Chocolate Granola
This Chocolate Granola is better than anything you can get at the store! It’s crunchy, chocolatey and packed with wholesome ingredients. It makes a healthy breakfast or snack and it’s ready in about 35 minutes!
I love granola, but most store bought brands are full of sugar and preservatives. And if they’re on the healthier side or geared toward special diets, they can be extremely expensive.
Normally I prepare it at home because it’s extremely easy, it’s very affordable, and I can customize it to suit my tastes.
Years ago I created this peanut butter granola, and there was no going back. I prefer it to anything that I can buy at the store!
This Chocolate Granola recipe is my latest revelation. It has big, crunchy clusters, big chocolate flavor, and it’s studded with dark chocolate chips.
It’s a guilt-free way for me to indulge in chocolate, and I can truly eat it any time of day for breakfast, snacks or even dessert. 🙂
Why you’ll love this recipe:
- It’s a chocolate lover’s dream. This chocolate granola includes cocoa powder and dark chocolate chips, and is guaranteed to satisfy the biggest cravings in a healthier way.
- It’s easy. This recipe comes together in one bowl and takes less than 10 minutes of prep.
- You can feel good about it. This recipe includes wholesome rolled oats, no refined sugar or oils, and minimal sugar as compared to store bought brands.
- It’s customizable. You can easily customize this recipe by using your favorite oil, sweetener, and mix-in’s like nuts, coconut or dried fruit.
Recipe ingredients
The best part about this easy chocolate granola is that it can be prepared with the basic ingredients listed below, or you can jazz it up with your favorite mix-ins!
Ingredient notes
- Oats. Use old fashioned rolled oats for the best texture. Steel cut oats will not work in this recipe, and quick oats won’t have that chewy texture.
- Cocoa powder. This provides a deep, chocolatey flavor. Be sure to use unsweetened cocoa powder. Make dark chocolate granola by using dark cocoa powder.
- Maple syrup. Sub with honey or your favorite sweetener.
- Coconut oil. Sub with your favorite oil or melted butter.
- Chocolate chips. Optional but highly recommended! Use your favorite variety of dairy or dairy-free chocolate chips.
- Salt. A 1/4 teaspoon sea salt brings out all the flavors, and there’s nothing better than salted chocolate!
- Vanilla extract. This is not shown in the ingredients list, but I recommend using a teaspoon as it balances out the chocolate flavor.
- Mix-ins. Customize this chocolate granola by adding up to 1 cup of raw chopped pecans or almonds, coconut flakes or 2-3 tablespoons chia seeds. Add 1/2 cup of your favorite dried fruit with the chocolate chips if desired.
How to make this recipe
This chocolate granola is incredibly easy to make, and it comes together in just one bowl.
Pro tip: The key to achieving big cluster granola is not stirring it during baking. Once it’s done, remove it and allow it to cool completely before stirring.
See the recipe card for full instructions.
- Melt the coconut oil in a large bowl (skip this step if it’s in liquid state), then whisk in maple syrup, cocoa powder and salt until combined.
- Add the oats and stir until well coated with the wet ingredients.
- Pour the granola mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread into an even layer about 1/4″ thick and pack it down.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden and fragrant, rotating the pan about halfway through the baking time. Do not stir and allow it to cool completely before breaking it up into chunks and adding the chocolate chips.
Recipe FAQs
This chocolate granola is made with just a few ingredients. It includes old fashioned rolled oats, coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla, unsweetened cocoa powder, salt and dark chocolate chips.
The ingredients can be customized with your favorite oil or melted butter, favorite sweetener, and any mix-in’s like nuts, coconut or dried fruit as well.
This recipe is much healthier than store bought granola as there are no preservatives or unrefined sugar and oils. It’s also dairy and gluten-free and includes minimal sugar.
It is high in carbohydrates, so if you’re following a low carb diet be sure to talk to your doctor to find out if this recipe is right for you.
This chocolate granola will keep in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Serving suggestions
There are a number of delicious ways to serve this easy chocolate granola.
- Enjoy a handful as a tasty snack.
- Serve for breakfast with your favorite dairy or non-dairy milk and fresh banana or berries.
- It’s wonderful served over yogurt with your favorite toppings.
- Make a fruit and granola yogurt bowl or parfaits with your favorite yogurt and fresh fruit.
