If you love homemade granola, try this easy recipe: Dark Chocolate Granola! Crunchy, nutty, and with TONS of chocolate-y flavor! All the healthy goodness of granola. With an indulgent chocolate twist. Mix in one bowl. Bake on a sheet pan. A delicious breakfast or snack that is crunchy, nutty, and full of good-for-you anti-oxidants!
Why Dark Chocolate Granola?
A homemade recipe for chocolate lovers everywhere: Dark Chocolate Granola. A classic granola recipe with TONS of chocolate flavor. Simple to make and better than store-bought granola, this simple recipe is not-too-sweet and FULL of antioxidants, fiber, and nutrition.
The rich, decadent chocolate flavor comes from cocoa powder. Whisk together with maple syrup and coconut oil to create a smooth, dark chocolate sauce. Add to oats, buckwheat groats, nuts, and chia seeds and bake until crunchy and nutty.
A breakfast treat with wholesome ingredients and SO MUCH chocolate flavor! As a bonus, it’s full of good-for-you ingredients. A healthy breakfast or snack that’s also vegan and gluten-free.
Ingredients:
- Rolled Oats. Look for rolled oats — not instant oats or steel-cut oats.
- Buckwheat. Buckwheat groats are tiny, triangular seeds. They are full of fiber, antioxidants, and many other vitamins and minerals. Nutrient-dense buckwheat groats are good for your heart, lower blood sugar, and aid the digestive process.
- Shredded Coconut. Adds sweetness and texture.
- Pecans. Crunchy and sweet. Feel free to sub with almonds or walnuts if you prefer.
- Chia seeds. Adds nubby texture and more nutrition.
- Pumpkin or sunflower seeds. Another crunchy texture that’s very tasty.
- Dried Cranberries. Adds a sweet, fruity element.
- Vanilla. Fragrant flavor.
- Coconut Oil + Maple Syrup + Cocoa Powder. Whisk together into a thick, dairy-free, chocolate-y paste. Slather over everything for that rich and decadent chocolate flavor!
How to make Chocolate Granola:
- Whisk chocolate syrup. In a medium bowl, whisk together coconut oil, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and vanilla.
- Mix. Add dry ingredients into a large bowl. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients. Using a spatula, mix well.
- Bake. Spread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until nutty and golden brown.
- Enjoy. Cool completely. Break apart into granola clusters or crumbles. Enjoy with yogurt or milk.
PRO Tips:
- Use parchment paper. Homemade granola is quite sticky when baked.
- Cool completely. The cooling process is essential for that crunchy texture. Otherwise, it will be too soft.
Loose Granola vs Granola Clusters
Granola comes in different textures. Some people prefer it completely loose and separated. Others like big chunks and clumps. To achieve the texture you’re looking for, follow these guidelines:
- Loose granola: remove from the oven and as it cools, stir from time to time with a spatula.
- Granola Clusters: remove from the oven and let it cool, undisturbed. The granola will harden as it cools, sticking to each other in big clusters. When completely cool, break up into granola clusters.
How to store Homemade Granola:
Use an air-tight container to keep granola crunchy and fresh. Also, choose an option that’s easy to store.
Some good options: glass mason jars, Oxo all-purpose storage containers, or cereal storage containers.
And store in the pantry, at room temperature, next to the cereal and breakfast items. That will make it easier for people to access.
Note: Make sure the granola is completely cool before storing. Otherwise, the granola will stick to your storage container. The residual heat can also steam and cause unwanted mold and spoilage.
How to eat:
There are several options to enjoy this homemade granola!
- Cereal. Simply pour in a bowl and add milk of choice.
- Yogurt bowl. In a bowl, add natural yogurt with a drizzle of honey (or maple syrup). Sprinkle granola on top.
- Ice cream. Makes a great topping sprinkled on top of ice cream bowls with fruit.
- Trail mix. Transfer to a small bag and eat on-the-go, as you walk your favorite trails.
- Movie night snack. Pour into a bowl and munch as a movie night snack.
FAQ:
Where can I find buckwheat?
Buckwheat can be found at most local grocery stores, in the grain or cereal aisle. If your local grocery store doesn’t carry buckwheat, look for it at Whole Foods and specialty health food stores. Or try the bulk sections of stores like the Bulk Barn, Winco, and Wegmans.
More chocolate recipes:
- Dark Chocolate Mousse + Cashew Cream
- Chocolate Espresso Almond Cake
- Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookie
Homemade Chocolate Buckwheat Granola
Equipment
- 13" x 9" rimmed sheet pan
- Silpat silicone liner OR parchment paper
Ingredients
Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats (not the instant kind)
- 1 cup buckwheat
- 1 cup sweetened, shredded coconut
- 3/4 cup pecans , roughly chopped (sub with almonds or walnuts, if you prefer)
- 1/4 cup chia seeds
- 1/4 cup pumpkin or sunflower seeds
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients
- 1/2 cup coconut oil (melted)
- 1/2 cup maple syrup or honey
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1 tsp vanilla
Add-Ins
- 1 cup dried cranberries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325F/160C. Line a 13" x 9" sheet pan with a silpat silicone liner or parchment paper.
- In a medium bow, add melted coconut oil, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and vanilla. Whisk until well combined.
- Place dry ingredients into large bowl (oats, buckwheat, coconut, nuts, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds or sesame seeds, cinnamon, salt).
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients. Mix until well combined.
- Spread onto baking sheet lined with silpat/parchment paper. Bake at 325F/160C for 25-30 minutes, until it smells nutty. The color will not change much.
- Remove from oven and cool completely. For looser granola, stir from time to time until completely cool to create a loose texture. For bigger clumps, leave as is.
- When completely cool, mix in dried cranberries and/or cherries. Transfer to an airtight storage container.
- Enjoy with plant-based milk (like cereal) or yogurt.
This is a great recipe, my family love this granola. Did you ever figure out the nutritional information for it or will you be adding that soon? Thank you
I just added the nutritional info, thank you! So glad to hear you enjoyed it 🙂
Do you use green buckwheat?
No I don’t use green buckwheat. Good luck!
I’m not sure about the differences between buckwheat but my buckwheat looks brown. The label doesn’t specify the kind or color. I think it would be similar enough?
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Yum! Such a good idea to add the cranberries. Looks amazing. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy making and eating the granola!
Thank you! I will 🙂