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Crunchy Quinoa Breakfast Cereal is so much better for you than store bought packaged cereal. It’s gluten free, refined sugar free, and a complete protein! Start your day off right! Bonus: it’s a great way to use up leftover quinoa!
I love cold cereal for breakfast (or snacks), but I don’t love all the junk that they’re usually made from. Even the “healthy” ones generally have more sugar than needed and sometimes contain oil. This Crunchy Quinoa Breakfast Cereal is super easy to make. And if you have leftover cooked quinoa, it only takes about 20 minutes. You can make a big batch of this and keep it in an air tight container to enjoy all week.
Loaded with Healthy Whole Foods
This quinoa breakfast cereal is also loaded up with the crunch of hemp seeds, almonds and pecans, spiced with flavorful cinnamon, and lightly sweetened with pure maple syrup and dried apricots. I love the chewy apricots paired with the crunchy nuts and seeds.
I guess you could call this granola, but I usually think of granola containing oats and this crunchy cereal does not, which is great for those sensitive or allergic to oats.
Use Up Leftover Quinoa
I used tricolor quinoa in this crunchy cereal because I love the color, but any variety would work. Leftover quinoa works best since it’s already dried out a bit. You can use fresh quinoa too, but it might take longer to dry out and crisp up. If you try it with fresh quinoa, let me know how it turns out!
Need another idea for using up leftover quinoa? Try my Chocolate Chip Quinoa Snack Cake! It’s a reader favorite!
Top It Off
I love this crunchy quinoa breakfast cereal with fresh berries, for a nice contrast of textures and flavors, and a splash of rice milk. Of course, your favorite fruit (bananas, melons, kiwi, pears, apples, etc.) and non-dairy milk (almond, soy, cashew, etc.) would work too.
It’s the perfect, healthy, protein packed, plant based way to start your day!
Crunchy Quinoa Breakfast Cereal
I hope you love this Quinoa Breakfast Cereal as much as we do. If you give it a try, please come back and leave me a comment below with your feedback. You can also find me on social media. Be sure to tag @veggie_inspired and #veggieinspired so I’m sure to see it! Enjoy!
- 1 cup cooked and cooled quinoa (leftover quinoa works best)
- 1/4 cup hemp hearts (hulled hemp seeds)
- 1/4 cup raw almonds (chopped)
- 1/4 cup raw pecans (chopped)
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp pure maple syrup
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 cup dried apricots (chopped)
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- In a medium bowl combine all ingredients except the dried apricots.
- Bake in a single layer for 20-25 minutes on a parchment lined baking sheet, stirring every 10 minutes.
- When it's finished, add the dried apricots.
- Let cool completely on the baking sheet. It will crisp up more as it cools.
- Enjoy topped with fresh berries and splash of non-dairy milk.
~This will keep for several days in an air-tight container.
~It's also delicious plain as a snack.
~Be sure to always rinse your quinoa well before cooking.
More Delicious Vegan Breakfast Recipes:
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Smoothie Bowl
Healthy Breakfast Tacos w/ Scrambled Tofu & Roasted Potatoes
Jonna Hirschman says
Do you know what the carb count would be without the apricots? Thanks!
Jenn Sebestyen says
Hi, Jonna. I’m not sure what program I originally used to calculate the nutrition facts, but I just ran it through My Fitness Pal and I’m getting something different now. I’ve updated the post to reflect the new stats. Without the apricots, I’m getting 31g of carbs and about half the sugar. Please note, that online calculators are just estimations and I can not guarantee they are correct. Please see my Nutrition Disclaimer for more information.
Jocelyn says
Just wanted to let you know that this is one of my “go-to” breakfast recipes. Love it warm & cold! Brilliant idea for extra quinoa.
Jenn S. says
That’s so great to hear, Jocelyn! Thank you! I’m so glad you enjoy it!
Celeste says
Hi, Loved your recipe! Do you know if it can be stored?
Jenn S. says
Hi, Celeste! I’m so glad you loved it! Thank you! Yes, you can store it in an airtight container for several days. Mine didn’t last longer than that, so I’m not sure exactly how long it will last.
Megan says
I love the idea of this cereal! I’m definitely going to try it soon.
Jenn S. says
Thanks so much, Megan! I hope you love it! Please come back and let me know what you think!
athleticavocado says
What a fantastic alternative to granola! I love making granola, but I ALWAYs have leftover quinoa in my fridge! Now I know what to do with it!
Jenn S. says
I’m all about using up those leftovers!! Though this is so good, I might make quinoa JUST for this! 🙂
veggiesdontbite says
I love the crunchy in this! Texture is my thing, and this looks perfect. Yum!
Jenn S. says
Thanks, Sophia! I think you would love it!
Gloria @ Homemade & Yummy says
This sounds so flavourful and healthy. I will admit I am not a breakfast person…but this does sound good. I could eat his for lunch too.
Jenn S. says
It’s great as a snack too! Or a little treat before bedtime. Really, anytime of day! 🙂 Thanks, Gloria!
cookingontheweekends says
What a gorgeous and healthy way to start the day!
Jenn S. says
Thank you, Valentina!
The Vegan 8 says
Such a great idea to make cereal from the cooked quinoa! I’m not a fan of quinoa, too strong and mushy, so cooking it this way would totally make me a fan! Looks amazing.
Jenn S. says
Thanks, Brandi! I don’t like my quinoa mushy either. I tend to undercook it so it still has a little bite!
Natalie says
I love quinoa mixed into granola, so why not granola/cereal just made of all quinoa! The texture looks delish, I’m glad you still got some fruity sweet chunks in there 🙂 This would be a great smoothie bowl topping too!
Jenn S. says
Thanks, Natalie! And I just realized I didn’t add the apricots to the DIRECTIONS. Oops! Fixed now!
foodhuntersguide says
I want this for breakfast!
Jenn S. says
Do it!! 🙂 Thanks, Theresa!
Marsha | Marsha's Baking Addiction says
What a scrumptious, healthy looking breakfast! Yum!
Jenn S. says
Thank you, Marsha!
munchiesandmunchkins says
I would have never thought to use quinoa as breakfast cereal. Great idea and pics too!
Jenn S. says
Thank you so much, Becky! The quinoa has such a nice crunch!
Strength and Sunshine says
The greatest oat-free granola cereal fun! I LOVE it!!!! A little crunch in the morning with a protein punch 😉
Jenn S. says
Thank you, Rebecca! It’s so good! Even the kids loved it. I just told them it was granola and they didn’t question it a bit. 🙂