Quinoa Blondies

I came across this recipe in Eating Well magazine and I was intrigued with using quinoa as a flour! This was a "makeover" for traditional blondies, reducing the calories and adding more protein and fiber, and... all the ingredients are gluten free.

I discovered quinoa (pronounced "keen wah") looking for a gluten free side dish. Quinoa is a gluten free grain high in fiber, protein and iron. It is fast and easy to prepare and tasty! So if you haven't tried it yet, you can find it in the rice isle.

I never thought of using it as a flour.  Well you can and these were delicious! They were light and moist and you would never guess the flour substitute was quinoa! 

To make the quinoa flour, put the raw quinoa in a clean coffee grinder and grind it into powder. 

A fast, easy recipe, no one will 

guess is gluten free!

Almond Butter-Quinoa Blondies   Printable Recipe
Makes 24 squares
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup almond butter
2 large eggs
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup quinoa flour (see above)
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper, coat with cooking spray. (I used a 7x11 pan and it was fine).
Beat butter and almond butter with electric mixer until creamy. Beat in eggs, brown sugar and vanilla.  Mix quinoa flour, baking powder and salt in a small bowl. Add the flour mixture to the  wet ingredients and mix until combined. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Spread into prepared pan. Bake 25 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool for 45 minutes in pan, lift out with parchment paper onto cutting board and cut into 24 squares.