Popped Quinoa Dessert Bars

I’m always on the lookout for new, real food dessert ideas. It’s just so much easier to avoid processed, sugar-laden desserts when you have a wholesome, real food option to enjoy instead. Who needs a processed brownie when you have a freezer full of Popped Quinoa Dessert Bars at home? Nah, didn’t think so.

And once your palate becomes accustomed to unprocessed desserts made with nutrient dense ingredients and wholesome sweeteners, traditional store-bought desserts start to taste fake and really really sweet. If you love sweets, like me, then it may be hard to imagine the day when traditional sweets taste sickeningly sweet…but give yourself enough time on a real food diet and it’s bound to happen.

Since learning how to pop quinoa a couple of weeks ago, I’ve been putting it into everything! First I tried it in some Trail Mix, which is awesome to carry with you for emergency snack situations. Then I added it as an unexpected crunch to these creamy dessert bars. Next up is real food crackers with popped quinoa for some nutty, crunchy texture.

B loved these bars. He thinks there’s a peanut butter taste, and asked the other day “Do we have more of your peanut butter bars?” No peanut butter here, those are legumes and on my do-not-eat list, but I’ll let him pretend