Creamy and Cozy Quinoa Flakes Porridge, Three Ways (Gluten Free, Vegan)

Everyone likes a good throwback. We look back at Christmas photos to remember holiday cheer in the middle of January chaos. We save photos of proms, weddings and college graduations - because pics or it didn't happen! We even have entire social media channels (hello Instagram) dedicated to photo fanatics.

Of course, I'm probably one of the only people whose favorite "throwbacks" lately are bowls of porridge with quinoa flakes from four years ago! Food bloggers can probably relate to jumping from one new "epic" recipe to the other, only to forget some of your original faves. Well, these recipes for creamy, protein-packed porridge using quinoa flakes are getting a well-deserved revival. 

Quinoa flakes not only offer 4.3 grams of protein per 1/3 cup, but also 2.5 grams of fiber, less than 2 grams of fat and no cholesterol. Plus they're vegan and allergy friendly. If you're looking for an easy breakfast to prep ahead for busy mornings, for a protein-packed alternative to oatmeal or just a freakin' delicious way to start your day...here are three guides on how to make porridge using quinoa flakes!

Base of Your Quinoa Flakes Porridge

For all of the flavor combinations, you only need a few, simple ingredients. As I've shared in my original overnight quinoa flakes recipe (this was actually one of my first posts ever - talk about a real throwback!), the trick to a deliciously creamy porridge using quinoa flakes begins with the ingredients ratios. Whether you're going to prep some quinoa flakes overnight or you're craving a cozy, warm bowl to wake up with, here's what you need to start:

1/3 cup of quinoa flakes
1/3 cup of water, tea or milk (milk makes it creamier; my personal favorite plant-based options are rice, coconut and cashew milks, or a mix of the three!)
1/2 to 3/4 a mashed ripe banana
1 tbsp of chia seeds (they soak up the moisture overnight in the case of overnight quinoa flakes, and make your "oatmeal" fluffy and thick either way!)
Hefty sprinkle of cinnamon

To get the base of your quinoa flakes down, simply throw all of these ingredients in a bowl and mix well! If it's cold enough to keep your coconut oil frozen solid (because there's no better natural thermostat than that!), you may want to warm up with a cooked bowl of quinoa flakes. Simply add all the ingredients to a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 2-3 minutes or until cooked through and creamy. You can also cook the quinoa flakes on the stovetop, adding the flakes to boiling water and stirring thoroughly for about 90 seconds.

Apple pie overnight quinoa flakes!

If mornings are not your thang - hello college students and/or full-time workers! - you might want to have breakfast "cooking" all night in the fridge instead! All you have to do is leave the mixture in the fridge to soak overnight. I like my overnight porridge with quinoa flakes super thick, but you can lower the amount of chia seeds or increase the liquid for a thinner result. You can also add extra water/tea/milk in the morning, right before eating!

Okay, now for the fun part: choosing your flavor combos (which can work for cooked or overnight quinoa flakes)!

Pretty Patriotic Quinoa Flakes Porridge

If berries are your BFF, look no further than this cozy bowl of bright, tart goodness. If you're soaking overnight, add mixed berries and banana the night before you want to dig in. This lets the flavors of the berries to soak into the flakes, making the whole breakfast extra berry-licious. If you're serving breakfast warm, add berries at the end of cooking. This is the ultimate way to use up the frozen berries in your fridge - not to mention save money on fruit that's out of season!

If you're feeling extra adventurous, try adding a tsp of acai or camu camu powder - which will turn your quinoa flakes a bright purple or pink!

That berry power!

Totally Trail Mix Quinoa Flakes Porridge

Okay, raise your hand if you've ever opened a bag of trail mix...and, the next time you looked down, it had all disappeared! I'm a self-proclaimed addict to anything crunchy and chewy, so I of course had to play around with these textures in my quinoa flakes recipes. Combine crunchy chopped apples with juicy blueberries, roasted pumpkin and sunflower seeds (or nuts), chewy raisins and creamy nut butter for a rockin' trip in an adventure texture land.

This is obviously also the perfect time to put your homemade granola to use, or to chop up your favorite protein bar and throw it in. In my experience, the more (delicious) toppings and contrasting textures, the better!

My personal favorite...

Coco for Blueberries Quinoa Flakes Porridge 

So you've probably all heard of the classic combo of strawberries and chocolate. But if you haven't tried mixing cacao with blueberries, you're missing out. Just add a tsp of cacao powder, a sprinkle of nutmeg and a liberal handful of fresh or frozen blueberries. Trust me - the mix of rich chocolate with tart blueberries is a guaranteed winner!

For an even stronger hit of chocolate, add a cacao nut butter and your own healthy chocolate sauce made with equal parts coconut oil and cacao powder. You can even create a "berry" sauce with water and acai powder or camu camu powder if you feel like experimenting.

My kind of "winter blues"!

The truth is, times and taste buds change. What used to be fashionable or fun or even a foodie's dream shifts with time - at least, until we're reminded of why we loved it in the first place. Eating quinoa flakes for breakfasts isn't just tasty either; these quinoa flakes recipes are also quick and can be personalized to every pair of taste buds.

Eating a creamy, cozy, secretly healthy breakfast has never been easier.


*Also found at VegetarianMama, Pretty Pintastic Party, Creative Collection Party, What's Cookin' Wednesday. Saucy Saturdays*


What are your favorite oatmeal/quinoa flake toppings?