When mornings are too rushed to make a wholesome breakfast (we get it!), enter seedy quinoa breakfast cookies! These chewy, satisfying, lightly sweetened cookies feature whole grains and nutrient-packed seeds to keep you nourished on the go.
Nut-free and meal prep-friendly, these tasty cookies are perfect for school lunches, snacks, or any time you’re too rushed to make breakfast! Just 1 bowl and 25 minutes required. Let us show you how!
These breakfast cookies are seriously breakfast-worthy! Why? Because they’re packed with 5 grams of protein per cookie, rich in minerals (hello, magnesium!), and sweetened with just a touch of maple syrup.
Plus, there’s no flour in sight, just a base of whole grains + seeds: QUINOA, oats, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, and chia seeds! And instead of butter, they rely on tahini (sesame seed paste) for total seedy perfection.
Making these cookies is also seriously simple, especially when you’ve got leftover quinoa around that needs to be used up right away! Simply stir everything together, shape the dough into balls, flatten slightly, and bake.
After baking, your cookies will be golden brown on the outside and tender and chewy on the inside.
We think you’ll LOVE these quinoa breakfast cookies! They’re:
Satisfying
Wholesome
Lightly sweetened
Easy to make
Vegan + gluten-free
& SO delicious!
Enjoy them any time you need a quick grab-and-go breakfast or snack or are craving a more wholesome cookie. And because they’re nut-free, they’re the perfect treat to pack in lunch boxes!
More Breakfast Cookie Recipes
- Gluten-Free Vegan Breakfast Cookies
- Blueberry Muffin Breakfast Cookies (Vegan + GF)
- Pumpkin Peanut Butter Breakfast Cookies
- Vegan Everything Breakfast Cookies
If you try this recipe, let us know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don’t forget to tag a photo @minimalistbaker on Instagram. Cheers, friends!
Note: recipe updated 9/15/23 to address reader issues. Cooking time was increased from 13-15 minutes to 14-18 minutes.
Seedy Quinoa Breakfast Cookies
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup cooked quinoa (measured after cooking)
- 1/2 cup rolled oats (ensure gluten-free as needed)
- 1/4 cup raw pumpkin seeds (unsalted)
- 2 Tbsp hemp seeds (hulled)
- 2 Tbsp chia seeds
- 1/2 cup tahini (creamy, drippy // find our tahini review here)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup*
- 1/4 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips (optional // ensure dairy-free as needed)
Instructions
- If you do not already have cooked quinoa, prepare it at this time in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop — scant 1/4 cup uncooked quinoa will yield ~2/3 cup (124 g) cooked.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (176 C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- To a medium mixing bowl, add 2/3 cup (124 g) cooked quinoa (adjust amount if altering default number of servings). Then add the rolled oats, pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds, and chia seeds and stir well to combine. Next, add tahini, maple syrup, baking soda, sea salt, and optional chocolate chips. Stir well to fully incorporate.
- Scoop out dough in 1 ½ Tbsp amounts (we like using this scoop) and place on the prepared baking sheet — recipe as written should make 12 cookies. You can place them close together as they don’t expand. Gently press them with the palm of your hand then bake for 14-18 minutes until the edges are golden brown. Let cookies cool for 5-10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely – they'll firm up as they cool.
- Leftover cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days or in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days or freezer for 1 month or longer.
Video
Notes
*Prep time/cook time assumes using leftover cooked quinoa.
*Inspired by Love and Lemons’ Quinoa Breakfast Cookies and adapted from our Easy Flourless Granola Cookies.
*Nutrition information is a rough estimate calculated without optional ingredients.
Kinsey Richards says
These are delicious and so adaptable. I subbed out pumpkin seeds for sunflower seeds because that’s what I had. Will be making on repeat!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Kinsey. Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modification! xo
Jack Coleman says
These are very tasty, but they spread a lot and were very moist to the point of falling apart easily. They did not maintain a cookie form at all. It was more like cupping a bunch of seeds in my palm that were loosely held together by a moist paste. What did I do wrong?
Thanks!
Jack
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jack, sorry to hear it didn’t turn out right! We wonder if either the quinoa wasn’t cooked all the way or it had excess moisture for some reason? If that happens in the future, you could try adding more oats or seeds.
Faith A. Tyler says
Absolutely easy and most of all delicious!
Thanks for such a great recipe, as always.
