This Date Caramel Macchiato Breakfast Quinoa is a power boost for your body and hair. It’s gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free and vegan, yet it’s very protein rich, creamy and delicious. It doesn’t take as long as overnight oats, only the cook time of the quinoa, and you’d be ready to dig in and feel your body thanking you!
Over the years I’ve seen quinoa been used as a breakfast bowl, such as oats and cereal. And I wanted to give this a try, but I never did. And I had this strong craving about a caramel macchiato, but I wanted to do it a little differently. Why couldn’t I combine the two? If it tasted horrible, no one would know, and I could continue eating whole wheat bread rolls for breakfast. But those aren’t gluten free, I’m sorry to say.
So I tried, and I succeeded. Date caramel is perfect in this, as it is sweet, but just made of dates so it’s refined sugar free. Yes, it is still sugar, and you can omit it if you wish, but then the caramel in the macchiato is lost. This date caramel macchiato breakfast quinoa is a healthier way of getting your caramel fix, and I have to say – I’m hooked! I have so many new recipes using this date caramel now, I’m excited to share them all with you.
Date Caramel Macchiato Breakfast Quinoa
Begin with cooking the quinoa in coffee. Brew coffee and pour into a saucepan along with rinsed quinoa. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Then remove the quinoa from the heat and let it rest, still covered, for 5 more minutes. Pour the cooked coffee quinoa into a serving bowl.
Meanwhile we’ll make the date caramel. Pour 18 pitted and quarted dates into a food processor. Add in salt, vanilla and almond milk (or any milk of choice). Process until creamy. Add in more milk, 1 tbsp at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. I stopped at pretty thick.
Then we’ll make the date milk. Pour milk, vanilla and 1 tbsp of the date caramel into a small saucepan. Heat up, but not boil. Pour this warm date milk over the cooked coffee quinoa (as much as you want).
Then add the healthy power boost toppings. I had almonds, hemp seeds and sunflower seeds. All are really good for you and super easy to get down in this delicious date caramel macchiato breakfast quinoa. I also loved dolloping more of the date caramel on top, because hello, it’s caramel.
Enjoy on a cold winter morning, pack as a cold lunch for work, as a healthy dessert. Whatever you want!
Healthy Breakfast Food
- Chives and Cheese Scrambled Eggs
- Chocolate Coconut Overnight Oats
- Tropical Mango Pineapple Smoothie
- Whole Wheat Bread Rolls
- Healthy Banana Pancakes
- Healthy Spiced Pumpkin Soufflé with Maple Pecans and Cream Cheese
- Protein Chocolate Chia Pudding
- Energizing Green Grape and Avocado Smoothie
Let me know if you have any questions or feedback, I love hearing from you! Either in the comment section below, or tag me @thegingerwithspice on Instagram. And don’t forget to Pin it for later!
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Date Caramel Macchiato Breakfast Quinoa
Ingredients
Coffee Quinoa
- 85 gr uncooked quinoa rinse. 1/2 cup
- 185 ml coffee 3/4 cup
Date Caramel, makes 1 cup
- 18 dates pitted and quarted
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 6-8 tbsp almond milk or milk of choice
Date Milk
- 125 ml almond milk or milk of choice. 1/2 cup
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tbsp date caramel see above
Power Boost Toppings
- 1 tbsp almonds
- 1 tsp hemp seeds
- 1 tsp sunflower seeds
- more date caramel see above. optional
Instructions
- Brew coffee and pour into a saucepan along with rinsed quinoa. Bring to a boil and reduce to simmer, cover and simmer for 15 minutes. Then remove the quinoa from the heat and let it rest, still covered, for 5 more minutes. Pour the cooked coffee quinoa into a serving bowl.
- Meanwhile we'll make the date caramel. Pour 18 pitted and quarted dates into a food processor. Add in salt, vanilla and almond milk (or any milk of choice). Process until creamy. Add in more milk, 1 tbsp at a time, until you reach the desired consistency. I stopped at pretty thick.
- Date milk: Pour milk, vanilla and 1 tbsp of the date caramel into a small saucepan. Heat up, but not boil. Pour this warm date milk over the cooked coffee quinoa (as much as you want).
- Then add the healthy power boost toppings. I had almonds, hemp seeds and sunflower seeds. All are really good for you and super easy to get down in this delicious date caramel macchiato breakfast quinoa. I also loved dolloping more of the date caramel on top, because hello, it's caramel.
