Easy Dark Chocolate Granola

Difficulty Easy

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.

Dark Chocolate Granola with Cranberries

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:

  1. Whisk chocolate syrup. In a medium bowl, whisk together coconut oil, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and vanilla. 
  2. Mix. Add dry ingredients into a large bowl. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients. Using a spatula, mix well.
  3. Bake. Spread onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake until nutty and golden brown.
  4. 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.

Dark Chocolate Buckwheat Granola

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:

sheet pan with vegan dark chocolate buckwheat granola

Homemade Chocolate Buckwheat Granola

The Subversive Table | Lis Lam
Crunchy, nutty, easy, and healthy — Chocolate Buckwheat Granola is the plant-based breakfast you'll be reaching for every morning!
5 from 2 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Cooling Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Course Breakfast, Snack
Cuisine American
Servings 12 servings
Calories 357 kcal

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.

Notes

*Oats are naturally gluten free but are often cross-contaminated with trace amounts of gluten.  Look for gluten-free oats if you want a “pure” gluten-free granola.
**Granola can be stored in an air tight container at room temperature for 2-3 weeks.

Nutrition

Serving: 0gCalories: 357kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 6gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.01gSodium: 121mgPotassium: 281mgFiber: 7gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 6IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 60mgIron: 2mg
Keyword Dark Chocolate Buckwheat Granola
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9 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    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

  2. Do you use green buckwheat?

  3. Pingback: Basic Dutch Pancake - The Subversive Table

  4. Yum! Such a good idea to add the cranberries. Looks amazing. Thanks for sharing!

5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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