Healthy Blueberry Quinoa Bars made with rolled oats, applesauce, maple syrup and coconut oil. No need to cook your quinoa first! These blueberry bars make for the perfect snack, dessert or even breakfast!
Maven’s Quick Tips:
Use white quinoa. This makes for the best texture and flavor since it tends to be more neutral.
Uncooked + rinsed. No need to cook your quinoa first! Just be sure to rinse it to remove the saponins.
Use fresh or frozen. Either fresh or frozen blueberries can be used depending on the season.
Let cool before slicing. Allow your bars to rest for 20 minutes before cutting.
Enjoy for all meals. I consider these blueberry quinoa bars healthy and to be enjoyed at any meal…including breakfast! Perfect for meal prep or a freezer meal or snack too.
Over the years I’ve had some unexpected hit recipes. Usually when I make a recipe I know if it is going to be popular. Other times I share something I personally love but am not sure how it will land with my audience. These banana quinoa breakfast bars fall into the unexpected hit category. They taste delicious and have stellar ingredients but I wasn’t sure how a breakfast bar made with quinoa was going to go over with you.
Over the years it has become quite a popular recipe so I thought I would use it as inspo for these blueberry quinoa bars. These are similar with the difference being that there’s no bananas. I realize that some people don’t like bananas so this is a great option for anyone who doesn’t. Let me know what you think!
Ingredients in Blueberry Quinoa Bars
- rolled oats – grab gluten-free oats if necessary.
- uncooked white quinoa – the most neutral tasting quinoa with the lightest texture… perfect for these bars! Make sure you rinse the quinoa before using both for removing the outer coating and also for the final texture of the bars.
- ground flaxseed – helps bind the bars together. It is effectively like using a flax egg in place of regular eggs.
- applesauce – provides moisture and a light texture. Just be sure to buy the unsweetened kind so you can control the sweetness.
- almond butter – You can also swap for a different nut butter or seed butter.
- coconut oil – look for unrefined and/or organic coconut oil. Just be sure to melt it.
- maple syrup – a hint of added sweetness! You could use honey but this recipe would no longer be vegan.
- baking powder – helps the bars rise.
- cinnamon – I love the combination of cinnamon and banana.
- sea salt – to bring all of the flavors together
- blueberries – of course! I like using fresh but frozen can also be used and make these blueberry quinoa bars enjoyable year round. You could also sub in a different berry, if desired.
How to Make Blueberry Quinoa Bars
STEP 1: COMBINE DRY INGREDIENTS
In a large bowl combine rolled oats, quinoa, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
STEP 2: STIR IN WET INGREDIENTS
Add in applesauce, flax, almond butter, coconut oil and maple syrup. Stir until well-combined. Fold in blueberries. Let batter sit for 10 mins to let flax absorb some liquid.
STEP 3: BAKE
Add batter to baking dish and spread out evenly. Bake for 25-30 mins or until edges are crisp and center is cooked through.
STEP 4: SLICE + SERVE
Let sit for 20 mins before cutting into 9-12 squares and allow to cool completely.
FAQs
Nope! I’ve tested this recipe with both cooked and uncooked quinoa and actually found the uncooked quinoa yielded an optimal result.
I’d recommend it. Tri-color quinoa typically takes longer to cook so stick with white quinoa if you can.
Yes! Quinoa is coated in saponin which is bitter tasting and could result in a gross tasting breakfast bar! Add the quinoa to a fine mesh strainer and rinse under cold water before using in this recipe.
Yes these blueberry bars are gluten-free.
Yes! These are also vegan.
Storage Instructions
Fridge: These bars store really well! After allowing the bars to cool completely, store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Freezer: Store quinoa breakfast bars in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Allow to thaw overnight or on counter for several hours.
More Healthy Bar Recipes:
Blueberry Quinoa Bars
Healthy Blueberry Quinoa Bars made with rolled oats, applesauce, maple syrup and coconut oil. No need to cook your quinoa first! These blueberry bars make for the perfect snack, dessert or even breakfast!
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Bake
- Diet: Gluten Free
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spray or grease a 9 x 9 inch baking dish with coconut oil or line with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl combine rolled oats, quinoa, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.
- Add in applesauce, flax, almond butter, coconut oil and maple syrup. Stir until well-combined.
- Fold in blueberries.
- Let batter sit for 10 mins to let flax absorb some liquid.
- Add batter to baking dish and spread out evenly.
- Bake for 25-30 mins or until edges are crisp and center is cooked through.
- Let sit for 20 mins before cutting into 9-12 squares, removing carefully and allow to cool completely.
- Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for longer.