I enjoy everything cooked from this site, without fail.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so happy you’ve had success with our recipes, Faith! Thank you for your kind words and lovely review! xo
Bevan says
Really enjoyed this recipe! I doubled the batch and made a few tweaks based on what was around:
– instead of 4 Tbsp chia seeds I used 2 Tbsp chia and 2 Tbsp ground flax
– used honey instead of maple syrup
– halved the salt because the pepitas I had on hand were already salted
– used half chocolate chips and half craisins
– my tahini was not super runny so I added about a Tbsp of water to the empty jar to scrape up any leftovers and also add the moisture the recipe requires
Next time I’d probably use the full amount of salt even with salted pepitas but that’s a personal taste thing (who doesn’t love an extra hit of salt with chocolate?). The cookies are tasty and wholesome with a great texture and not overly sweet. We will definitely have these on a regular rotation in our house!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, Bevan! xo
Rebecca says
These are super, super delicious. I made it with some coconut almond butter I had. My kids and I gobbled them up so fast. I couldn’t send them in there lunches because they are too crumbly though. I added some ground Chia this time around and am hoping they come out a bit less crumbly. A very versatile and delicious recipe. I especially love the texture the quinoa gives, it’s the most nubbly.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you and your kiddos enjoyed them, Rebecca. Thank you for sharing your experience! xo
Allison says
These cookies are unreal. There’s a complexity in the flavour and the texture is crispy, chewy perfection. We used raisins. I can’t stop eating them. We added a teaspoon of cocoa at the toddler’s suggestion. Will be making these again and again. Might try them with dried cranberries and white chocolate sometime. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
YAY! Love your creativity with add-ins, Allison! Thank you for sharing! xo
molly says
Super healthy and delicious! Officially obsessed with the concept of breakfast cookies.
Few adjustments I made: Added an egg, dash of cinnamon and splash of vanilla. I think letting the dough chill in the fridge for a bit is key! Helps the flax, chia and oats soak up moisture. I didn’t have pumpkin seeds so I used walnuts. Thanks for all that you do!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for your kind words and lovely review, Molly! Breakfast cookies are the BEST – welcome to the club 🙌
Janet says
These are surprisingly good! I usually pass on anything called a breakfast cookie looking for something a little more decadent, (assuming there won’t be enough chocolate 😆) but decided to give these a try to bring on an upcoming trip. Really yummy! And I love that they’re a real food kind of snack. After reading the comments, I made only a few adjustments, adding about a tablespoon of ground flax, and some cinnamon. Outstanding! The texture was perfect, crispy edges and chewy inside.
I’m so grateful for this site. I’m in my 60s and I remember when there wasn’t much for people who couldn’t eat gluten, or who were vegan. There were a few cookbooks and so few celiac safe products. Baking anything was pretty much out of the question. Well done you dedicated, creative souls! Now we can have cookies. 🥰It’s a pretty big deal.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Janet! Thank you so much for the kind words and support. We’re so glad cookies are back for you!
Sarah says
I have made these a few times! I never have hemp seeds so I sub flax and works perfectly. They are tasty for breakfast, snack, and even dessert. Easy recipe with ingredients I always have on hand :)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed, Sarah! Thanks so much for the lovely review!
Patricia says
Ellie, almost any grain can be flaked (rolled) like oats: quinoa, barley, corn, wheat, rye. I’ve got to go to the store for chocolate chips, but due to all the RAVE reviews, this recipe will be manifested – and probably disappeared into tummies – by this afternoon. . :)
nicole says
I’m assuming the quinoa has to be cooled before mixing in”?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Nicole, it works both ways, but the texture is slightly better when cooled first!
Jessica Langdon says
This recipe is simple, delicious, nutritious and from previous reviews, sounds adaptable! I, however, stuck to the original recipe as I had everything on hand. I baked them on the longer end of the time range, resulting in perfectly browned edges. These are slightly addicting, but thankfully pack a protein punch with its wholesome ingredients! My toddler even approves! Thank you, MB! These will be on our regular rotation!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you and your little enjoy these cookies, Jessica. Thank you for taking the time to leave a review! xo
Karen says
Yum! I decided to try organic pistachio butter I found at my food coop, instead of the tahini. I also added some cinnamon but otherwise followed your recipe exactly.
Absolutely delicious as a treat with tea that still has chocolate!
