Cozy Quinoa Apple Snack (Printable Version)
Warm quinoa combined with apples, toasted nuts, cinnamon, and a hint of sweetness for a wholesome bite.
# What You'll Need:
→ Grains
01 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
02 - 2 cups water
03 - Pinch of salt
→ Fruits
04 - 2 medium apples, peeled, cored, and diced
05 - 1/4 cup raisins
→ Nuts & Seeds
06 - 1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans, toasted
→ Sweeteners & Spices
07 - 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
08 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
09 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
→ Dairy (optional)
10 - 1/2 cup milk or plant-based milk, plus more for serving
# How To Make:
01 - Combine quinoa, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12 to 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is tender.
02 - While quinoa cooks, toast the chopped walnuts or pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes until fragrant. Set aside.
03 - Stir diced apples, raisins, cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup or honey, and milk into the cooked quinoa. Cook over low heat for 3 to 5 minutes until apples soften slightly.
04 - Remove from heat and gently fold in the toasted nuts.
05 - Serve warm, adding additional milk if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- It's the kind of dish that tastes indulgent but actually makes you feel energized, not weighed down.
- You can have it ready in under half an hour, with most of the time spent just letting things simmer quietly.
- The combination of warm spices and soft fruit creates this unexpected comfort that works equally well at breakfast or as an afternoon wind-down.
02 -
- Don't skip the rinsing step with quinoa—I learned this the hard way, and the difference between rinsed and unrinsed is the difference between delicious and vaguely bitter.
- Toasting the nuts separately ensures they stay crispy instead of getting absorbed into the soft quinoa; adding them at the very end preserves that crucial textural contrast.
03 -
- Toasting nuts yourself rather than buying pre-toasted ensures maximum freshness and flavor—they genuinely taste different.
- Rinsing quinoa is non-negotiable if you want to avoid that slightly soapy taste that can otherwise linger.