- This healthy chocolate granola makes a fun topping for banana smoothies or these chocolate peanut butter smoothie bowls by Bakerita.
Recipe notes
- Pro tip: The key to achieving big cluster granola is not stirring it during baking. Once it’s done, remove it and allow to cool without stirring.
- Store chocolate granola in an air tight container at room temperature for about 2 weeks.
- This granola is just sweet enough. If you like yours sweeter, increase the amount of sweetener from 1/3 cup to 1/2 cup.
- Customize this chocolate granola by adding up to 1 cup of raw chopped pecans or almonds, coconut flakes or 2-3 tablespoons chia seeds. Add 1/2 cup of your favorite dried fruit with the chocolate chips if desired.
More granola recipes you’ll love!
- Almond butter granola
- Breakfast fruit tarts with granola crust
- Grain-free granola by Minimalist Baker
Did you try this recipe? If so, be sure to leave a review below and tag me @flavorthemoments on Facebook and Instagram
Chocolate Granola
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup coconut oil
- 1/3 cup maple syrup sub with honey or your favorite sweetener
- 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips dairy or non-dairy; sub with your favorite variety of chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Place the coconut oil in a large bowl and heat in the microwave for 30-40 seconds until melted (skip this step if your oil is in liquid state). Add the maple syrup, cocoa powder, vanilla and sea salt and whisk to combine. If using coconut oil and it starts to become solid after whisking, microwave it for 20-30 seconds to melt once more. Add the oats to the wet ingredients and stir until well coated.1/4 cup coconut oil, 1/3 cup maple syrup, 4 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- Pour the granola mixture onto the prepared pan and spread in an even layer, about 1/4″ thick, packing it down well. Packing it down will result in big clusters!
- Bake on the middle rack of the oven for 25 minutes or until golden and fragrant, rotating the pan after 15 minutes….do not stir! Remove from heat and cool completely without stirring.
- Once cooled, break the granola up into chunks and stir in the chocolate chips and sprinkle with additional flaky sea salt if desired. Enjoy!1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
Notes
- Pro tip: The key to achieving big cluster granola is not stirring it during baking. Once it’s done, remove it and allow it to cool completely before stirring.
- This granola is mildly sweet. If you prefer it sweeter, use 1/2 cup maple syrup.
- Store granola in an air tight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
- Customize this chocolate granola by adding up to 1 cup of raw chopped pecans or almonds, coconut flakes or 2-3 tablespoons chia seeds. Add 1/2 cup of your favorite dried fruit with the chocolate chips if desired.
Nutrition
Nutrition is estimated using a food database and is only intended to be used as a guideline for informational purposes.
**This recipe was originally published in February 2019. The photos have been updated to include step by step photos and the text has been modified to include more recipe information.
13 Comments on “Chocolate Granola”
There are several with coconut allergy in the family. What can be used in place of the coconut oil?
Hi Suzie — you can use any type of oil!
Trying it now …smells so good while baking…can’t wait to taste it!
Please do not sell/give away my email address or name. Thank you.
I hope you enjoy the granola Kay!
I love your peanut butter granola and have made it a bunch.. I’m sure I’d love this chocolate one too! And it looks so yum with raspberries!
I’m so glad you love that peanut butter granola! Maybe we need to merge that recipe and this one together? 🙂
It’s addictive Puja — chocolate is my weakness too! 🙂
It looked like you had so much fun on instagram!! Such a cool present! And this granola looks fantastic – it’s been FAR too long since I’ve made any at home. I must try this! I mean, you just can’t go wrong with german chocolate!
I sure did have fun…thank you Ashley! I need to make granola on a weekly basis — it’s so easy and so much better!
It sounds like you have an awesome Valentine’s Day ahead of you! Enjoy! Also, love this granola. I’m a huge fan of homemade granola, and actually have a chocolate version lined up for the blog on Monday! Great minds think alike 😉
It was definitely a wonderful day — thank you! And we do think a lot alike! 🙂
Marcie!! Have an AMAZING time tomorrow! I’m so jealous. And happy for you, of course 😉 Also, this granola is 100% up my alley! Can’t wait to try it – although I’d probably polish it off in one sitting!
Thank you so much! It was a blast. And it is hard not to eat all of this granola in one sitting! 🙂