Thank you, MB
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Those modifications sound amazing, Karen! Thank you for sharing! xo
Noel says
With the risk of sounding dramatic, these cookies are perfection. We have added butterscotch chips to a few batches instead of chocolate chips and they’re equally as incredible. 100% recommend. My husband, 3 year old, and 1 year old absolutely love them as well.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad they’re a hit with the whole family, Noel! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Julie says
Thank you so much for this delicious recipe. I had to make some adjustments due to my diet requirements and what I had on hand, but they came out absolutely amazing!! I added an egg, some vanilla, some dried cranberries and some pecans. I swapped ground flax for hemp (I just ran out of hemp!) and I swapped 1/2 cup of almond flour for the oats. They hold together perfectly, the texture and taste is just like a delicious cookie- these just made my whole life better ( :
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, we LOVE this, Julie! Thanks so much for sharing! xoxo
Sue says
This was quick and delicious. This recipe is a keeper. I had to make one substitution (almond butter for tahini) as I had none in my pantry and one omission (no pumpkin seeds) because I really wanted to try this today! Per another commenter’s suggestion I put prepared cookies in fridge for 20-30 minutes before baking. Came out great!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Sue. Thank you for sharing! xo
Adrienne says
These have become a staple in our home. Everybody loves them. I have made a few adjustments over time that work a bit better for us: I use quinoa flakes instead of oats for allergy reasons, use 1/2 almond butter / 1/2 tahini, add vanilla & a touch of almond extract, add about 1.5 T. ground flax to absorb some moisture so that they will store a little better and hold together. I bake ours at 385 until they are nicely browned a little crisp. Have also found that using a parchment paper muffin tin liner over the dough ball and flattening with a glass is fast and efficient. All that said, they were wonderful from the get-go, and we are very grateful for your creativity and generosity in sharing this, and so many other wonderful, recipes! Thank you!!!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Such great modifications and hacks! Thank you for your kind words and lovely review, Adrienne. We’re so happy to hear you enjoy our recipes! xo
Marina says
I recently found out I have a lot of dietary intolerances, so super grateful to find this quick, easy, healthy recipe that doesn’t feel like I’m sacrificing taste. It was so good I actually made it two days in a row. The first time I made it basically as is, though was pretty generous with my measurements and simply added more oatmeal so that they held together better. I also refrigerated the dough quickly after mixing and then once again for 5-10 minutes once I had them ready on pan. They came out perfect. I was surprised by how much the tahini taste dissipated after baking. The second time, I basically doubled the recipe and balanced again with a bit more oats, repeated my refrigeration steps, as I could tell this batch would have likely crumbled. What I noticed to be the biggest difference between the two batches, was on the first batch, I cooked my quinoa perfectly it was almost al dente, with a slight crunch, the second time i accidentally overcooked it and it was very soft, and I think that made the biggest difference to how they held together, but refrigerating really helped with this and they turned out great again. This is a great recipe to add to your repertoire and I’m excited to try to make different variations as well. Thank you again!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you so much for this very helpful review, Marina! We’re so glad you’re enjoying the recipe! xo
Lydia says
Yum! I’d already started making these before I realized I was out of tahini, so I subbed runny sunflower butter and it worked perfectly. I cooked them for 18 minutes and found they held together well. These will be a regular in our house!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, Lydia! xo
Sara says
Whenever I make healthy breakfasty cookies like this, I wind up with a container of (very very tasty) clumps. They just do not hold together for me. Any ideas as far as what I could do to make them hold their cookie shape a bit better?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Sara, are you letting them cool fully before storing? If not, that would be our top recommendation! Otherwise, using cooled/leftover quinoa and baking the cookies for longer would be our next tips. Hope that helps!
Sara says
I have done all of that except cooking longer, which I shall try next time, thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Keep us posted!
Lauren says
Love these! Had to use almond butter instead of tahini and ground chia instead of chia seeds because I needed to use what I had on hand but was really happy with how they turned out. Looking forward to making these again with tahini and chia seeds. I love having this recipe on hand to use up leftover quinoa. Thank you, MB!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy them, Lauren! Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications! xo
Crystal says
These are great! This is the recipe that finally got me to buy chia seeds. I used ground flax seeds instead of the hemp seeds, as suggested by another reviewer. Great flavor, perfect as a mid-morning snack or a quick to go breakfast. Thank you for this, what a find!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you enjoy the recipe, Crystal. Thank you for sharing! xo
Ellie says
Lots of coeliacs, including me, are allergic to oats. Would be SO great to have some more truly coeliac friendly GF recipes for the morning which don’t rely on oats :(
Or, at least, have an adaptation for those avoiding oats
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Ellie, thanks for the feedback! It’s something we’ve become aware of and we do try to add oat-free options when possible. Sometimes the recipe just isn’t what we’re going for without oats. We’ll focus more attention on offering substitutions when possible!
Thea says
Like another commentor, I doubled the recipe because I knew they would be delicious. I subbed part of the chocolate chips to include raisins and dried cranberries which worked well. I also had some trouble with crumbling when trying to remove from my cookie sheets (I used silicone liners instead of parchment paper) but noticed that batch wasn’t quite as golden on the bottom and I think could have used a little more time in the oven. That being said, I had to bake about 15 minutes longer than the directions to get brown edges at all. 5 stars for yum – will definitely make again!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for sharing your experience, Thea!
