Quinoa Choco-Nut Balls

December is here and I'm starting to think of getting some treats ready for the upcoming holidays.

I love to have some sweet and some savory snacks on hand 'just in case' someone drops in over the Christmas season and when our family gathers together to celebrate.  These Quinoa Choco-Nut Balls are perfect, not too sweet, nice and chocolaty and have a nice surprise hit of protein.  For those of us who are more conscious of what we are putting into our bodies, these treats are wonderful.  They look so pretty and festive too! ( For those of you that cannot eat peanut butter, any nut butter will work.)

 

 

Quinoa Choco-Nut Balls

 

 The ingredients you will need.



 The Quinoa is in the pot and will cook for approximately 20 minutes.

 



The cooked Quinoa is mixed with the rest of the ingredients...so easy.

 Coconut is set for rolling the Quinoa Choco-Nut Balls in.

 Last one to roll and I'm done.

 



All lined up and ready for the fridge.

A handy trick for 'natural' peanut butter is to mix it together and flip the jar upside down

when you store it.  No more oil separating from the peanut butter!  Works every time.

 

Ready for sampling or sharing.....so tasty. Enjoy!

 

QUINOA CHOCO-NUT BALLS RECIPE

 

3 cups cooked Quinoa (1 cup quinoa with 2 1/2 cups water)

1/4 cup cocoa powder

1/3 cup maple syrup (agave/honey)

3 Tablespoons smooth peanut butter

1 Tablespoon Coconut Butter/oil

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 cup unsweetened coconut

For Rolling:

1/2- 1 cup unsweetened coconut for rolling

 

Cook the Quinoa for approximately 20 minutes, until all water is absorbed.

 Once Quinoa is cooked place it into a large bowl

(while it is still warm) and stir in all of the ingredients except the coconut for rolling.

Make sure to stir and fold it all together so that everything is evenly mixed.

The warmth of the Quinoa will melt the coconut butter/oil and the peanut butter.

Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper and spoon out 1 teaspoon sized balls, drop and roll

into the unsweetened coconut and place onto cookie sheet. Continue with the rest of the mixture until all of it is used up. Place into fridge for approximately 2 hours and then enjoy!

These will freeze quite nicely and are just as good right out of the freezer! (I tested..)

 

'Good for the body is the work of the body, and good for the soul is the work of the soul,

and good for either is the work of the other.'

Henry David Thoreau