healthy (ish) chocolate granola

Chocolate Granola is packed with rich chocolate flavor and wholesome ingredients, like oats, maple syrup, and pecans. This easy breakfast treat takes minutes to mix up, and just 30 minutes to bake. Serve it over yogurt with berries for a quick & filling breakfast. You’ll swoon as the intoxicating chocolate smell wafts out of your oven while the granola bakes!

this recipe

Why you’ll love Healthy Chocolate Granola:

• Deep Chocolate Flavor – Cocoa powder adds a deep chocolate flavor (sweetened by maple syrup, because obviously plain cocoa powder is not great haha) and chocolate chips add a fun pop of sweetness. You can always omit the chocolate chips if you want to keep the sugar down a bit.
• Naturally Gluten-Free – This homemade granola recipe is naturally gluten-free! Just be sure to use certified gluten-free oats if you have celiac disease, as the non certified kind do have a chance of cross contamination.
• Easy Recipe – Homemade granola is incredibly easy to make, and is ready to enjoy in about 45 minutes.
• Crunchy Clusters – This granola is full of delicious chocolate granola clusters!

Ingredient Overview:

As always, the full recipe with measurements & directions can be found at the bottom of this post.

• Oats – Oats provide healthy whole grains in this recipe. Use whole rolled oats, and be sure to use certified gluten-free oats when needed. Don’t use quick oats as they are broken down into smaller pieces and don’t work as well for something like granola.
• Pecans – When you buy pecans, they’ll come in a bag called “pecan halves”, and then you’ll want to chop those up a bit more for this recipe.
• Shredded Coconut – You can use sweetened or unsweetened. This is sometimes called desiccated coconut in the grocery store.
• Pure Maple Syrup – Use real maple syrup for best results. I prefer maple syrup in this recipe to brown sugar or granulated sugar because it feels more “breakfast appropriate” (although sugar is sugar), but it also lends the right amount of moisture to the recipe!
• Olive Oil – This is just one of the healthy fats found in this recipe!
• Cocoa Powder – Use unsweetened cocoa powder. Dutch process or natural cocoa both work in this recipe (they are not interchangeable in recipes that use baking powder/baking soda).
• Chocolate Chips – Adding chocolate chips in the last few minutes of baking gets them nice and melty, and adds a pop of extra chocolate flavor.

Ingredient Substitutions:

• Nuts – You can swap the pecans for almonds or walnuts if you prefer, or you can omit the nuts entirely.
• Dairy-free – Use dairy-free/vegan chocolate chips.
• Gluten-free – This recipe is naturally gluten-free as written! Just be sure to get certified gluten-free oats if needed.
• Olive Oil – You can use melted coconut oil instead!
• Dried Fruit – Add 1/3 cup of your favorite dried fruit – something like cranberries or cherries would pair well with chocolate.
• Other Mix-Ins – Feel free to add any other mix ins you like! Try adding 1/3 cup sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or chia seeds in place of (or with!) the nuts. You can even add a few handfuls of chocolate chips in the last 3-4 minutes of bake time, so they melt just enough to stick to the granola, without melting too much. Add 1-2 tbsp flax seeds for extra fiber and protein.
• Chocolate – Feel free to use milk, semi-sweet, or dark chocolate chips. Or, omit them entirely for a recipe with less sugar.

How to Make Chocolate Granola:

Step 1: Mix the Dry Ingredients. In a large bowl, whisk together the oats, pecans, coconut, cocoa powder, and a pinch of salt.

Step 2: Add Wet Ingredients. Pour the olive oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract over the oat mixture. Stir until well combined.

Step 3:  Spread on a Pan. Spread mixture into an even layer on a lined baking sheet.

Step 4: Bake Granola. Bake as directed in the recipe card below, stirring the edges of the granola halfway through to avoid burning.

Serving + Storing:

Serve this with greek yogurt or almond milk for a healthy breakfast, or with fresh fruit over ice cream for a lighter dessert. I love topping smoothie bowls with this granola! Store cooled granola in an airtight container at room temperature for 3-4 weeks.

Expert Success Tips:

• Oven Thermometer – An oven thermometer will tell you if your oven is actually running at the temperature you set it to. Your oven may not be accurate. Accurate oven temperature is crucial for most bakes, so I leave an oven thermometer in at all times to keep an eye on my oven’s calibration.
• Clumps – As I mentioned earlier, letting the granola cool completely without disturbing it is key to getting those larger clumps!

Can I double or halve this recipe?

Absolutely! You can do either. If you double it, spread the mixture between two baking sheets to ensure even baking.

More Breakfast Recipes to Love:

• Gluten-free Maple Granola
• Restaurant-Level Stuffed French Toast
• Breakfast Pizzas
• Healthy Banana Chocolate Oat Muffins
• Perfect Breakfast Quiche

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