Mayen says
This recipe looks amazing! I have so many good allergies and have been looking for a granola bar recipe but this seems even better. Instead of oats can I sub quinoa flakes or even flax meal or more hemp seeds?! Quinoa flakes are hard to come by so hopefully I can sub something I already have or easier to find. I’m allergic to oats. Instead of tahini can I sub home made pecan butter? And instead of pumpkin seeds can I sub sunflower seeds?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Mayen, the oats will be the most tricky sub, but you could experiment with more seeds (we’d recommend a little more of each) or quinoa flakes. Homemade pecan butter should be totally fine and we think sunflower seeds would be okay too. Let us know how it goes!
Eva says
Delicious and easy! My dough was very “wet” before I used my melon baller to form the cookies onto my silpat, so I wasn’t expecting them to form into such nice cookies, but they did! The tahini adds a very nice nutty flavor. I didn’t have enough pumpkin seeds so I added some flax seeds, which didn’t seem to cause any trouble. I’ll definitely make these cookies again! So easy!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Eva. Thank you for sharing! xo
Tamara says
I made two versions of this recipe, one for my daughter and one for me.
For her, I subbed tahini with sweet almond butter, left out pumpkin seeds and used milk chocolate chips.
I baked these first, they didn’t hold the shape; they spread and got flat. I still had a bit of mix left, and I added more rolled oats and a bit of out flour (just processed rolled oats) to get a consistency similar to the one in the video. That mix held the shape better. They ended up on the gooey side, but the taste was good.
In the other batch, I subbed maple syrup with a mix of Yacon Syrup and Rice syrup. I added chocolate chips (80% cacao). I added many more rolled oats to this batch, which helped them not spread and keep their shape. Once baked and cooled down, they hold the shape, but I have to treat them with care because they unfold easily.
This batch is less sweet, and I prefer that. I can feel more the quinoa and seeds taste.
I would still like to try adding oat flour instead of so many rolled oats and see how they end. I feel that the flour may help them to not be that fragile after baking.
I like the combination of seeds and quinoa, they add protein and healthy fats, which is a nice balance for a sweet treat.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for sharing your experience and modifications, Tamara!
Suzi says
What an interesting use of quinoa…..in a good way! These are absolutely delicious. Will definitely be making them again. Next time I’ll perhaps cook them a little longer as the ones in the center of the pan were a bit crumbly.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed them. Thank you for sharing your experience, Suzi! xo
Jeni says
These are perfectly delicious! Absolutely wonderful!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy them, Jeni! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Brigitta says
I made these cookies, but I subbed tahini with PB and ,maple syrup for our honey. It was still super delicious. Thanks for an other great GF recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Lovely! Thank you for sharing, Brigitta! xo
PJ says
I loved the idea, and tried it – but my cookies came out super duper crumbly. (Even after letting them cool completely.) My tahini was very drippy. Admittedly, I was a bit heavy handed with chia seeds and light handed wit the maple syrup. Should I have added more liquid?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi PJ, maple syrup is sticky and helps with binding, so that would be our best guess!
Kathy says
Made these almost a dozen times already! My family devours them!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so happy you and your family enjoy them, Kathy. Thank you for sharing! xo
Lizzie says
Would these work with sunflower seeds instead of chocolate chips? I have a load I need to use up.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
That could work! Chocolate chips add a nice little extra sweetness. They’ll just taste a bit more wholesome with sunflower seeds.
Maria says
Made them today after lunch for kid’s afternoon snack but I don’t know if there’ll be any left by then… Very delicious and well-balanced!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Ha, totally get that! So glad you enjoy the recipe, Maria! xoxo
Sarah says
These cookies sound good but they actually taste amazing, even better than they look! A fun recipe to make with kids and then serve for an after school snack. We added a little extra maple syrup and skipped the chocolate. I loved the tahini…it adds a different flavor than the more typical peanut butter which keeps things interesting. Such a great recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, yay! Love that you make it with the kids, Sarah. Thank you for sharing! xo
Kari says
I made these today and they’re amazing! I followed the recipe, except I omitted chocolate chips and had to bake them for 24 min. The cookies held together, are crispy on the outside and chewy inside. Delicious!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing, Kari! xo
Seema says
I made these today for breakfast prep for kids. They are so yummy and extremely healthy! I saw your short on youtube(?) and was trying to find the recipe. Most of the other recipes call for all purpose flour 🤢 and I finally remembered what stood out in your recipe for me was your use of quinoa which I needed to add the protein punch! Love it and big thanks. I am going to make these all the time!!!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you made the recipe and enjoyed it, Seema! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Pam says
Made them today after a few “snafus” (pantry moths got into the chia so I had to get more, got back and then discovered I was almost out of maple. I was going to use honey when I found the bottle of pumpkin spiced maple someone had given me (and I tucked in the pantry). Delicious! Went from breakfast cookie to pre-dinner cookie!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
