incredible that NASA scientists are considering quinoa as the crop to grow in outer space, because of its high nutritional content, and ease of growing.

    stack of quinoa scotcheroos

    More Chocolate Recipes

    • Chocolate Crunch Bars
    • Chocolate Chickpea Clusters
    • Easy Chocolate Fudge
    • Butternut Squash Fudge Recipe

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    stack of quinoa scotcheroos

    Chocolate Quinoa Scotcheroos

    Created by Dee Dine
    These chocolate quinoa scotcheroos are a protein-rich twist on the classic Rice Krispies recipe. Vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and refined sugar free.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved! Rate Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 1 hr
    Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
    Course Dessert
    Cuisine American
    Servings 8
    Calories 370 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    scotcheroos

    • 2 cups popped quinoa (or your favorite puffed cereal)
    • ⅓ cup nut butter
    • ⅓ cup maple syrup
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • pinch of salt

    chocolate top

    • 1 cup dark chocolate chips
    • 2 tablespoon coconut oil
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    Prep

    • Sit jar of coconut oil in a pot of boiling water to melt enough to use.
    • Line a loaf pan with parchment paper. Rub sides with melted coconut oil.
    • Measuring out the popped quinoa into a large mixing bowl.

    Make Crispies

    • Add the nut butter and maple syrup to a 2-cup pyrex measuring cup and set that into boiling water. Don't let water enter the cup, and keep stirring until the mixture combines and thickens.
    • Remove from heat and add in the vanilla and salt.
    • Pour the mixture on to the popped quinoa in the mixing bowl. Quickly but gentle fold the popped quinoa and the syrup/butter mixture together.
    • Then pour the combined mixture into the pan, and press down and flatten the mixture using the bottom of a metal measuring cup or other flat utensil.
    • Freeze for one hour to solidify the crisps before pouring on the chocolate top.

    Make the Chocolate Top

    • Place the chocolate and coconut oil in a 2-cup pyrex measuring cup.
    • Microwave for 60 seconds, remove and stir the chips until all are melted.
    • Pour the chocolate over the chilled quinoa mixture. Tip the pan to help the chocolate reach all sides. Then tap on the counter to help the chocolate level out.
    • Refrigerate the pan for one hour and then slice into squares.

    Storage

    • Store in a covered container at room temperature for two days. You can refrigerate after that for a week, but add a paper towel so they remain crispy. These won't freeze well, they will become soggy.

    Notes

    Storage. Store in a covered container at room temperature for two days. You can refrigerate after that for a week, but add a paper towel so they remain crispy. These won't freeze well, they will become soggy.
    Variations. 
    Popped quinoa. The version I used was store-bought but not that easy to find. Kashi cereal or a puffed cereal is an excellent substitute.
    Maple syrup. Instead of maple syrup, agave syrup or date syrup can be used instead.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 370kcalCarbohydrates: 43gProtein: 10gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 9gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gSodium: 8mgPotassium: 485mgFiber: 7gSugar: 9gVitamin A: 6IUCalcium: 88mgIron: 5mg
    Keyword chocolate quinoa, healthy scotcheroos, scotcheroos
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Chocolate Desserts

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    About Green Smoothie Gourmet

    Welcome to Green Smoothie Gourmet where my recipes are predominantly healthy, using wholesome and nutrient-dense ingredients such as avocado and beans instead of heavy cream and butter, and apple sauce or pumpkin puree in lieu of eggs and oil, resulting in mostly guilt-free desserts, drinks and snacks free from unhealthy components.

    About Dee

    Chocolate and ginger enthusiast. Animal lover, especially dogs, cats and my pet cockatiel. I'm probably chopping chocolate in my Washington DC kitchen right now and making more plant-based desserts and snacks. Read about Dee → »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shannon

      March 24, 2022 at 12:14 am

      5 stars
      Delicious!! I made these twice. I double batched the second, and used a little less maple syrup (about 1/2 cup rather than double 2/3) in my second batch and they are great. In the first batch I made, I forgot the vanilla and pinch of salt and it still tasted great (but I would recommend putting it in!).

      Reply
      • Dee Dine

        March 24, 2022 at 11:23 am

        Thank you for sharing!

        Reply

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    Dee Dine of Green Smoothie Gourmet

    I'm Dee! Welcome! I create easy, delicious healthy desserts that everyone will love - no eggs, no dairy, vegan, and gluten free. And I use my biochem background to balance the nutrition and create recipes that work. No matter their diet, your friends and family will love them.  About Dee →

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