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Crunchy Quinoa Breakfast Cereal (Gluten Free)

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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!

Crunchy Quinoa Breakfast Cereal

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.

Crunchy Quinoa Breakfast Cereal

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.

Crunchy Quinoa Breakfast Cereal

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!

Crunchy Quinoa Breakfast Cereal

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

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!

5 from 1 vote
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Crunchy Quinoa Breakfast Cereal
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
25 mins
Total Time
30 mins
 
This Crunchy Quinoa Breakfast Cereal is the perfect way to start your day! It's gluten free, oil free, refined sugar free, and a complete protein. Crunchy from the seeds and nuts, spiced with cinnamon, and lightly sweetened with pure maple syrup and dried apricots - it's delicious topped with fresh berries and a splash of non-dairy milk!
Course: Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine: dairy free, gluten free, vegan
Servings: 4 1/2 cup servings
Calories: 272 kcal
Author: Jenn S.
Ingredients
  • 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)
Instructions
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  2. In a medium bowl combine all ingredients except the dried apricots.
  3. Bake in a single layer for 20-25 minutes on a parchment lined baking sheet, stirring every 10 minutes.
  4. When it's finished, add the dried apricots.
  5. Let cool completely on the baking sheet. It will crisp up more as it cools.
  6. Enjoy topped with fresh berries and splash of non-dairy milk.
Recipe Notes

~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.

 

 

Nutrition Facts
Crunchy Quinoa Breakfast Cereal
Amount Per Serving
Calories 272 Calories from Fat 144
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 16g 25%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
Monounsaturated Fat 3g
Sodium 149mg 6%
Potassium 99mg 3%
Total Carbohydrates 26g 9%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Sugars 12g
Protein 8g 16%
Vitamin A 7%
Vitamin C 1%
Calcium 8%
Iron 23%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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Healthy Breakfast Tacos w/ Scrambled Tofu & Roasted Potatoes

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Crunchy Quinoa Breakfast Cereal - this gluten free breakfast cereal is a great way to use up leftover quinoa. It's crunchy from the toasted quinoa, nuts and seeds, spiced with cinnamon, and lightly sweetened with a touch of pure maple syrup and a few dried apricots. With some fresh berries and a splash of non-dairy milk, this might just be your new go-to breakfast. This crunchy quinoa breakfast cereal would also be great as a topping for yogurt or smoothie bowls.

Crunchy Quinoa Breakfast Cereal - vegan | gluten free | oil free | refined sugar free | healthy | clean eating | whole foods | plant protein
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Comments

  1. 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.

    Reply

    • 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.

      Reply

    • Thanks so much, Megan! I hope you love it! Please come back and let me know what you think!

      Reply

    • I’m all about using up those leftovers!! Though this is so good, I might make quinoa JUST for this! 🙂

      Reply

    • It’s great as a snack too! Or a little treat before bedtime. Really, anytime of day! 🙂 Thanks, Gloria!

      Reply

  8. 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.

    Reply

    • Thanks, Brandi! I don’t like my quinoa mushy either. I tend to undercook it so it still has a little bite!

      Reply

  9. 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!

    Reply

    • Thanks, Natalie! And I just realized I didn’t add the apricots to the DIRECTIONS. Oops! Fixed now!

      Reply

    • 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. 🙂

      Reply

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My name is Jenn. This is my blog where I share delicious plant based recipes for the whole family. I love to cook; I can read cookbooks like novels; and I enjoy experimenting in the kitchen by making standard American favorites healthier.

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