So glad it was a success in the end! Thank you for sharing, Pam! xo
Olivia says
OMG these are soooo delicious, filling, and easy to make! Will be on my weekly rotation.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoy them, Olivia! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Josie Marin-Varelas says
I doubled this recipe so that I could share a healthier cookie option with family. I had read the reviews about the cookies falling apart. I was surprised that some of my cookies fell apart after putting a scoop onto the pan. They stayed together when I’d press them back together. I had added 1/4 cup of oatmeal to half of the mixture when I saw it seemed to be getting oilier. I’m guessing the brand of tahini is what affects the cookies. Mine was too runny. I like the cookies, but next time I’ll sub the tahini for peanut or almond butter. Thank you for the healthy cookie recipe! ☺️
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for sharing your experience, Josie! xo
April B Spicer says
I made these today and LOVE THEM! THE TEXTURE IS AWESOME. Slightly crispy with a perfect chew. I used ground flax instead of hemp and almond butter instead of tahini. I made sure to mix it all really well and baked for 18 minutes. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoy them, April. Thank you for sharing your experience! xo
Heather Doyle says
I made this as written and the cookies were really soft. I baked for the max amount of time for the edges to appear crispy. The flavors are good and I did not skip the chololate chips. I put them in the fridge to keep them longer; thinking this might actually make them less soft, but it did the exact opposite and the cookies kind of melded into each other. Not a keeper for me because of this, but very happy I tried it out since quinoa is not an every day cookie experience!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy them, Heather! Thank you for your honest review!
Jane R. says
Hi, what can I use instead of hemp seeds?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jane, you could try flax seeds or more chia seeds. Hope that helps!
Molly says
I made a double batch of these last night, so confident I would love them. Followed the recipe exactly and they turned out beautifully!
I am not a big fan of tahini and considered subbing it out, but didn’t to give the recipe a shot. They are good, but next time I will sub for a peanut or almond butter based on personal preference as the tahini flavor lingers more than I was expecting.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, Molly! xo
Teri says
I just made them and they are falling apart. I wish I’d read the comments first and added more oatmeal as my batter was pretty runny.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sorry that happened, Teri! Did you wait for them to cool fully before enjoying? How long did you bake them for?
Teri says
This is a follow up to my previous post. I had to bake them for almost double the recommended baking time and they finally got crisp. For some reason my batter was much looser than the pictures, maybe because of my tahini, and I should have added motte oatmeal. Anyway once I got them crispy I was pretty happy with them.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for the update, Teri! Glad they turned out better the second time around.
Emily says
These cookies are exceptional! I am a breastfeeding mama and have been looking for a healthy cookie to curb my night time hunger. I seriously cannot stop eating them!! I love all of your recipes so much <3
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, we’re SO happy you enjoy our recipes, Emily! Thank you so much for letting us know! xo
Carmen says
Made them! Doubled the recipe, under baked them a bit to keep them soft! Used peanut butter instead of tahini, sunflower seeds instead of pumpkin seeds. They were so freaking good!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thank you for sharing, Carmen! xo
Stephanie says
We made one batch yesterday and when we saw how easy and good the cookies came out we made another one right
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! We’re so happy you enjoy the recipe, Stephanie. Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Julia Allen says
These came out really well for me. I used Kirkland mixed nut butter instead of tahini and dried cranberries instead of chocolate chips. Really yummy and no crumbling issues here.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! Thank you for sharing, Julia! xo
Marcella says
These were very tasty, but thin and crumbly the first time I made them. I didn’t use chocolate chips, but otherwise followed the recipe. I used 365 brand tahini. I just made them again and added an additional 6 tbsp. oatmeal. This batch is thicker and holds together well like a traditional oatmeal cookie. I’m not sure they’re quite as tasty as it did change the flavor a bit. I may try just a 1/4 c. oatmeal next time.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for sharing your experience, Marcella! Another idea is to bake them a bit longer. Hope that helps for next time!
Carmen says
Do you think I could substitute peanut butter for the tahini??
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We think so! Let us know if you try it!
Carrie says
We all loved these, including my 5 and 8 year old who hate everything! I love this recipe, thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, YAY! We’re so happy to hear it. Thank you for sharing, Carrie! xo
Carri says
So so yummy. So so filling. My 4 year old loves them too. 😊
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, love that! Thank you for sharing, Carri! xo
Phine says
Delicious cookies! Even without the chocolate chunks ;-) They firmed up just perfect. Tahin taste is delicate subtile. Will make them again with chocolate. Because everything gets better with chocolate. Thanks for the recipe!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Phine. Thank you for sharing! xo
The Vegan Goddess says
I made these for movie night tonight and it was delicious and a hit!
