Homemade Dark Chocolate Covered Blueberries with Quinoa are the perfect snack. Made with real blueberries and crispy quinoa, they are addictively crunchy, sweet and a tiny bit salty. Healthy and ready in minutes - you'll make these on repeat.
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You might have seen this healthy viral treat on social media. Filled with fresh blueberries and puffed quinoa, wrapped in dark chocolate, these chocolate covered blueberries are the ideal healthy after school afternoon snack for the kids - or you!
Dark chocolate covered blueberries contain just 3 ingredients and take only minutes to prepare. No sugar, nasties or additives - just a quick chill in the fridge and they are ready to enjoy!
Delicious as they are you can also add an extra touch of decoration while the dark chocolate is still warm. Sprinkle over some crushed nuts, shredded coconut or colored sprinkles.
Why You'll Love Chocolate Blueberry Clusters
- This is one of the easiest healthy snack recipes you will ever try, and a great recipe for older kids to try on their own.
- Containing only 3 healthy ingredients you can make this easy recipe in minutes.
- Chocolate covered blueberries store really well in the fridge for up to a week.
- If you love chocolate try some of my favorite sweet treats:
Chocolate Covered Blueberries Ingredients
Find the full list and quantities for this delicious treat in the recipe card below.
Blueberries- I only use fresh ripe blueberries as they hold their shape and don't burst when covered in chocolate.
Quinoa - You can use any variety or color - I do like to use organic quinoa where possible.
Chocolate - I've like to use dark chocolate chips, but you could use milk chocolate, white, or any flavored chocolate, or a combination. You can also use a bar rather than chips - just chop it finely before melting. If following a dairy free or vegan diet, use a suitable dairy free chocolate.
Salt - It is worth adding a pinch of sea salt flakes as the salt balances out the other sweet flavors. Only use sea salt flakes, regular table salt is too harsh.
How to Make Chocolate Covered Blueberries- Step-By-Step
Find the full printable recipe below.
Prepare the blueberries by rinsing, drying them thoroughly and discarding any burst or imperfect berries.
Pop the quinoa in a heavy bottomed pan. Add the grains, cover with a lid and shake the pan over the heat. It will pop like corn. Move it to a plate to cool once the grains have all popped.
Melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl over a saucepan of simmering water. Stir until fully melted then set aside to cool a little.
You can alternatively melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30 seconds stirring thoroughly after each burst.
Make the treats by stirring the popped quinoa into the melted chocolate followed by the dry blueberries.
Spoon heaped tablespoons of the mixture onto a wax paper or parchment lined sheet pan in a single layer. Leave space in-between the individual pieces.
Chill in the refrigerator for 15-20 minutes until the chocolate has hardened. Sprinkle with sea salt and serve.
Frequently Asked Questions about this crazy-crunchy chocolate snack
Are Chocolate Covered Blueberries Healthy?
Yes, homemade dark chocolate covered berries are healthy in moderation. They contain many antioxidants as well as iron, magnesium, vitamin C and fiber so this is a treat you can feel pretty good about.
What is popped quinoa?
Popped or puffed quinoa is quinoa that has been heated up in a pan until the seeds burst and pop. This action gives the hard seeds into a lighter, puffed and crispy texture.
Is quinoa gluten free?
Although treated like a grain, quinoa is in fact a seed, so is entirely gluten free.
Can I use frozen blueberries or dried blueberries?
I do not recommend using frozen blueberries as they are too soft and juicy and likely to burst when mixed with the warm chocolate.
Dried blueberries can work - but fresh are less sweet and give a better blueberry flavor. If using dried blueberries I would also mix in some other variations like those suggested below.
Variations & Substitutions
You can use any type of chocolate for this delicious snack, dark, milk, white, chocolate orange, chocolate mint.
Swap the puffed quinoa for some chopped nuts like almonds, hazelnuts or pecans.
Try adding some other seeds like sunflower, pumpkin or chia seeds to the mix.
For extra flavor and decoration, sprinkle crushed nuts, shredded coconut, or sprinkles over the chocolate-covered blueberries.
Tips & Tricks
- I melt the chocolate over a bain marie (a bowl set over a pot filled with simmering water) however you can melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval.
- For best results don't be too heavy handed when mixing the chocolate and blueberries, you want to try and keep the blueberries whole.
- Ensure you line your baking sheet with parchment paper or wax paper, this will make it far easier to remove the blueberry clusters once they have set.
How to serve
Remove the blueberries from the fridge just before eating - don't leave them out at room temperature to get too melty.
They are great as a snack or dessert. They also make excellent party favors.
If you are looking for more healthy snacks to serve alongside, have you tried my High Protein Cottage Cheese Dip? These Easy Baked Potato Wedges also make a perfect snack for dipping.
How to store
Store these chocolate covered blueberries in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days - assuming they last that long!
Can I Freeze Dark Chocolate Covered Blueberries?
I don't recommend freezing chocolate blueberries as the blueberries will likely burst during the freezing and defrosting process.
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More Easy Sweet Snack Recipe Ideas
Printable Recipe
Dark Chocolate Covered Blueberries with Quinoa
Ingredients
- 1 cup Fresh Blueberries
- ¾ cup Dark Chocolate Chips
- ¼ cup Quinoa
- Sea Salt - optional
Instructions
Prepare the Blueberries
- Rinse the blueberries and pat them dry with a paper towel.
- Discard any burst or imperfect berries and remove any rogue pieces of stalk or leaf.
- Ensure they are completely dry, as moisture can stop the chocolate from coating the berries.
Pop The Quinoa
- Heat a skillet or heavy bottomed pan and add the quinoa.
- Cover the pan with the lid, shake and allow it to pop (like popcorn) for a minute or two.
- Turn off the heat and tip the popped grains onto a plate so it doesn't burn.
Melt the Chocolate
- Add the dark chocolate chips to a medium heatproof bowl set over a small saucepan filled with an inch of simmering water.
- Keep stirring the chocolate chips over a low heat. Stir continuously until smooth and completely melted.
- Alternatively, you can melt the chocolate in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval.
- Once the chocolate is melted, remove it from the heat and let it cool slightly.
Make the treats
- Line a baking sheet or tray with parchment paper.
- Add the popped quinoa to the chocolate and mix thoroughly.
- Add the blueberries, mixing gently to make sure everything is thoroughly coated.
- Spoon heaped tablespoons of the chocolate mixture onto a baking sheet to make clusters of the chocolate blueberries.
- Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator for about 15-20 minutes to allow the chocolate to harden.
- Sprinkle with a small amount of sea salt if desired and serve!
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