Coconut Quinoa No Bake Cookies

No-bake cookies with a coconut quinoa twist! Make them on the stovetop with coconut flakes, cacao, peanut butter, and cooked quinoa. 

Do you have a favorite childhood cookie?

Mine are definitely No Bakes.

When my mom announced she was making them, I’d hang out in the kitchen to grab them faster than she could drop them on wax paper to set up.

I loved watching them fall in delicious chocolate peanut buttery oat blobs and slowly harden and take shape.

Yesss.

Clearly adulting could use more of this childlike wonder, so I created these Coco-Nutty Quinoa No Bake Cookies based on the classic with some healthy upgrades.

It’s true, they’re not the prettiest of cookies, but then I’ve always had a soft spot for the imperfect.

When I picked out teddy bears on the shelf, I always looked through all of their furry forms, carefully selecting the one that was just a little homely.

You know, the teddy bear with the eyes glued a bit close together, the smile sewn a little crooked, the ears just slightly asymmetrical.

I felt like it was my duty to adopt this bear, because I had zero faith other kids would buy it, and the thought of that teddy bear sitting on the shelf for years to come waiting for a good home was too much for my childish heart to handle.

I took my new friend home proudly, resting assured that he/she had a good home and that my bear was pretty freakin’ special.

These quirks gave my bear a little something that set it apart, what I later came to understand as “character”.

Well, these Coconut Quinoa No Bake Cookies have all the character, too!

They might not have a fuzzy wuzzy face, but they’ve got taste to make up for it.

The same justifications apply.

You might find yourself grabbing them by the handful just in case no one else will.

Or because the combination of chocolate, peanut butter, and coconut is completely addicting.

What You Need to Make Coconut Quinoa No Bake Cookies

Here’s what you need:

• coconut oil 
• unsweetened almond milk
• unrefined coconut sugar
• raw cacao powder
• peanut butter
• cooked toasted quinoa
• toasted quinoa flakes or oatmeal
• unsweetened shredded coconut

That’s it!

How to Make Coconut Quinoa No Bake Cookies

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.

Measure out your nut butter, quinoa, quinoa flakes, and shredded coconut for later.

In a sauce pan over medium heat, mix together the coconut sugar, cocoa powder, coconut oil, and almond milk, stirring frequently so the mixture doesn’t burn.

Allow the mixture to reach a low simmer, then remove the pan from heat and add the quinoa flakes, quinoa, nut butter, and coconut flakes in that order.

Fold everything together with a spatula or silicon spoon until it’s well combined without any clumps.

Using a cookie scoop, drop the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet in domed balls.

Garnish the cookies with coconut flakes and allow them to set up in the fridge for 10-15 minutes before eating.

Freeze cookies for firmer cookies and refrigerate for softer cookies.

Store leftover cookies in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week and the freeze for long term storage.

Swaps and Substitutions

No Bakes were the go-to cookie in my house because they’re convenient, quick, and nutritious.

I don’t think my mom felt bad about us eating them because she knew they were packed with protein, fiber, and healthy fats!

Not a bad snack for a kid or an adult, I might add.

I took my No Bakes a step farther and made them refined sugar free, swapped out the oatmeal with a blend of cooked quinoa and quinoa flakes, and gave them an oil-free option.

Notes on Meal Prep

In the trickiest part of the classic recipe, you have to scramble to lay out the cookies before the mixture hardens in the pan.

It’s a cookie creation frenzy!

My Coco-Nutty Quinoa No Bake Cookies don’t have this problem!

The quinoa flake and cooked quinoa mixture keep the cookies moist and soft so you can lay them out in a more leisurely manner.

The way cookie no-baking should be.

Breathe. Eat. Savor.

How to Serve Coconut Quinoa No Bake Cookies

These Coconut Quinoa No Bake Cookies are suitable for dessert and snacking all year round, but I thought it would be nice to share for summer since we aren’t always inclined to turn on our oven to satisfy our sweet tooth.

Enjoy them as a healthy dessert or quick snack. I like to have mine as an afternoon pick me up or after dinner treat.

If you like a softer gooier cookie, enjoy these cookies immediately and store in the fridge.

If you like firmer cookies, I recommend storing in the freezer for a chocolate-y chilled treat.

Enjoy!

More No Bake Cookies 

• Chocolate Tahini No Bake Cookies

I Want to Hear From You

If you make this Coconut Quinoa No Bake Cookies recipe, let me know!

Be sure to leave me a comment, rating, and review so I can use your feedback to create more yums.

Give me a shout on Instagram and use #floraandvino to show me your creations.

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XO Lauren

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