The BEST Healthy Chocolate Granola {with coconut oil}

If I could spare my 20-something self years of trial-and-error by simply sharing the recipes that have changed my cooking significantly, this granola recipe would definitely be on my list.

When I was living in China as a newly-minted teacher, I breakfasted on homemade granola daily–often minutes before my students showed up in the classroom.

That same recipe for granola made its way into the early years of my marriage…until I finally tired of it and decided to try chocolate granola.

What I found next was yummy but a little meh. (And you’d better believe that I tried all kinds of variations to it–including orange zest, shredded coconut, and peanut butter…sometimes all together.)

Thankfully, that granola recipe doesn’t even hold a candle to the one that I’m sharing with you today.

This is simply the best. Hands down.

Why You Will Love this Recipe

Here’s why I think calling this recipe for homemade chocolate granola “the best” is no exaggeration:

• The flavor simply cannot be beat.
• It takes about 10 minutes (or less) of hands-on time.
• The addition of chopped nuts gives it staying power.
• That chocolate flavor!
• Grinding the chia seeds improves the texture.
• Adding chopped dates enhances the sweetness of this granola while also adding nutrients.
• Sprinkling the granola with dark chocolate while still warm means that the oats are smeared with extra flavor.
• And did I mention the chocolate flavor?!

Why Use Coconut Oil?

According to Healthline, there are several evidence-based benefits to using coconut oil, including:

• quick energy
• better oral health (because of its antimicrobial effects)
• lessened hunger

In my family, we prefer using coconut oil because it adds a little hint of coconut flavor to dishes like brownies, no-bake cookies, and other desert-type snacks.

How Much Granola Does This Recipe Make?

A single batch of this recipe yields approximately 9 cups of granola…or enough for approximately five hungry little tummies to snack and breakfast on for a week. 😉

Equipment You Will Need

Thankfully making this healthy chocolate granola with coconut oil doesn’t require many fancy gadgets. All you need is:

• a food processor (we use one similar to this one)
• a small coffee grinder (or other way to grind chia seeds)
• two 13″x9″ glass baking dishes
• a mixing bowl
• a spatula or wooden spoon
• a small saucepan
• storage for the granola (a large airtight container and/or two Ziplock bags)

Tips and Tricks for Making Healthy Homemade Chocolate Granola

Don’t burn the honey-oil mixture. When heating the liquids for this recipe, the goal is simply to incorporate the raw cane sugar (or coconut sugar), not to get everything piping hot. So as soon as you see the granules of sugar “melting” into everything else, you can turn off the heat.

Grind the chia seeds. For best results, don’t skip this. If you don’t have a coffee grinder, then it’s ok to omit the chia.

Soak the granola for a few minutes before consuming. Milk enhances the flavor….plus it gives you chocolate milk at the end. 😉

Use salted and roasted nuts.

Ingredients

• 8 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup salted and roasted mixed nuts (I use a mix of cashew, almond, walnut, pecan, and pistachio)
• 2 Tbsp. pumpkin seeds
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• 1 tsp. sea salt
• 1 cup cocoa powder
• 3/4 cup raw (unrefined) cane sugar or coconut sugar (or cheat and use light brown sugar)
• 2/3 cup honey (or maple syrup)
• 1 cup cold-pressed virgin coconut oil
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 8 medjool dates, pits removed and flesh finely chopped
• 1/4 cup mini dark chocolate chips or bits

Store in an airtight container at room temperature. (We like to use a glass cookie jar like this one to display our granola.)

If you want longer-term storage for the granola, then the freezer is the way to go. Simply let the granola cool completely, and then bag it up in Ziplock bags (two gallon-sized bags should be enough to hold a single recipe). Store in the freezer for up to three months. (Honestly, my family has kept frozen granola for quite a bit longer than three months.)

Variations & Substitutions to the Recipe

When I make this healthy homemade chocolate granola recipe (which is on a weekly basis in this season of life), I cheat and usually use light brown sugar.

If you have nut allergies, removing the mixed nuts from the recipe will result in a slight flavor and texture difference. However, it will not negatively affect the overall recipe. The measurements of other ingredients should still remain the same.