This Quinoa Granola recipe makes for a healthy snack or appetizer. And guess what: it’s gluten free!
Mother’s Day is right around the corner and it’s truly a day to celebrate and give thanks to all of the wonderful moms in our lives.
In that context, we have teamed up with the amazing people over at Fair Trade USA to celebrate how Moms Make a World of Difference.
I was thrilled at the opportunity to be part of spreading the word on the importance and positive impact of Fair Trade. If you’re not familiar or have heard the term ‘Fair Trade’ but aren’t totally sure what it’s all about, this is a global movement to alleviate poverty in the developing world, while ensuring consumers quality products that improve lives and protect the environment.
If you see products that bear the Fair Trade Certified Logo, that means they come from farmers and workers in the developing world who are justly compensated for their work and goods. This allows them to build sustainable businesses that will positively influence their families and communities.
What is awesome, but sometimes little known, is that many of these farmers and workers are women and moms who work hard, and because of the Fair Trade movement, are able help provide for their families in ways they weren’t able to previously.
I was fortunate enough to try a bunch of Fair Trade goodies to review and let me tell you, these products are delicious! My husband and I inhaled the Larabars (the chocolate raspberry torte was to die for) all the while enjoying a cup of the Allegro Coffee.
I’m not kidding, as soon as I opened the bag of coffee, I sighed with pleasure. It smells heavenly and tastes even better.
Besides snacking on all the treats, I wanted to create something special with these beautiful products and decided to whip up a healthy and delicious Chocolate Coconut Quinoa Granola.
As a bonus, it’s gluten free, for all of my gluten free friends! The granola turned out incredibly flavorful — nutty and sweet with a fine, slightly seedy texture. It’s not a big clumpy granola because the quinoa lends itself to a more delicate texture.
My husband and I couldn’t stop eating it. Plus, it’s full of chocolate and coconut and that’s a dynamite combination.
Happy Mother’s Day!
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Quinoa Granola Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup Alter Eco Rainbow Quinoa uncooked
- 3 tablespoons Unrefined Cane Sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons Unsalted Butter
- 1/4 cup Cashew Nuts chopped
- 1/4 cup Almonds
- 1/4 teaspoon Salt
- 4 tablespoons Ground Flax Seed
- 4 ounces Sweetened Shredded Coconut
- 1 Alter Eco Dark Coconut Toffee Chocolate Bar chopped into small pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium heat.
- Allow butter to cook for several minutes or until it becomes browned and takes on a nutty aroma. Be careful not to let it burn.
- Whisk Alter Eco Cane Sugar and cinnamon into the melted butter. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, place quinoa, cashews, almonds, salt and ground flax seeds. Pour melted butter and sugar mixture over quinoa and nuts. Stir well to coat evenly. Spread granola mixture onto prepared baking sheet in a thin, even layer.
- Bake granola for about 30-35 minutes or until mixture is nice and toasted, stirring every 10 minutes.
- Remove from oven and stir in chopped coconut. Allow mixture to cool completely (at least 1 hour). Stir in chopped chocolate bar.