Chocolate Chia Granola
There are few things I love more than chocolate and snacks. It’s pure delight when they both get to come together, and an extra added bonus when it’s still relatively healthy-ish. This simple granola recipe has it all covered! A chocolatey snack with a relative level of “good-for-you-ness”, and perhaps the best news yet…you can toss it together in about five minutes and be snacking happily all week. Well-rounded enough to pass as a responsible choice for breakfast, and yet still decadent enough to satisfy your 8:00 pm “I need a little something sweet” fix. What a dream.
I’ll be honest with you, I’m a little bit particular about my granola. I like it sweet but not overly sugar-loaded, I LOVE some crunchy clusters, and lastly—brace yourself—I’m not a fan of dried fruit in my granola. I know, I know…my apologies to all the raisin people of the world. They’re not for me.
The great thing about granola is that you can dress it up however you fancy and this recipe is JUST HOW I LIKE IT. Chocolatey? Check. Perfectly crunchy clusters that aren’t concrete-level-hard? Check and check. Sweet? Oh yes, but no refined sugars here! This granola delivers on all levels and and it even has extra benefits like fiber and protein to help keep you full. The secret to the magical clusters? There’s a few factors at play, but the frothy egg white added at the very end is the ticket! A seemingly odd addition, but it does it’s job beautifully and it gives us those perfectly crunchy clusters we all love and adore.
This recipe can easily be doubled (a great life choice, in all honesty). If doubling, you’ll want to use two baking sheets so the same level of crispy crunchiness can be achieved. Be wild and free with the add-ins (coconut flakes! flax seeds! slivered almonds! peanut butter chips! cacao nibs! craisins, if you must!). Consider this a beautiful chocolatey base to build your granola dreams upon. Enjoy!
Chocolate Chia Granola
INGREDIENTS:
2 3/4 cups rolled oats (gluten-free if you need)
3 tablespoons chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/3 cup coconut oil
1/3 cup maple syrup
1/3 cup cocoa powder
2 tablespoons coconut sugar
1 tablespoon almond butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg white, beaten until frothy
optional add-ins: slivered almonds, unsweetened coconut, cacao nibs, dried fruit, chocolate chips
Instructions:
Preheat oven to 325°. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
To a large bowl, add the oats, chia seeds, and cinnamon. Stir to combine.
In a small saucepan (or microwavable bowl), melt together the coconut oil, maple syrup, cocoa powder, coconut sugar, almond butter, vanilla, and salt. Whisk until the mixture is smooth.
Pour the chocolate mixture over the oats and mix well. Once combined, stir in the frothy egg white. Mix in any optional add-ins at this time.
Spread the mixture evenly on the baking sheet and bake for 30-35 minutes. Rotate the pan halfway through baking and resist the urge to stir!
Remove pan from the oven and allow the granola to cool completely on the pan. Store in an airtight container or jar.
