Skip to Content

Chocolate Puffed Amaranth Bars

Sharing is caring!

Chocolate Puffed Amaranth Bars are a perfect vegan, gluten-free, and a healthy snack or protein bar perfect for your mid-morning or evening snack. These bars are no-bake and sugar-free. I.e. it does not contain any form of white or processed sugar. 

3 Chocolate Healthy Amaranth Bars arranged on a parchment paper

What is Amaranth

Amaranth also called Rajgira in Hindi is a gluten-free grain. It has been commonly used in Asian Cuisine and especially in India for years. It is one of the grains which is allowed and consumed during the fasting/vrat/upvas days in India.

Amaranth is rich in protein, fibre, and other nutrients. It may aid in weight loss due to its high fibre and protein cooked. It is easy to cook and can be added to a variety of dishes. Rajgira or Amaranth chiiki or laddu is a very common snack in India. Rajgira Paratha, pakoda, kadhi (Recipe coming up next month), and pancakes are other common recipes using Amaranth.

How to cook Amaranth 

Rajgira or Amaranth grain needs to be cooked before. One can either soak or sprout it which helps in easier digestion. Another option is to pop or puff the Amaranth grains and use them to make different recipes. The puffed-up Amaranth grains can be then milled to form flour.  Flour can be used in different recipes. The flour also acts as a thickener in soups or stews.

Puffed up Amaranth can be added to smoothies or your fruit bowls. Porridge and bread are other healthier breakfast options using Amaranth. Amaranth can easily be puffed up at home. Once puffed, the flour can be at home.

Puffed Amaranth


Ingredients used in Today’s recipe of Chocolate Puffed Amaranth Bars

The first main Ingredient is Amaranth, which is naturally gluten-free and I have already detailed it above.

The second ingredient used in the recipe is Cocoa Powder. I have added cocoa powder here to add to the chocolate taste as well as appeal to my kids. Anything with chocolate always is a win-win for me and my kids. Try to use raw cacao powder or organic cocoa powder.

To add sweetness to these bars, I have used Soft Dates. Dates have natural sugar in them. They are a rich source of fibre and are also a rich source of carbs and hence high in calories. Growing kids need the required carbs and hence it is good to add it in natural sugar form. People who cannot eat sugar or who are on their weight loss journey can eat these bars but in moderation.

The next ingredient is Dried Cranberries. The cranberry adds a nice crunch as well as a little bit of tart as well as sweet flavour to the bars. Again this is a rich source of carbs and fibre.

Next is Pumpkin and Flax Seeds which are tiny seeds packed with healthy fats and nutrients. They are called superfoods.  Flax Seeds are rich in dietary fibre and help in gut health. Regular consumption of flax and pumpkin seeds also helps in regulating blood sugar levels. Hence it is a good idea to add them with Dates in this recipe. 

It is best to consume these Flax Seeds in powder form rather than whole seeds. Pumpkin and Flax Seeds can be topped up in your salads or smoothie bowls. Pumpkin seeds can be either eaten raw or roasted and consumed salted or unsalted. 

Coconut Oil is used to provide the necessary binding. It also adds to the fat content of the recipe. One can use any flavourless oil if required.

Lastly, I added Almond Flakes. I added it for crunch as well as for the fat content. The other reason was also to give some nice contrasting colours to my bars. 

I have added a tiny bit of salt for taste and drizzled the bars with melted Dark Chocolate. Chocolate is purely for decoration and completely optional.

Close up look of protein Amaranth Bars


Chocolate, Millet & Energy Bite Recipes

I like to add chocolate or cocoa powder in many of my healthy recipes. As said earlier it is appealing to the kids. So as in my recipe for this Beetroot and Dates Energy bites where I have added some cocoa powder. It is healthy with beetroot and is again sugar-free.

Then this No-Bake Chocolate Weetabix Energy Slice is healthy and delicious after school snacks or treats. If you are looking for more such recipes, you can try this Dates & Nuts Energy bites (With oats) or this Sugarfree Khajoor roll or Sugarless Ragi Ladoos 

This Egg-less, Butter-less, chocolate Ragi Brownie incorporates the millet, that is Ragi flour and cocoa powder and this is a healthy and filling smoothie that has the goodness of Ragi, Banana and Dates.

Another reason for me to add cocoa powder in these protein bars is the current month theme for our group, Shhhhh Cooking Secretly Challenge, which is chocolate, my favourite. The theme is suggested by the admin of the group Mayuri Patel from Mayuri’s Jikoni.

Mayuri Ji has a wonderful blog that has recipes from all over the world. I am in love with her recent Chocolate Modak recipe, and I would love to make this healthy and gluten-free version of halwa, i.e. Almond and Chocolate Halwa.

If you are a regular follower of my blog, you must be knowing that in this group we are paired against each other. So this month my partner was Poonam from Annapurna. Poonam gave me 2 secret ingredients as Dates and Almond Flakes and I made these Chocolate Puffed Amaranth Bars.

I gave Poonam her secret ingredients as Jaggery and Vanilla Essence and she made this Ragi Chocolate Pancakes. Before I proceed further to my recipe check out Poonam’s No-Bake Chocolate Swiss Roll recipe which can be easily done at home with minimum ingredients.


