Quinoa Crunch Stuffed Dates
Introducing your new favorite sweet treat: stuffed dates filled with peanut butter and coated in a crispy chocolate coating made with puffed quinoa.
Stuffed dates are my go-to sweet treat. They perfectly satisfy my sweet tooth while also being incredibly nutritious. No matter when you open my freezer, you’re likely to find these Quinoa Crunch Stuffed Dates or my Snickers Stuffed Dates.
I always loved the chocolate crunch bars growing up, so that was my inspiration when creating this recipe. I always love a good crunch in desserts!
Instead of using rice crispies to create the crunch, this recipe uses a more nutritious alternative: puffed quinoa! You can make your own puffed quinoa (I’ll walk you through how to make it in the recipe card below), or you can buy quinoa already puffed.
Why I Love Dates
I’m a huge date lover. I eat at least one date per day. Did you know dates are a superfruit? They’re a great source of nutrients and vitamins such as potassium, magnesium, vitamins B6 and K, calcium and iron, which contribute to various health benefits. They also provide a natural energy boost and are low on the glycemic index so your blood sugar won’t spike when eating them.
My favorite dates to buy are from Joolies Dates. They’re fresh, organic and perfectly sweet! It can be hard to find fresh dates – most of the ones in the superstores are already dried out. You can shop Joolie’s Dates with my discount code: booboo.
Why Quinoa?
I wanted to add a crunch element to the chocolate coating, kind of like chocolate crunch bars which I loved as a kid. But I wanted to use something with benefits. That’s how quinoa came into the picture.
When toasted, quinoa pops and has a natural crunch, kind of like crispy rice. It’s just a plus that quinoa is loaded with essential vitamins and minerals such as protein, fiber, and iron.
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Ingredients Needed to Make Quinoa Crunch Stuffed Dates
Medjool dates – I use Joolie’s Dates (you can shop with my discount code: booboo for money off). It’s important to use medjool dates as opposed to other types of dates since medjool dates are super sweet.
Peanut butter – I use natural peanut butter with peanuts as the only ingredient. If you’re allergic to peanut butter, you can swap for another nut or seed butter such as almond butter or sunflower seed butter.
Quinoa – you can buy quinoa already puffed or make your own by following the steps in the recipe card. If making your own popped quinoa, opt for buying pre-washed quinoa so you don’t have to wash and dry it yourself. It should say if it’s been washed on the bag.
Vegan chocolate chips – I use Hu Chocolate (you can shop with my discount code: booboo for money off).
CRAVING DATES? More Stuffed Date Recipes
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a comment and ★★★★★ star rating below letting me know how you liked it! This helps others find my recipes. I appreciate your support, as always. xo, Megan
Quinoa Crunch Stuffed Dates
Ingredients
- 5 medjool dates
- 5 tsp peanut butter, 1 tsp for each date
- ½ cup vegan chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp refined coconut oil
- ¼ cup puffed quinoa
Instructions
- If your dates still have the pit in them, cut a slice down the middle of each date and remove the pit. Place the dates on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Fill the center of each date with 1 teaspoon of peanut butter and press to close.
- Place in the freezer for about 30 minutes or until the peanut butter is firm.
- If making your own puffed quinoa, follow these steps. Otherwise, move to the next step. Make sure to use quinoa that’s pre-washed and dried. You can buy it pre-washed, it will say it on the bag. Heat a large saucepan over high heat. Once hot, add ¼ cup quinoa and let it heat until the quinoa starts to pop (similar to popcorn) and develops a golden brown color. Shake the pan every so often for 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool completely.
- Melt the vegan chocolate chips and coconut oil in the microwave, then mix in the puffed quinoa.
- Dip the dates into the chocolate quinoa mixture, then place in the fridge until the chocolate hardens. Enjoy!
