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Home Recipes By Meal Dessert

Healthy Peanut Butter Crisp Bars

4 Reviews Recipe
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By: Erin Antoniak • Updated On May 24, 2026

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

Healthy Peanut Butter Quinoa Crisp Bars that will remind you of rice krispies, but filled with chocolate and peanut butter!

I am literally THRILLED to share these with you guys because, truthfully they are one of the best things I have ever made on this blog. Hands down, no questions asked, these grown up rice krispie bars are not to be missed and you should probably do the next best thing and order that bag of puffed quinoa to get you started.

Puffed quinoa is something I came across on a few other blogger’s Instagram accounts and I knew I wanted to order it as a fun addition for any potential baked goods. I saw Lindsay, from The Toasted Pinenut, making delicious little peanut butter balls with those crunchy little gems and I knew I needed to get my hands on them.

So what is puffed quinoa? It isĀ quinoa that has been puffed, similar to puffed rice cereal, is totally gluten-free, crunchy and a little bit nutty. It can be added into bake + no-bake treats, in trail mix, in cereal, and really anywhere! You can order the puffed quinoa off of Amazon. You can also used puffed rice for this!

I got to thinking what creative baked good I could make first and I came up with the idea to make a peanut butter chocolate rice krispie with a chocolate shell. And of course it is made with peanut butter and chocolate because that is my favorite combination ever šŸ™‚Ā 

These chocolate peanut butter rice krispie treats reminded me exactly of a rice krispie treat, except chocolate peanut butter and made with all healthy ingredients!Ā 

I hope you love these as much as I did! Sometimes I make my Coffee Protein Smoothie too for the perfect mid-day snack with the bars.

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 4 reviews

Healthy Chocolate Covered Quinoa Crisp Bars

Healthy Chocolate Covered Quinoa Crisp Bars with peanut butter creaminess and made with only a few ingredients!

Yield 9-12 bars 1x
Scale
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Ingredients

  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 cup dates
  • 1/3 cup peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1-2 Tbsp water
  • 1 cup puffed quinoa

Peanut butter filling

  • 1/2 cup natural pb
  • 2 Tbsp melted coconut oil
  • 2 Tbsp maple syrup

Chocolate layer

  • 1 cup chocolate, melted with 1 tsp coconut oil

Instructions

  1. In a food processor, blend rolled oats until very fine, flour consistency.
  2. Add in dates, peanut butter, and honey, and process until fully blended.
  3. Add in 1-2 Tbsp water as needed to get moving, scraping down sides as needed.
  4. Pour into bowl and add in quinoa. Stir till fully combined.
  5. Flatten into brownie pan or bread pan depending on desired thickness. Place in freezer for 15 min.
  6. In a saucepan, combine peanut butter filling ingredients over low heat.
  7. Spread evenly over quinoa base. Freeze for at least 30 min.
  8. Cover with melted chocolate and put back in freezer.
  9. Store in freezer.
Author: Erin Antoniak Category: Dessert

Did you make this?

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There may be affiliate links in this post!Ā By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat šŸ™‚

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Recipe Rating




  1. Amy says

    Posted on 6/26 at 7:36 am

    Made these for the first time. Very good! However mine are not crispy at all. Soft and chewy. Still very good! What did I do wrong?

    How many dates equals half a cup? Maybe I added too many? šŸ˜„

    Reply
  2. Ruby says

    Posted on 5/6 at 9:34 pm

    Is there a way I could make the chocolate layer with cocoa powder?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 5/7 at 2:52 pm

      Hi Ruby, I have not tried that and cocoa powder isn’t as sweet, but feel free to give it a try!

      Reply
  3. Asia says

    Posted on 8/18 at 10:08 pm

    I love this healthier snack and diet šŸ˜‹

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 8/23 at 11:22 am

      Hi Asia, so happy you loved them so much!! šŸ™‚

      Reply
  4. Jean Elizabeth Terry says

    Posted on 1/1 at 7:30 pm

    can you use dried prunes instead of dates?

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 1/3 at 3:21 pm

      Hi Jean, I have not tried that sub, but feel free to try it and let me know how your bars come out!! šŸ™‚

      Reply
  5. Kelly says

    Posted on 5/20 at 7:49 pm

    Perfect for pb chocolate lovers looking for a crunch! Like some others, I used rice krispies and added sea salt

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 5/23 at 12:06 pm

      Hi Kelly, so glad you loved them and great subs!!

      Reply
  6. Gabi says

    Posted on 4/3 at 9:34 am

    These are SPECTACULAR! Made them in my study abroad dorm so I had a few tweaks: no food processor so used instant oats instead of oat flour and mashed soaked dates with a fork until caramely and made my own puffed quinoa on the stove. Oh my goodness!!! They are a perfect snack after lunch with such great ingredients! I am so happy I tried them! Thank you Erin!!!!!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 4/5 at 6:35 pm

      Hi Gabi, so happy you loved them so much! šŸ™‚

      Reply
  7. Lora B says

    Posted on 12/18 at 3:16 pm

    Just made and are in the freezer! I know they’ll be delicious! I see you said to store them in the freezer. Just wondering, even after they are cut and ready to eat? Thanks!!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 12/19 at 7:42 pm

      Hi Lora, yes you can still store them in the freezer after they’re cut.

      Reply
  8. Jeanie says

    Posted on 3/11 at 12:10 pm

    Hi Erin, I just found your site today and look forward to making some of your yummy treats. Should I buy pitted dates? I am new to cooking with dates. I know nothing about them, including how big is the pit and if it matters in baking. Thanks!ā˜ŗļø

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 3/11 at 1:04 pm

      Hi Jeanie, welcome!! Yes I’d recommend buying pitted ones to make your life easy!

      Reply
  9. Leah D says

    Posted on 3/23 at 10:45 pm

    I have made these bars several times and LOVE them. I sub puffed brown rice for the quinoa and add sea salt to the chocolate. Deeeeeee-lish.

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 3/24 at 8:06 am

      Hi Leah, so glad you loved them and great subs!!

      Reply
  10. Makayla says

    Posted on 7/30 at 3:03 am

    Hi there, do you know how many calories there are in these quinoa bars? SO excited to make them!! Love the recipe!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 7/30 at 12:56 pm

      I haven’t calculated calories for these, but you could put it all into an online calculator if you’re interested! They are truly delicious!

      Reply
  11. Anastasia says

    Posted on 5/24 at 1:50 pm

    Hi there! Do you have a specific brand of puffed quinoa you like to use? I’ve searched around a few times online and in store for them before and have been unsuccessful in actually finding them. Ive seen ways to make it at home, but if I can buy it, I will šŸ™‚ thanks!!

    Reply
    • Erin says

      Posted on 5/27 at 7:44 pm

      Yes!! https://carringtonfarms.com/organic-crispy-puffed-quinoa-family-size/

      It’s a huge bag so definitely worth the cost!

      Reply

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