Chocolate Puffed Amaranth Bars are a perfect vegan, gluten-free, and a healthy snack or protein bar perfect for your mid-morning or evening snack. These bars are no-bake and sugar-free. I.e. it does not contain any form of white or processed sugar.
Chocolate Puffed Amaranth Bars are a perfect vegan, gluten-free, and a healthy sugar-free snack or no-bake protein bar perfect for your snack.

Chocolate Puffed Amaranth Bars (Vegan, Gluten Free, No-Bake)

Chocolate Puffed Amaranth Bars are a perfect vegan, gluten-free, and a healthy sugar-free snack or no-bake protein bar perfect for your snack.
4.95 from 20 votes
Print Pin Rate Save
Course: Snacks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Gluten Free, Grains, No Bake, Sugar Free, Vegan
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Resting Time: 2 hours
Servings: 8 Bars
Author: Renu Agrawal-Dongre

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 2 cup 200 grams Popped/Puffed Amaranth
  • 1 Cup 150 grams Soft pitted Dates
  • ½ Cup 80 grams Dry Cranberry
  • 4 tablespoon 40 grams Pumpkin seeds
  • 1 tablespoon 20 grams Flax Seeds
  • ¼ Cup 30 gram Cocoa Powder
  • ½ Cup 51 grams Almond Flakes
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 2-4 tablespoon of Coconut oil or any flavorless oil
  • Chocolate a few pieces to drizzle (optional)

Instructions

  • Grease an 8*8 inch baking tray or any tray with oil and keep it aside.
    2-4 tablespoon of Coconut oil or any flavorless oil
  • In a wide bowl add the Popped/Puffed Amaranth
    2 cup 200 grams Popped/Puffed Amaranth
    Puffed Amaranth
  • In a food processor add in the pitted dates, cranberry, flax seeds, cocoa powder.
    1 Cup 150 grams Soft pitted Dates, ½ Cup 80 grams Dry Cranberry, 1 tablespoon 20 grams Flax Seeds, ¼ Cup 30 gram Cocoa Powder
    Adding the ingredients dates, cranberry, cocoa powder and flax seed in a food processor
  • Process it until it forms like a lump and the dates are almost chopped completely.
    Processing the ingredients in a food processor
  • Now add the processed mixture into the Amaranth bowl.
  • Next add in pumpkin seeds, salt, and almond flakes and give everything a nice mix.
    4 tablespoon 40 grams Pumpkin seeds, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ Cup 51 grams Almond Flakes
    Adding of almond flakes and sunflower seeds
  • Add in the coconut oil a tablespoon at a time just enough to bind the ingredients.
  • One should be able to form a small ball/truffle/ladoo when everything is combined.
  • Pour the mixture on the prepared tray and tap/press all over to form a uniform layer.
    Layering in a baking tray
  • Garnish with melted chocolate
    Chocolate a few pieces to drizzle
  • Refrigerate for 2-3 hours.
  • Cut into desired pieces and enjoy.
  • Store it in an airtight container.

Video

Notes

  • 1 Cup = 235 ml, 1 tbsp= 15 ml, 1 tsp = 5 ml
  • Use a soft variety of dates. They are sweeter and help in binding too.
  • It might have a tendency to soften in warmer environments. So one can keep it refrigerated.
  • Instead of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds can be used
  • Cranberry can be replaced by raisins.
  • Coconut oil can be replaced by any flavorless oil.
 
Tried this recipe?Share your feedback @cookwithrenu_ad or tag #cookwithrenu_ad
Disclaimer: I am not a nutritionist. The nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It varies depending upon the product types or brands.




Shhhhh Cooking Secretly Challenge Logo
CookBlogShare


Tried this recipe? Please comment and rate the recipe. Share your pics and tag us.

Subscribe to my email list to get the new recipes straight into your mailbox.


Disclaimer & Privacy Policy


Sharing is caring!

4.95 from 20 votes (2 ratings without comment)
Recipe Rating




Ven

Tuesday 7th of September 2021

This is such a great recipe! I love how these bars are healthy and not too sweet. The cranberries counter the dates so well. Thanks so much for sharing!

Renu Agrawal Dongre

Wednesday 8th of September 2021

Thank You, hope you like it

Harbinder

Wednesday 21st of July 2021

Really liked the recipe.What is the shelf life outside fridge please? Many thanks

Renu Agrawal Dongre

Wednesday 21st of July 2021

Hi, It should stay good for a at least 2 weeks or more as it does not have anything which gets spoiled quickly. However it has coconut oil and chocolate which melts or goes soft if you are in a hot environment.

Pavani Gunikuntla

Friday 9th of October 2020

These bars look so healthy and delicious. I would love to try these delicious bars and these are the best snack for kids. Thanks for sharing.

Sasmita

Friday 9th of October 2020

Chocolate puffed amaranth bars looks absolutely healthy. love this vegan, gluten-free and that too sugar-free option used in this recipe.

Shobana Vijay

Sunday 27th of September 2020

These sugarless bars are absolutely delicious and awesome. Loving your healthy snack and its sounds interesting with amarnath puffs. The lovely and best part is that yiu have used dates along with seeds which gives a crunchy bite and superb flavourful taste. Wonderful recipe and I have bookmarked it.