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Quick and Easy Quinoa Peanut Brittle

Last Updated On: Jul 24, 2024 · by · This post may contain affiliate links which won’t change your price but will share some commission. · 5 Comments

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Make this easy homemade Quinoa Peanut Brittle in less than 30 minutes for a crunchy sweet treat that’s doesn’t contain any refined sugars, butter or corn syrup!

Quinoa Peanut Brittle | This easy quinoa peanut brittle takes less than 30 minutes and is free of refined sugars and butter! | A Sweet Pea Chef

Growing up, I used to LOVE peanut brittle. The combination of the buttery sweet crunch with the salted peanuts was just so addicting. No wonder, looking back — it was filled with sugar and butter. Of course I loved it!

Nowadays, I can’t really get away with eating a ton of butter and corn syrup in my sweet treats. Lucky for us, it’s shockingly easy to still enjoy the foods we love without sacrificing our healthy eating goals.

I present: Quinoa Peanut Brittle. I’m happy to inform you this healthy peanut brittle is crunchy, chewy, filled with peanuts, sweet, and slightly salty. Yep, all the goodness of your traditional peanut brittle, but with some upgrades.

This homemade quinoa brittle has a higher protein, fiber, and healthy fat contents than the original, thanks to the addition of quinoa, chia seeds, and rolled oats. I gotta admit I’m very proud of myself for managing to make peanut butter brittle healthy.

Ingredients separated out for the quinoa peanut brittle, including the uncooked quinoa, vanilla extract, pure maple syrup, raw chopped peanuts, sea salt, coconut sugar, rolled oats, and coconut oil.

HOW TO MAKE QUINOA PEANUT BRITTLE

What I love the most about this healthy peanut brittle recipe is that it’s so yummy. When it comes to holiday desserts, this quinoa dessert definitely makes the cut. But I also love the fact that it’s so easy to make.

Here’s how to make quinoa peanut brittle:

preheat the oven to 325 degrees F;
line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper;
combine uncooked quinoa, uncooked rolled oats, raw peanuts, coconut sugar (more about this later), chia seeds, and sea salt in a mixing bowl;
add coconut oil, pure maple syrup, and vanilla extract and stir until everything is mixed;
transfer the quinoa brittle mixture to the baking sheet and spread it into an even layer;
bake for 12-15 minutes;
let the peanut brittle cool completely;
break the healthy peanut brittle into bite-size pieces with your hands.

Mixing bowl filled with the ingredients for the quinoa peanut brittle, including the rolled oats, uncooked quinoa, chia seeds, vanilla extract, and more with a measuring cup pouring pure maple syrup into the bowl, ready to mix.

WHAT TO SUBSTITUTE FOR CORN SYRUP IN BRITTLE

There are many dangers of regularly eating high fructose corn syrup, including significant health problems, such as diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and weight gain. Does this mean we can’t enjoy peanut brittle ever again? Nope! The good news is that it’s totally possible to make peanut brittle without corn syrup.

Substitute a combination of pure maple syrup and coconut sugar for corn syrup like I do to make a healthy peanut brittle. This combination will work well to sweeten the quinoa brittle. Both pure maple syrup and coconut sugar are healthier sweeteners that don’t shock your body in the same way. You can read more about these added sweeteners here, if you’re interested.

And, if you’re wondering what is coconut sugar, I think you will be happy to find out that it’s a low glycemic sugar alternative that also has some amazing health benefits.

The great news is this quinoa peanut brittle is still quite sweet, despite not having any corn syrup, which is exactly what you want from a holiday dessert.

Hand mixing the quinoa peanut brittle with a spoon, preparing it to be spread out in an even layer and baked.

HOW TO KEEP PEANUT BRITTLE FROM GETTING STICKY

Peanut butter brittle and humidity do not get along. You can check the weather broadcast to see the humidity forecast in your region and only make peanut brittle when the humidity allows you to OR you can learn how to keep peanut brittle from getting sticky and make it any time you want.

I bet you like the idea of learning how to keep peanut brittle from getting sticky more so here are some useful tips:

Use a candy thermometer to check the temperature of the brittle during cooking. You want the brittle to have the perfect crispy texture, not a sticky texture but you don’t want to burn it either so, when the quinoa brittle reaches 305 degrees F, you can remove it from the oven.
Speed up the cooling process. You can do this by putting a cookie sheet in the freezer to make it cold and use it for cooling the quinoa peanut brittle. Speeding up the cooling process makes for crispier peanut brittle.
Store the peanut brittle properly. I’ll tell you how in just a minute.

Spoon flattening out the uncooked quinoa peanut brittle out on a rimmed baking sheet, which is about to be set in the oven and baked until crispy and solid.

