Pumpkin Quinoa Bites

A tasty little treat that’s easy to make and healthy enough to share generously with the kids. A great gift to make for a new mom, too!

I’ll admit it: I don’t really like quinoa. It’s not a side dish or salad go-to for me. But put it in dessert; now we’re talking!

I love making these little energy bites, as they can masquerade as dessert, but still pack a healthy punch – and you can easily cut out the chocolate if you don’t need it. (I have three toddlers. I need it.)

Pumpkin Quinoa Bite Ingredients

• 1 egg
• 2 cups cooked quinoa (so about 1 cup uncooked)
• 1 cup pumpkin (I buy canned puree; I’ve used pie filling in a pinch, too!))
• 1/2 cup oats
• 1/2 cup shredded coconut (optional, but I like the pumpkin/coconut mix)
• 1 tsp allspice (you can easily just use cinnamon, or ginger, or nutmeg; whatever you have or prefer)
• chocolate chips (use as few or as many as you like; I’d say measure 1/3 cup and decide if it’s enough or not for you)

INSTRUCTIONS

• Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
• Cook the quinoa according to the package. Let it cool.
• Mix it all together.
• Roll into bite-sized balls, slightly smaller than a golf ball.
• Place on a cookie sheet.
• Bake for 20 minutes.
• Enjoy!

NOTE: If you’re adding the chocolate, be sure to let the quinoa cool first. Otherwise, it will melt the chocolate – which may make your children happy.