Popped quinoa chocolate peanut butter bark is a perfectly sweet and crunchy treat. Nutty popped quinoa mixed in with melted dark chocolate and sweet peanut butter pieces topped with a swirl of peanut butter. So easy to make and pop in the freezer to have on hand for when you need a little sweet crunch (just about every time I walk past the kitchen).
Did You Know That You Can Pop Quinoa?
Quinoa is a flower, but the quinoa we eat is technically a superfood seed. High in protein and fiber, gluten-free and has a whole list of good-for-you components.
When you pop quinoa it smells so good, it fills the air with a warm nutty fragrance.
In a pan over medium low heat, add the quinoa and let it warm up. As it warms up it will start to crackle and pop, this will take about 3 – 5 minutes. Watch closely and toss occasionally so that the quinoa does not burn. Loosely place a lid over the pan to keep the quinoa from popping all over your stove. I use a lid larger than my pan so that there is a place for the heat to ventilate.
Bark Ingredient Swaps
This popped quinoa chocolate peanut butter bark has only four ingredients: white quinoa, dark chocolate baking chips, peanut butter baking chips and few dollops of organic peanut butter (without added sugar).
- You can skip the peanut butter chips, and just substitute in more dark chocolate chips
- You can use semi-sweet or milk chocolate but it may not keep a bark-like consistency for as long outside of the freezer. Dark chocolate freezes better, maybe try a mix? I have not tested this one.
- If you only have peanut butter with added sugar, it may come out super sweet with both the peanut butter baking chips and the peanut butter swirl so I would omit one of them.
Popped Quinoa Chocolate and Peanut Butter Bark
When you spread it out on the parchment paper you can control the bark thickness. I think a thick bark is better but you really cannot go wrong either way.
Popped Quinoa Chocolate Peanut Butter Bark
Ingredients
- ? cup White Quinoa
- ½ cup Dark Chocolate Baking Chips
- ¼ cup Peanut Butter Baking Chips
- 4 TBSPs Peanut Butter (no sugar added)
Instructions
- Over medium low heat, add your quinoa to a pan and slowly heat to a pop, about 3-5 minutes. (see blog notes)? cup White Quinoa
- In a microwave safe bowl, add the baking chips and melt in the microwave for 1 minute. Stir and microwave again for 30 seconds if needed.½ cup Dark Chocolate Baking Chips, ¼ cup Peanut Butter Baking Chips
- Pour the popped quinoa into the bowl with the melted chocolate and peanut butter chips. Stir until it is evenly distributed.
- On a sheet pan (that fits in your freezer) lay out a piece of non-stick parchment paper. Spread the popped quinoa chocolate bark out to your preferred thickness.
- Dollop a few dollops of peanut butter4 TBSPs Peanut Butter (no sugar added)
- With a butter knife, make swirls. Do not swirl too much otherwise it mix completely mix in losing the swirl.
- Freeze for one hour and then break apart into bark. Store in the freezer.
Nutrition
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