I happened to have all of the ingredients and it sounded too good not to try it. I love that it doesn’t have flour in it and has so many healthy, natural ingredients. I followed the recipe to a tee and used tahini and, interestingly, the flavor of the cookies reminded me of peanut butter.
A win-win!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad they were a hit for movie night. Thank you for sharing! xo
rachel says
Mine came out great I added some spices and orange zest and used Peruvian chocolate chips a little almond meal and put it in the freezer before baking :) ty for the inspo it was quick to follow
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Ooo that sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing, Rachel! xo
Gina says
Any recipe featuring quinoa, tahini and pumpkin seeds–all 3 are oft-used and much-loved ingredients in our home–grabs my attention. Love this recipe.
I subbed flax for chia, used chilled quinoa, and formed the cookies by hand. Once completely cooled, they held together nicely. Many thanks for sharing this inspired recipe, which I will be making often. You are ultra creative!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you so much for your kind words and lovely review, Gina! xoxo
Fuchi Girl says
I just made these but I used cranberries instead of chocolate chips. I ended up adding about 1/4 cup additional oats and I baked them a little longer about 20 to 22 minutes. Mine did not fall apart. These were good and I will definitely make again. Next time I will use chocolate chips.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing your experience! xo
Leila says
The flavor is very good and I love the use of quinoa/seeds. Think some dried cranberry would be a good addition. I followed the recipe exactly, but mine kind of fell apart after I baked them. They held her cookie form anfter baking and I let them cool completely, but they crumbled when I picked them up. Any suggestions? I would really like to make them again but if my kids can’t grab and go makes for a mess. Thanks
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sorry that happened, Leila! We’re currently troubleshooting why that’s been an issue for some readers and not others. Someone suggested that perhaps using a cookie scoop vs. shaping with your hands makes a difference? Or perhaps with a more drippy tahini they need more oats? We’ll report back if we can figure out the issue!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Leila, we retested a couple times and are having trouble replicating this issue. Using a cookie scoop and shaping with our hands both worked. These cookies are a little more fragile than a classic cookie, but definitely shouldn’t fall apart. Did the dough look too wet or dry at all? Did you make sure to press down on them before baking? One other idea would be perhaps they needed to bake a little longer?
Linda says
I have not yet made this wonderful sounding recipe. However, after reading the comments, could part of the problem some bakers are having be attributed to quinoa from the fridge vs. warm, freshly made quinoa. Just a thought, but you are the pros.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Linda, thank you for the idea! We’ve had success both ways, but will test again and see what we can find!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Confirmed they work both ways :) We do slightly prefer the version with cooled quinoa from the fridge. Enjoy!
sarah k lippmann says
Made it as is, and I’m in love. I definitely think the scooper mentioned could help but I used my hands and they turned out fine but not perfectly symmetrical. The batter was kind of sticky, so instead of using my hand to flatten them, I used my hand on a paper towel. Worked great! They fell apart somewhat easily after baking but perhaps that’s just the nature of the beast. Will absolutely make again!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Ah, that’s a good idea about the scooper making a difference, Sarah! Thank you for sharing your experience! We’re so glad you enjoyed them.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Sarah, we just tested with a scooper vs. by hand and it only made a slight difference. These are a bit tender, but letting them cool before enjoying (we know, that’s hard!) should help!
sarah k lippmann says
Does it matter if the quinoa is still warm?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Either way works, but we slightly prefer the version with cooled quinoa.
jacquie says
these look awesome! do you think i could swap the maple syrup for something else such as applesauce? or leave it out?
thanks.
jacquie
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jacquie, we wouldn’t recommend leaving it out. Applesauce or mashed banana would likely make them quite tender and fragile, but possibly? Let us know if you do some experimenting!
Heather says
Love these! I subbed flaxseed meal for chia seeds and peanut butter for tahini. I also chopped up the pumpkin seeds so I could give them to my 2.5 year old and she loved them! They are chewy and sweet and delicious and pack a nutritional punch! I’m so glad I had some cooked quinoa in the fridge today!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, yay! We’re so glad she enjoyed them. Thank you for the lovely review and for sharing your modifications, Heather! xo
Kat says
SO good, and approved by my super picky 4 year old! I subbed the tahini with almond butter, added mini chocolate chips, and they were perfect. So tasty, wonderful texture, 100% making again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Whoop! We’re so glad to hear it, Kat. Thank you for the lovely review! xo
Sylvia says
I made these and followed the instructions to a T as well as the amounts. The cookies did not stay together, spread out quite far on the pan and even fell apart once cooled. Not sure why, any suggestions would be helpful. It’s the only recipe I’ve made of yours that didn’t work lol! Having said that the flavour was good !
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
So sorry that happened, Sylvia! A couple other readers have reported a similar experience while for others they’ve turned out great. We’re currently trying to troubleshoot what’s causing the difference. Would you mind confirming whether you measured the quinoa after cooking or only before?
