PBG Recipe: Coconut Quinoa Bars

As I mentioned earlier I am trying to focus on more healthy recipes now that the Holidays are over and the New Year is upon us.  I also have a tonne of baking supplies left over from my holiday baking - nuts, dried fruit, more nuts, coconut, rolled oats, more nuts.  So, this recipe was partially an effort to create a healthy granola type bar and partially an effort to use up some of my baking supplies. 

These turned out OK.  They were a little crumbly so I think maybe a full cup of the sweetened condensed milk might be make them hold together better.  They taste pretty good however.  Not too sweet and the coconut flavour is not over powering at all. 

Ingredients
1.5 cups cooked quinoa
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup chopped dried apricots
1 cup chopped dates
1 cup chopped hazelnuts
2 cups shredded unsweetened coconut
3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk

Directions
These couldn't be any easier to make.  Just dump it all in a bowl and mix.

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Mix all ingredients into a large mixing bowl and stir until fully combined.
• Press into a lightly greased 8x8 pan.
• Bake for 25 - 30 minutes until just lightly golden around the edges.
• Cool and cut into 10 bars.
• Can be stored in an airtight container for a few weeks or in the freezer for a few months. 

Nutrition

Calories 360

Total Fat 14g

Total Carbohydrates 53g

Dietary Fiber 6.5g

Sugars 27g

Protein 9g