Quinoa Qrispy Treats with Sesame Seeds and Flax

April 4, 2013

My family’s been obsessed with rice krispie treats as of late. I’ve been making a vegan brown rice version using 365 (Whole Foods brand) Brown Rice Crisps and Sweet and Sara’s amazing vegan marshmallows. We’ve been devouring them by the panful! For a fun way to dress up your ordinary treats, check out my post for turning them into chocolate-dipped pops here.

But today I decided to mix it up a little. I found toasted quinoa in the bulk foods aisle of Whole Foods and thought they’d be the perfect thing to change it up a little. And since quinoa is so good for you, why not throw a little flaxseed meal and sesame seeds into the mix and reap the additional nutritional benefits of omega-3s, fiber, protein, calcium, folic and oleic acid? You can’t even taste the flaxseed and the sesame seeds give the Qrispies a deep, complex, nutty flavor. Yum! This is a relatively guilt-free way to do dessert.

Here’s what you’ll need:

• 4 tbsp Earth Balance buttery stick
• 6 oz. Sweet and Sara vanilla vegan marshmallows, at room temp (These are hands-down the best vegan marshmallows you can buy. If you attempt this recipe with another vegan version, I cannot promise success in the end! But these will do the job blissfully. Find them in some WF stores or buy them online as I do.)
• 1 tbsp pure maple syrup
• 6 cups toasted quinoa
• 2 tbsp finely ground flaxseed meal
• 1 tbsp raw, white sesame seeds

Pour the quinoa into a large bowl. Add the flaxseed and sesame seeds and mix together evenly. Set aside.

The toasted quinoa, flaxseed meal and sesame seed mixture

In a medium saucepan, heat the Earth Balance over medium heat until fully melted. Be careful to not let it burn or begin to brown. Add in the marshmallows and stir constantly until they melt into an ooey, gooey blob. When they look something like the picture below, add in the maple syrup and continue to stir until well combined.

Give the quinoa mixture another quick toss to make sure the sesame seeds and flax don’t sit concentrated at the bottom of the bowl. Then pour the marshmallow mixture on top and working quickly, use a large spoon or spatula to coat the quinoa mixture evenly with the marshmallow. This takes a bit of work. Be sure to continue scooping underneath to capture any of the quinoa still sitting at the bottom. Just keep working it until it’s all mixed nicely… you will be rewarded for your efforts!

Next, pour the combined mixture into a 9 x 13 (ungreased) pan and using vegan wax paper, press it into the pan in an even layer.

Set the pan aside to cool. Once it’s completely cooled, cut into squares and serve.

Happy eating!

 

 

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