Sylvia says
Yes, I measured the Quinoa after it was cooked. When I got home from the gym, I put the cookies back in the oven for 10 minutes and they did get crispier, in fact, may be a bit too crispy. Lol!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for the follow up, Sylvia! If you’re up for giving them another try, we’d recommend double checking that your baking soda is fresh and if the dough looks more wet/loose than the photos/video, try adding more oats before baking. Hope that helps!
Rose says
Made these cookies this morning and they turned out picture perfect! Didn’t use chia (I hate digging the seeds out of my teeth) so subbed some sunflower seeds. The batter looked too loose to me after mixing, so I added about 1/4 cup more oats. Don’t hate tahini, but don’t love it either, so next time I’ll try using PB. I baked them about 5 minutes longer than the recipe suggests because I like a crunchier cookie. Rotated the pan at about the 13 minute mark.
A delicious, healthy cookie!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thank you so much for sharing, Rose! xo
Ashley Winter says
I made these last night, and honestly seems like it was way too much liquid. The cookies turned out extremely soft and crumbly almost like a granola. I think there either needs to be more chemo, added or more rolled oats, so that they bind together better and they’re not so wet.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for sharing your experience and sorry the texture wasn’t right, Ashley! It does sound like a couple other readers are having a similar experience, while for others its working great! We’re currently trying to troubleshoot. Could you confirm whether you measured the quinoa after cooking or only before?
Ashley Winter says
Hi!
I cooked & cooled the quinoa and measured as suggested. I followed it to a T but I could see that they had much more wetness to “dry” ingredients. They barely held together and after baking they are more like granola than a cookie.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for the follow up, Ashley! If you’re up for giving it another try, adding more oats could help. We’ll revisit the recipe and see if we can figure it out!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Ashley, we did a couple retests and the batter being a little wet is normal with these. We’re wondering – did you let them cool fully before enjoying? They are tender from the oven, but firm up as the cool. They’ll still be a little more tender than a traditional cookie, but should definitely hold together when held and be more cookie-like than granola-like! Hope that helps!
Rae says
Looks Delish! Could I use hemp hearts instead of hemp seeds?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes, they’re the same thing :)
Julie says
Hi!
What can I use instead of hemp seeds and tahini?
Thanks
Julie
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Julie, you could try flax seeds or more chia seeds for the hemp seeds and another nut or seed butter for the tahini. Let us know how it goes!
Rose says
If it were me, I’d sub with some sesame seeds or sunflower seeds and PB.
Nette says
Hi, will peanut butter work instead of tahini?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We think so! Let us know if you try it!
Kia says
Hey, I am sadly allergic to quinoa (last time I got so sick, I thought I had ate something very spoiled) and I was wondering if it is possible to replace it?
They look super good, but I sadly can’t have quinoa.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Kia, we haven’t tested with other grains, but think millet could possibly work. Let us know if you try it!
Rose says
What about amaranth, bulgur, or teff? All precooked, of course and these subs would affect the protein content, but I’ll bet the flavour would still be wonderful.
Amber S says
I’m fresh out of hemp seeds. And recs for a replacement?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Amber, we’d recommend flax seeds or more chia seeds. Hope that helps!
Amber S says
Just made these last night and they’re crazy good. I subbed flax seeds for the hemp hearts, added 1/4c oats, and a tablespoon of almond butter. I baked them an additional 5ish minutes and they’re perfect—not crumbly and so addictive. Thank you!!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, Amber! xo
Zoe says
I made these today. I wasn’t sure how they would turn out but I had all the ingredients on hand and cooked quinoa in the fridge so I thought I would give it a try. It was really tasty and wholesome. I plan to use these as a healthy snack throughout the day. I’ll be making these again, especially when I have leftover quinoa.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
We’re so glad you enjoyed them, Zoe! Thank you for the lovely review! xo
maria says
Just made these with a couple of substitutes in case it helps anyone else. Subbed 1/2 tahini with PB fit, and I didn’t have pumpkin seeds so I used walnuts. I also added a scoop of KOS Salted Caramel protein powder. Excellent recipe! The tahini and the oats are a great combo.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Amazing! Thanks so much for sharing, Maria! xo
Carrie says
Yes, I used cooked quinoa! I even made it in the Instant Pot like y’all suggested. 😊
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for letting us know, Carrie! Would you mind sharing what brand of tahini you were using?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
One other idea! Did you measure the quinoa after cooking or only before?
Carrie says
I used Prince tahini…but I’m wondering if it could be old baking soda? I’ve never experienced this with baking before, but in researching I learned that baking soda does lose its efficacy. Mine is definitely older than six months.
