I have always been a huge cold cereal person. There is just something so comforting about cereal, I don’t know what it is!
However, ever since being gluten and grain free, there are not a lot of cereals that I can eat. If a cereal is gluten free, it usually has corn or rice in it. I was so excited a few months ago, to see this recipe for a homemade grain free cereal on Eating Bird Food, and I have been making it ever since!
You basically make it like a granola – you cook the quinoa, let it cool, then mix it with buckwheat, and cook it until crunchy. The only problem is that it is a little messy to make – and you have to stir it every so often while baking so it doesn’t burn.
This last weekend, I had an epiphany – what if I cooked the cereal in a dehydrator, instead of the oven! I could spread it out on the dehydrator sheets, and let it dry out. Because that is really all you are doing – letting it dry out – not really cooking anything.
I really think one of my best investments this summer has been my dehydrator – I use it all the time!! This worked out so great – I made it before I went to bed at night, put it in the dehydrator, and it was ready in the morning! However, if you don’t have a dehydrator, you can definitely make this in the oven.
Quinoa Buckwheat Cold Breakfast Cereal
Print this recipe!
1 cup uncooked quinoa
2 1/2 cups water
dash salt
2 cups raw buckwheat groats
1 cup unsweetened coconut
1 tsp cinnamon
In a medium saucepan, combine the quinoa, water, and salt. Cook over medium low heat for 20 minutes, or until the water is absorbed. Let cook slightly. (I actually only let it cool about 5 minutes because I wanted to go to bed!
Add the rest of the ingredients and stir to combine. Spread out on dehydrator sheets OR on a cookie sheet. Dehydrate at 125 degrees for 6-8 hours, or at 325 degrees in the oven for about an hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
Store in an airtight container.
How do you like your cereal? I like fruit on mine! I chose not to add any sugar in this cereal, but instead add it when eating it if I want.
Or sometimes I might add chocolate chips and nuts and that adds enough sweetness for me!
I could eat this for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!
Do you have a favorite cold cereal?
This is linked to Slightly Indulgent Tuesday, Allergy Free Wednesday, Whole Foods Friday, and Fit and Fabulous Fridays.
yum! I’m a big oatmeal fan, plain and simple. I guess that has gluten in it, though. Anyway, I am sure you have said, but I’m too lazy to look back and find out, so could I ask what brand/kind of dehydrator you bought?
You can get gluten free oats, but even those don’t agree with me.
I got the 9 tray Excalibur dehydrator — http://www.amazon.com/Excalibur-3900-Deluxe-Series-Dehydrator/dp/B001P2J3K0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344361129&sr=8-1&keywords=excalibur+dehydrator. It was expensive, but I saved up for it. I have been wanting it for a long time!
Okay, THAT is a dehydrator. I may get a VitaMix first (have to save for it), then save for the dehydrator. And yes, it’s expensive, but since I grow a lot of my own food, l will probably end up making that money back quickly by dehydrating my maters and such. I’m running out of room with the cans! (Nice problem to have, though)
I know, that is my philosophy too! Although a dehydrator was first on my list, and a Vitamix second! I am still saving for that! I have used my dehydrator so much since buying it … I love it!
A dehydrator would be so much fun! I love cold cereal, but I sort of stopped eating it because it never fills me up and I’m hungry five seconds later (plus I can and will eat a whole box in a day). But this sounds like the sort of cereal that would stick with you much longer, less puffy-air-grains, more dense nutrition.
Allie recently posted..A Day in the (Talented Artist’s) Life
I know what you mean, a lot of cereal is not filling at all. My favorite was raisin bran … just cause I love raisins!! hahaha Love my dehydrator!!!
I used to buy Heritage flakes, because they’re thicker and crunchier and don’t get soggy like raisin bran, and then add my own raisins
Better flakes plus better raisins (not as dry as the boxed ones)–it was like an upscale raisin bran 
Plus I’m less likely to devour an entire box of plain flakes. Not that it hasn’t happened, it’s just slightly less likely…
Allie recently posted..Insta(grams) of Protein (for Dinner)
Wow, I love the sound of this! I love granola as cereal with milk but this is a healthier version without all the sugar and with some nutritious quinoa. I def want to try it. Pinning!
Veronica recently posted..Quick Veggie Quesadillas
Thanks
I love this cereal!! Granola can be sooo calorie dense sometimes, especially when you add in nuts and chocolate like I like to hahaha This definitely has the crunch factor too!
I love cold cereal!! I haven’t found a GF one though that is really good. I don’t have a dehydrator.. can I just use the oven on low??
Brittany (Delights and Delectables) recently posted..This or That: Health and Fitness
Yep! I thought I put that in the post … you can just use a cookie sheet (although when I cooked it in the oven I just used an ovenproof bowl – so much easier to stir!!), at 325 for about an hour, stirring every 15 minutes or so. Either way, it is delicious!!!
Duh… I see that now. My brain is mush.
Brittany @ Delights and Delectables recently posted..WIAW #12 Breakfast All Day
This looks great! I was just thinking this morning that I need to find a grain free cereal recipe because I would like to eat less grains. And then I saw this on AFW! Oh. and a dehydrator is next on my list!
kristy @ coconutmama recently posted..Blueberry Chocolate Chip Muffins with Avocado-Gluten Free, Dairy Free
Thank you! I really do love my dehydrator – so many uses!
This would be a great change for our breakfast cereal! We usually eat fruit with whole grain and bran flakes, but sometimes we need to mix it up some. Your cereal looks great! I’ve never had buckwheat oats that I know of, but I did see them at the co-op today; therefore, I know where to get them.
mjskit recently posted..Cantaloupe Walnut Salad with Lime Dressing
Yay! I really like it
What a healthy and hearty way to start the day. This looks great!
TastefullyJulie recently posted..Lightened-up Blueberry Crisp
I’ve been eating cooked quinoa with coconut milk, almonds, dried berries and a drizzle of honey. I’ll have to try this, though!
Thanks, Jessica! I’ve made quinoa cereal like that too, but I like to have this for an alternate to cold cereal sometimes too! And this is good as a topping, as well! I guess I just like the crunch factor
What a nutritious and hearty breakfast recipe! Thank you for sharing such a delicious breakfast with us on Allergy-Free Wednesdays.
Thanks Laura! It is one of my favorite breakfasts!
Wow, what a great way to start the day!! Love this! Thank you for sharing at Fit and Fab!
Amee recently posted..Fresh Fig and Feta Salad with Toasted Walnuts
This looks great! I love the taste of buckwheat and don’t use it often enough. My oven goes down to 110 so I actually could use it to dehydrate at 125 for 6-8 hours. The long low temp is a nice alternative when you don’t want to babysit the recipe at the higher temperature. I make granola often but haven’t tried making something like this made mainly from grain-like seeds like quinoa and buckwheat. I’m betting the coconut will give it enough sweetness for me. I’m saving this to Pinterest to try later, will let you know how it goes.
Mary @ Fit and Fed recently posted..Date Sweetened No Oil No Sugar Granola
Thanks Mary! I really love it .. .that’s great your oven goes that low!