Healthy superfood ingredients like raw organic cacao powder, coconut, and chia seeds come together to create a decadent tasting breakfast or snack. Who says you can’t have chocolate for breakfast?!
I’ve made this delicious granola twice in the past week. The first time I made it, planning to send it off to friends as a housewarming gift, it disappeared. Yummy Hubby really loved it. Like, a little too much. So I made the chocolate granola a second time, but was smarter this time a put a “hands off!” sticky note on the container until I had it out of the house. Homemade granola is fun and simple to make, and uses everyday ingredients that you may already have in the pantry. If you’d like to make gluten free homemade granola, be sure to buy certified gluten free oats.
I absolutely love this granola with almond milk, but I love it just as much on a peanut butter smoothie bowl. It tastes like the most wonderful dessert, but is loaded with nutrition.
Chocolate granola is best with cold milk. The milk quickly turns into chocolate milk and reminds me so much of the chocolate rice krispies cereal I only got to have on vacation as a kid for that chocolate milky reason. And that reason only – this one is loaded with nutrients without all the sugar.
Have I mentioned I have horrendous handwriting? Slapping on labels is more my thing. Thank goodness the kindergarten teacher included glue sticks on the supply list! And don’t tell my big girl I sneaked her new glue stick from her backpack in the middle of the night. I created this one in Photoshop and you’re welcome to print it out and use it. Click here to download the jpg file.
I got the ice cream containers on Amazon and use them for everything from storing actual ice cream to gift packaging to holding popsicle stick games for the kids. This is an Amazon affiliate link, so I make a small commission if you purchase through it – thanks!
Update 9-30-2016
This chocolate granola recipe has been a popular one on the blog for years now. When I made it this week I felt it was a little too dry, so I reduced the amount of oats from 4 cups to 3, and increased the coconut oil and honey. If you loved the recipe the way it was you can find the original printer friendly recipe hereprinter friendly recipe.
Yield: about 6 cups
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Healthier superfood chocolate granola is delicious with milk and berries.
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1 cup raw walnuts (or any other nuts you have on hand)
- ½ cup chia, flax, or hemp seeds (I like a combination)
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup unsweetened cacao or cocoa powder
- 2/3 cup melted coconut oil
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup honey (agave or maple syrup if vegan)
- 1/3 cup coconut sugar (or light brown sugar)
- 1/4 cup chopped chocolate (optional for extra decadence)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
- In a large bowl, stir together the oats, coconut, walnuts, seeds, salt, and cacao. In a medium bowl, whisk together the coconut oil, vanilla, honey, and coconut sugar until smooth. Pour coconut oil mixture over the oat mixture and stir until oats are coated. I find using two rubber spatulas at the same time to mix the ingredients works best. If you like your granola very clumpy, add more honey.
- Coat one large or two small rimmed baking sheet(s) with cooking spray or rub with a little more coconut oil. Press granola into the bottom of the prepared baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Stir and bake another 10-15 minutes. Cool completely in the pan without stirring. Granola will crisp up, clump, and harden as it cools. Gently stir in chocolate chunks, if desired. Store in an airtight container.
- Serve over milk and topped with raspberries or bananas. Yum!
Notes
Vegan option: Use agave syrup or maple syrup instead of the honey. Use only vegan chocolate chips. Gluten Free option: Make sure your oats are gluten-free. Oats are naturally gluten-free, but are often contaminated during processing. Also check that the chocolate you use is gluten free.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 469Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 16gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 104mgCarbohydrates: 44gFiber: 8gSugar: 21gProtein: 9g
