Cinnamon Apple Quinoa Breakfast Bars

9/22/16

For a wholesome whole grain breakfast you can make ahead and grab on the go, enjoy the protein-packed autumn goodness in these Cinnamon Apple Quinoa Breakfast Bars.

Cinnamon Apple Quinoa Breakfast Bars

There’s a big debate going on in my county right now. A couple years ago they changed the start and end times for the different schools, shifting some of the elementary schools later, the high schools earlier, and a bunch of other stuff. Basically it was all in an effort to save money by optimizing the bus routes and schedules, but for the kiddos in my house, it makes no sense whatsoever. My son is in first grade and starts school at 9:30 am, and let me tell you, I am totally on board with moving that time earlier.

Why? Well, several reasons.

First, our evenings are a bit busy. These are little kids with early bedtimes, which means that in less than four hours we have to cram in picking up the little guy, making and eating dinner, homework, family time, reading, after school activities, and, you know, maybe a little play or relaxing time. And I’m not even one who has them signed up for sports and clubs and such every night of the week.

Second, my kids are early risers, and although they are better this year than they were last year, by the time The Bug got to school in Kindergarten, he was already tired!

And finally, I really wish I didn’t have to give the kid a second breakfast every morning. Yes, instead of one normal-sized breakfast, we do two smaller breakfasts. When he is up and ready for breakfast by seven (which we can’t move later because we have to drop off the little one before the big guy gets on the bus), and doesn’t start school till 9:30, if he had to go all the way till lunch at noon he would be hangry! I can’t subject his teacher to that. So while I’m not talking about serving him two giant plates of pancakes and bacon, we do always need to grab something before heading out the door. But there’s not always a lot of time to do that.

So it’s important that I’ve got some nutritious and satisfying options on hand that we can grab on our way to the bus stop, like muffins, energy balls, trail mix, and these…

These Cinnamon Apple Quinoa Breakfast Bars are simple to make ahead and keep in the fridge or freezer. It doesn’t matter whether it is fall or any other time of the year, my kids always love apple cinnamon anything, and breakfast bars are always a hit. So I knew they would happily gobble these up. In fact, I knew they’d be ready to devour them so quickly that I actually stashed some in the freezer so I would still have a little stockpile to take one out the night before and thaw it overnight, or to pop in the microwave for a few seconds if I had to grab it at the last minute. It’s perfect for a portable breakfast on-the-go.

The kids love the sweet, soft, and chewy goodness. I love that not only are they easy and convenient to have on hand, but they are also packed with plenty of wholesome ingredients like oats, flax seeds, and of course the apples. That means lots of whole grains and fiber to keep them satisfied and protein from the quinoa, pecans, and AllWhites^® 100% liquid egg whites. Not only do they help keep these bars together so that you can carry them along with you, but they also add protein without any fat, or cholesterol, and with only a few calories. For more great recipe ideas, check out AllWhites on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

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Print Recipe

3 from 1 vote

Cinnamon Apple Quinoa Breakfast Bars

An sweet and chewy easy make-ahead breakfast to grab on the go, packed with plenty of protein and whole grains to keep you satisfied till lunch.

Prep Time10 mins

Cook Time30 mins

Total Time40 mins

Course: Breakfast, Snack

Cuisine: American

Keyword: quinoa breakfast bars

Servings: 16

Calories: 129kcal

Author: Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips

Ingredients

• 1½ cups quick cooking oats
• 1 cup cooked quinoa, cooled to room temperature
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 cup ground flax seed
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
• 1/3 cup AllWhites 100% liquid egg whites
• 2 Tablespoons almond butter or other nut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cups chopped apples about 1/4 inch pieces
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

• Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line a 9x9 in. square baking pan with parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large bowl, combine the oats, quinoa, baking powder, flax seed, and cinnamon and stir until evenly distributed.
• In another bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, applesauce, AllWhites 100% liquid egg whites, almond butter, and vanilla.
• Pour the wet ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir until mixed thoroughly to form a thick batter.
• Fold in the apples and pecans.
• Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth with a spatula.
• Bake on the center rack of the oven for 25 - 35 minutes until the bars are golden brown and firm to the touch.
• Remove and cool completely in the pan. Slice into bars and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for several days, or freeze to keep longer.

Notes

Adapted from Simply Quinoa.

Nutrition

Serving: 1bar | Calories: 129kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 5g | Sodium: 12mg | Potassium: 157mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 45IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 44mg | Iron: 0.9mg

Enjoy this Cinnamon Apple Quinoa Breakfast Bars recipe!

Here’s a few more breakfast ideas to make with AllWhites 100% liquid egg whites…

• Apple Crisp Granola
• Brownie Batter Chocolate Zucchini Oatmeal
• Mexican Chocolate Oatmeal

Plus a few from my friends…

• Pineapple Orange Julius from Barefeet in the Kitchen
• Spinach and Feta Wraps from Food Fun Family
• Leek Mushroom Egg White Frittata from A Healthy Life for Me

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of AllWhites 100% Liquid Egg Whites. The opinions and text are all mine.