HOW MANY CALORIE ARE IN QUINOA PEANUT BRITTLE?

Peanut brittle calories… now, this is something that you might be afraid to check because, let’s face it, it’s pretty clear that a classic peanut brittle made with corn syrup and butter doesn’t make a low-calorie treat. And you are correct. One serving of normal peanut brittle = around 486 calories. WOWZA that's a lot.

My healthy peanut brittle, on the other hand, is only 123 calories per serving.

Isn’t it amazing when you can make a delicious treat that’s low in calories but also sweet and yummy?

I think it is!

quinoa brittle broken spread out on a sheet pan

HOW TO STORE QUINOA PEANUT BRITTLE

Adding moisture will soften peanut brittle and take away its crunch, so always store it in a completely dry, air-tight container. Any sealable plastic container, glass jar with a tight-fitting lid or plastic bag will work.

I also recommend that you use wax paper or parchment paper to separate the layers of the quinoa peanut brittle. Remember to leave a small gap in between the pieces in each layer to keep the pieces from sticking together.

Store the sealed container in a cool, dark and dry location to preserve its crunch for up to 1 month. It’s best not to store the quinoa peanut brittle in the refrigerator because the humidity will make it become more chewy than crunchy.
If you have to store it in the fridge (which is a great way to store it), make sure to keep it in a sealed plastic bag to protect against the moisture inside the fridge.
In fact, I like my brittle to be super crunchy so I actually store my brittle in the freezer. I use a freezer-safe container and keep it as a cold, crunchy sweet treat. It will store in the freezer for up to 2 months.

Close up of the quinoa peanut brittle which has been broken up

3 MORE HOLIDAY DESSERT RECIPES

With the holiday season is upon us, I’m pretty sure you’re looking for easy to make and yummy holiday desserts that will be loved and enjoyed by your entire family. I have 3 more delicious options coming your way right now.

EGGNOG ICE CREAM

Easy to make, healthy, and totes amazing Eggnog Ice Cream is the first holiday dessert I want you to try this season.

Two servings of homemade eggnog ice cream along with two spoons, cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves.

This eggnog ice cream is not only season-appropriate but also thick, dreamy, made with only 6 ingredients that you probably already have, and delicious.

PEPPERMINT BARK

Making homemade Healthy Peppermint Bark is super, mega easy. And a great refreshing treat to have around the house during this time of the year.

Peppermint Bark Recipe - Peppermint Bark Pieces

Made with dark chocolate, white chocolate, crushed peppermint, and peppermint extract, this Peppermint Bark is totes amazing.

Quinoa Peanut Brittle

Quinoa Peanut Brittle broken on a sheet pan

Quinoa Peanut Brittle

Make this easy Quinoa Peanut Brittle in less than 30 minutes for a crunchy sweet treat that contains no refined sugar or butter!

5 from 3 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Servings

Calories 123 kcal

Equipment

Rimmed Baking Sheet
mixing bowl

*This post may contain affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.

Ingredients

Instructions

Start by preheating your oven to 325 degrees F and lining a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a mixing bowl, combine the uncooked quinoa, chopped raw peanuts, rolled oats, coconut sugar, chia seeds, and sea salt and then stir to combine.
Add melted coconut oil, pure vanilla extract, and pure maple syrup, and then stir again until everything is fully mixed.
Transfer the mixture onto your prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer.
Place in the oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, watching it carefully near the end to avoid burning.
You’ll know the brittle is ready when the color becomes evenly golden brown and the edges begin to darken, get bubbly, and spread out across the pan.
Let cool completely before breaking into bite-size pieces with your hands.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 5 piecesCalories: 123 kcalCarbohydrates: 10.4 gProtein: 4 gFat: 8 gSaturated Fat: 2.7 gSodium: 23.2 mgFiber: 2.2 gSugar: 2.5 g

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Tag @asweetpeachef on Instagram so we can check it out.

This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.

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Comments

5 from 3 votes (1 rating without comment)

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beth

December 10, 2018 at 9:09 am

can I use other nuts insteasd of peanuts?

Reply
Iris

November 30, 2018 at 12:04 pm

Wow looks delicious! Can i use brown sugar instead of coconut sugar & honey instead of maple syrup?

Reply
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Lacey Baier

December 09, 2018 at 8:39 pm

Yes, you can, but it will not be considered clean eating if you use brown sugar - just FYI.

Amy

December 23, 2017 at 6:32 pm

Love this recipe... wondering about eating raw quinoa... is it ok?

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Lacey Baier

December 09, 2018 at 8:40 pm

Yep, it is totally fine to use and is essentially cooked in the oven while it bakes. It's just like a seed.

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