Chocolate Quinoa Protein Bars With Coconut and Date

Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked quinoa (remember to rinse the quinoa before cooking)
• Approximately 1/2 cup of date paste (I bought a block and used half of it)
• 2 tbs of honey**
• 1 tbs of oil (coconut, canola, walnut ect.)
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/4 cup dried coconut flakes
• 1/4 cup of carob powder
• 1/4 cup of cacao nibs or powder
• 1 tbs of ground flax seed
• 1/2 cup of hemp seeds
• 1/4 cup of water

1. Cook one cup of quinoa and set aside to begin cooling.

2. Blend dates, honey, oil, and water

3. Stir in date mixture to cooked quinoa

4. In a separate bowl mix flour, ground flax, hemp seeds, coconut, carob, and cacao

5. Stir in date and quinoa mixture to dry ingredients

6. Pour onto a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper

7. Cook at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Cooking length depends on how crunchy you want them. I cooked for about 25 minutes and they were still fairly soft.

8. Cut into squares, cool, and refridgerate

These turned out really good and weren't very sweet, which I like. I think adding dried fruit and nuts would make them even better.

**After making these twice, I think adding another 2 tbs of honey would be ideal. If you like them sweet, then maybe adding around a 1/4 cup of honey.