Chocolate Quinoa Crunch

This two-ingredient chocolate quinoa crunch, made with dark chocolate and puffed quinoa, is as easy as 1-2-3. And it might just remind you of that famous crunch bar.

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. And I don’t know about you, but I love an easy homemade gift. Not to mention that if the gift involves chocolate I’m pretty sure everyone will love them as much as I do. Believe me when I hear you say, “who wants to take the time to make something homemade?” Gifting homemade items isn’t everyone’s thing. However, this is Valentine’s Day and nothing shows love more than a homemade gift. Last year I made Homemade Chocolate Bars and this year we’re making Chocolate Quinoa Crunch!

Not one to normally throw ‘health’ into a dessert, however, I love the versatility of quinoa. Quinoa cooked and eaten like rice is not my favorite. However, cooking quinoa and adding it to make a quinoa patty, like these sweet potato quinoa patties, and now you’re talking! Quinoa can also be popped and turned into little balls of puffed quinoa that can provide crunch. Rather than puff/pop the quinoa on my own I bought it already puffed to save some time. These quinoa puffs could easily be added to a trail mix as well. Again, quinoa in all its various forms and just one more way I enjoy it!

Ingredients: Chocolate Quinoa Crunch

• Chocolate: With only 2-ingredients, you’re going to want to use a high quality chocolate. Chocolate bars are best as the chocolate chips/morsels can often have a coating that isn’t ideal for melting, however, I used the chips here as that’s what I had on hand. My go-to and affordable chocolate is Ghirardelli. If I’m really trying to impress I’ll use Guittard or Valhrona.
• Puffed Quinoa: Yes, quinoa is nutritional. However, we’re using the quinoa here as though it’s like that famous rice cereal, only quinoa instead! Could you use the other mentioned one? I haven’t tried it, but I wouldn’t doubt it would turn out as well. The idea here is to get creative. We’re making homemade treats for gifting.

How To Make Chocolate Quinoa Crunch

1. Melt the chocolate. Set up a double boiler over medium low heat. Bring your water to a simmer in a pot and then set a bowl above. Make sure the bowl above is not touching the water. Add the chocolate and stir often until smooth and shiny. Remove from the heat and keep the bowl over the pot of hot water to help prevent the chocolate from setting as you begin to work. You can temper your chocolate, simply follow the directions here. I’m lazy and don’t often temper the chocolate. Untempered chocolate will melt at room temperature. Here in Miami I always keep the chocolate in the fridge since the temperature is always warm!
2. Fold in the quinoa pops. Make sure to fold them in gently as you don’t want to smash the quinoa puffs and turn them into dust.
3. Scoop – you can use a small ice cream/cookie scoop to shape the quinoa crunch into small bites. Or you can use a cookie cutter, however, it is more tedious. As it is Valentine’s Day and being in the spirit, I used a heart shape cookie cutter. The key is once the chocolate sets you don’t want it to break. Silicone molds would work best. I love the chocolate discs I did a few years back, they’re really a perfect size!
4. Arrange the quinoa crunch on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Move to the fridge and allow to set for at least 15-30 minutes.
5. Remove the quinoa crunch from the fridge and gently peel/separate the chocolate away from the molds/cookie cutter.
6. Eat and enjoy! or wrap for your friends!

Other Homemade Treats

• Chocolate Covered Strawberries
• Maple Glazed Pecans
• Peanut Butter Bites
• Thumbprint Cookies

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