Oh my goodness this looks absolutely divine!
Thank you so much!
What a delicious -looking breakfast! So quick, simple and healthy. Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful recipe!
Thank you very much, Denay!
I love the idea of putting coffee in here! This sounds so good!!
Thank you so much, Megan!
Totally trying this tomorrow. It looks delicious!
I hope you liked it, Abril! Thank you very much.
I have done a breakfast quinoa similar to this but with maple syrup. I’m a caramel lover so I will need to try this one next!
Maple syrup is super delicious too! Thank you so much, Jena Leigh!
Really interesting and tasty recipe. I’ll have to try this out, I’ve never cooked anything with quinoa or date caramel before.
Ohh you’re in for a treat! I really like quinoa, it works in both savory and sweet dishes and it’s very healthy too. Thank you!
Mmmm looks like a super yummy way to start the day.
Kasey Ma
thestylewright.com
Thank you!
Yumm! I’ve never thought of making quinoa for breakfast and caramel macchiatos are my absolute favorite when going to get coffee <3
I think coffee needs something sweet! Hence my devotion to caramel macchiatos and mochas and Pumpkin Spice Lattes! I really hope you’ll like this, Cassie. Thank you so much.
Wow! I love dates and I love quinoa, so I’ll definitely have to give this a try. I’ve had a protein smoothie for breakfast every morning for the past who-know-how-many years, so I think it would be good to change things up a bit. Or maybe I’ll just have this for dessert!
Healthy girl! I hope you’ll like this one too. 🙂 Thank you so much!
Would love to try these! I love your idea
Thanks, Jack!
I would of never thought to cook quinoa in coffee. Everything about this recipe looks soooo good!
Thank you very much!
I love quinoa, and using it in a breakfast recipe is awesome. My husband LOVES caramel macchiatos….so I think he would love this healthy breakfast too. I will have to make it for him and see.
Adding it to breakfast was a totally new thing to me, but definitely not the last. Your husband is a lucky man! Thank you so much, Gloria.
I am not a huge fan of dates but I think I may try this, it will be a great breakfast that will keep me full!
You can’t really taste the dates here, it’s more for sweetness. But you can add any kind of caramel or sweetener! Thank you so much, Michelle.
Delicious! Great idea cooking Quinoa in coffee. This is a good recipe to replace boring breakfasts. It looks like I can even make it ahead of time?
I’ve only tasted it warm, but I’m guessing it will be very delicious cold too! Thank you so much. 🙂
Oh, my. This looks like such a delicious way to start the day. I can’t wait to try it this weekend!
Thank you so much, Amanda, enjoy your weekend!
I loved the date caramel macchiato breakfast quinoa! That is quite a rare recipe I suppose as I have never heard of it before! I need to try it ASAP!
Thank you very much! I was a little sceptical about adding coffee to quinoa, but I think it worked really well!
Mmmm, another fantastic way to use quinoa! This is going to be sooo good, I just know it. I’ll try to remember to report back. 😉
It’s not always easy to remember to report back, I know I struggle with it. But thank you very much, dear Catherine!
Ohh, I would have never thought about cooking quinoa in coffee. Will be trying this for breakfast next week! Any way I can make this ahead?
Thank you! I think you can just make it like in the instructions and never mind it getting cold. Maybe I’d keep the milk and the quinoa separated until I was going to eat it though, but I don’t think you have to either. And if you have a microwave accessible I’d pop the milk in for 30 seconds. 🙂 Enjoy!
I love seeing a dish that’s made with so many healthy ingredients. Nicely done.
Thank you so much!
I am ready for breakfast! This looks so amazing! I always have oatmeal for breakfast but I think I may have to try out your recipe. It sounds delicious and your pictures are so welcoming!
Thank you so much, April! I know all about eating the same over and over again for breakfast, difficult to change up the routine! But it’s good to do so once in a while. 🙂
This is a lovely way to start the day, a Soothing mix of flavors and textures. I enjoy dates and almonds and then paired with quinoa makes it a very good and healthy option too. I will your suggestion instead of oatmeal tomorrow.
This looks so delicious – and what a creative recipe! I never know what to have for breakfast, so this looks perfect!
Thank you so much, dear Stephanie! Hope you give this one a try 🙂
dates are a great way of adding natural sweetness and this is such a healthy way to start the day
Yes, I agree! Thank you so much