Name: Healthy Dark Chocolate Granola
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 55 min
Ingredients: 5 cups organic rolled oats; 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut flakes; 1 cup sliced almonds; 1 cup pecans; 2 tsp salt; 1/3 cup organic cacao powder; 3/4 cup melted coconut oil; 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips; 1/2 cup real maple syrup; 1 tbsp vanilla extract

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This might be one of my favorite granola variations to date. Meet my dark chocolate granola recipe; it gives cocoa pebble vibes, but with real food, nutritious ingredients. Perfect crunchy clusters, and rich chocolate flavor from dark chocolate and cacoa powder combine for the best chocolate treat. It tastes like dessert!

Top view of homemade dark chocolate granola in a small white bowl

If you are looking for more homemade granola recipes, you have to try my original granola, and my peanut butter granola. Try them all and see which one is your favorite!

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Reasons To Love This Recipe

Healthy Granola That Tastes Like Dessert – Sitting down with a bowl of chocolate granola tastes like a treat. It’s sweet, crunchy, and perfectly chocolatey without a bunch of added sugar or any artificial ingredients.

Nice & Quick – You don’t need tons of time to make this granola – it comes together really quickly.

Customizable – Granola is one of those recipes that you can truly customize to find your perfect combos. Experiment with different nuts or dried fruit!

Better Than Store-Bought – Store-bought granola can have excessive sugar, artificial flavorings, and seed oils. Skip the junk ingredients and make your own granola at home. The end result will have less sugar, and you know exactly what ingredients are in it and where they came from.

Homemade chocolate granola in a large baking sheet with a wooden spoon

Ingredients For Chocolate Granola

For this chocolate granola recipe you will need:

Organic rolled oats – Oats are often grown with the pesticide glyphosate, so buy organic to avoid it. You can also use quick oats if you prefer, i’ve had good success with either.

Unsweetened coconut flakes – to avoid any unnecessary added sugar, buy unsweetened coconut

Almonds & pecans – you can also substitute your favorite nuts, these are my favorites to use in granola

Salt – I love unrefined mineral salt (redmonds real salt) in this recipe, or you can use sea salt.

Organic cacao powder – If you can’t find cacao powder, you can use unsweetened cocoa powder. Cacao powder is a less processed version of cocoa powder.

Vanilla extract

Real maple syrup – real pure maple syrup, not pancake syrup or sugar free versions. The real maple flavor and the real sugar are worth it.

Coconut oil – I use organic, unrefined coconut oil

Dark chocolate chips

Other Supplies You will Need

Large mixing bowl
Small saucepan
Wooden spoon
Baking sheet or cookie sheet
Unbleached parchment paper

Vertical image of crunchy chocolate granola in a small white dish

How To Make Chocolate Granola

Step One: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees. Prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with unbleached parchment paper. Set the pan aside.

Step Two: In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, coconut flakes, nuts, salt, and cacao powder. Stir with a large wooden spoon until everything is combined together.

Dry ingredients for chocolate granola in a large mixing bowl with a wooden spoon

Step Three: In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, melt the coconut oil and dark chocolate chips until they are smooth.

Step Four: To the dry ingredients, add the melted chocolate and coconut oil, and then the maple syrup and vanilla extract.

Step Five: Mix everything together until well combined, and then pour the granola mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread it out into an even layer on the parchment paper.

Step Six: Bake the granola for 45 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes (stir the granola twice during the baking time, once after 15 minutes, and again after 30 minutes).

Step Seven: When the 45 minutes is up, remove the granola from the oven and allow it to cool completely. Letting the granola cool all the way before stirring again or serving is what gives the perfect crunchy texture we are after!

Optional: Add in more dark chocolate chunks after cooling. I think it’s rich enough without this step, but follow your heart.

Once the granola is completely cool, store in an airtight container. At room temperature, the granola will last for 3-4 weeks. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months.

How To Enjoy Chocolate Granola

You can enjoy this healthy chocolate granola recipe just like you would any other granola! Use it with greek yogurt, as a topping for smoothie bowls, or with your favorite milk. It can complete a healthy breakfast if you combine it with some protein from yogurt, or with some eggs on the side.

The real challenge is not eating it all in a day or two!

Top view of homemade chocolate granola in a small dish next to a large pan of granola

Frequently Asked Questions

This recipe can be made gluten free if you buy certified gluten-free oats.

You can substitute sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for a nut-free version of this chocolate granola.

To get extra big clusters, before you bake the granola the last 15 minutes, press the granola firmly into an even layer on the baking sheet. This helps the ingredients stick together as they bake. Also make sure to let the granola cool completely before you break it up.

This granola will last 3-4 weeks in an airtight container. Or, you can store it for up to 3 months in the freezer.

Dried fruit (strawberries would be delicious in this recipe), espresso powder, cinnamon, or peanut butter are all great ideas! If you try a new great combination, I’d love to hear about it in the comments.