I scraped all the flattened cookies into a bowl and am eating like granola with yogurt and fruit. Delicious!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Oh that’s an interesting theory! If the cookies didn’t rise, that could definitely be. If you’re up for giving them another try, we’d recommend comparing the dough to the photos/video and if it seems looser/wetter, you can try adding more oats before baking. Hope that helps!
Jen says
These looks great! Any suggestions for a substitute for tahini? Sesame allergy in our house. Thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jen, another nut or seed butter would work!
Serena Cichocki says
Hi there!
Quick question! If I’m not worried about making these vegan can I use butter instead of tahini? Or what do you suggest?
Thank you so much!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Serena, we haven’t tested them with butter, but think they might turn out too crumbly. Another nut or seed butter would work!
Jessica says
Hi just made these, the flavor and texture are very nice but I am curious if you used a torch on yours so they look evenly golden?
Thanks!
Jessica
Longtime fan
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Jessica, we’re so glad you enjoy them! No, we didn’t use a torch. Is it possible you’re using a gas oven or the convection setting?
Eva says
Hi! Just curious, are you suggesting that we NOT use the convection setting? I was always under the impression that convection blows the heat around in the oven, which would help make the cookies more toasty golden brown. But if you suggest not using that, then I won’t, when I make these soon! Thanks. (My rating is based on the recipe and the photos, since I haven’t yet made the cookies, but the page forces me to rate it when asking the question…)
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Eva, we were just thinking the convection setting could cause it to be TOO brown/uneven. We don’t typically recommend convection for baking cookies, cakes, etc, but it is great for roasting veggies!
Rose says
I made these this morning and they came out looking exactly like the photos. BUT, I did bake them (in a gas oven, not on the convection setting) for about 5 minutes longer. I also rotated the pan after about 13 minutes.
Jessica says
Thank you. In the end, I didn’t trust and just needed to cook them longer. As always I appreciate your inspiration.
Joy says
Hello – these looks absolutely delightful! Do you have any suggestions as to what I could use in place of the rolled oats? Unfortunately I can’t have oats or any kind. Thank you!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi! Possibly quinoa flakes or more quinoa, but we haven’t tested it. Let us know if you try it out!
Cat says
Delicious! I have made some of your other cookies on regular rotation for my little one, and I know he will love this as well!
I made the recipe as written except I pulsed the pumpkin seeds in a food processor to blend smaller pieces into the batter.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Aw, yay! We’re so glad he loves them! Great idea to pulse the pumpkin seeds. Thank you for sharing! xo
Sophia says
I would love to try these! I’m
allergic to oats :( any suggestions on an alternative?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Sophia, possibly quinoa flakes or more quinoa, but we haven’t tested it. Let us know if you do some experimenting!
Rose says
At my bulk food store, they sell barley flakes – this might be a good sub for you?
Sophia says
Thanks to you both. Good suggestions. I’ll report back with what I try!
alycia says
can’t wait to try these, I am out of pumpkin seeds though. Is there any replacement I can use? thanks!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yes! We think almonds, walnuts, or another nut/seed would work well. Let us know how it goes!
allycia says
I just made with walnuts instead of pumpkin seeds. DELICIOUS!!! so yummy, will definitely be making again.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Yay! We’re so glad you enjoy them, Allycia. Thank you for sharing! xo
Carrie says
This looked and sounded so good so I got right on it…..mine spread and flattened and look NOTHING like the pics! I have double and triple checked the recipe, but I didn’t forget anything. I’m wondering if it was supposed to have baking powder instead of soda??? Please advise! They still taste good just not share worthy, lol!
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Oh no! Sorry that happened, Carrie. Baking soda is correct. It sounds like there were not enough dry ingredients for some reason. Confirming you used COOKED quinoa, not uncooked?
ML says
I made these cookies today and I too had a problem with my cookies spreading and being flat. Yes, I used cooked quinoa. They tasted fantastic but just a bit soft. I’m going to make them again (because they are super tasty) and see if I get the same results.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Thank you for letting us know! We’ll do some troubleshooting and see if we can figure out what’s causing that for a few readers. We’re wondering if the brand of tahini and how thick/thin it is could be contributing. Would you mind sharing what brand you used?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Would you also mind confirming whether you measured the quinoa after cooking or before?
Taylor says
The flavor is good but mine turned out very crumbly. I put them back in the oven for a bit and that seemed to help, but I didn’t want to over brown them.
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Sorry they were too crumbly, Taylor! Would you mind sharing the brand of tahini you were using?
Support @ Minimalist Baker says
Hi Taylor, one other idea! Did you let them cool fully before enjoying? They’re tender right out of the oven, but firm up as they cool.
Rose says
I found that once I mixed the batter, it looked a little loose to me, which may have resulted in the issue you had, so I added about 1/4 cup more oats. They turned out perfectly.