Our healthy chocolate granola recipe with no added sugar. Dried fruits, nuts and seeds are wrapped in melted clusters of dark chocolate for an energetic boost to the day.
I'm not even exaggerating when I say that this is part of the main reasons why I love coming home... One of the best breakfasts ever imo!
Lucie
I finished our stock this morning and was desperate to make a batch right after - was way easier/quicker than I thought it'd be, won't be the last time I make this!
Healthy Chocolate Granola Recipe Without Added Sugar
This started out as a basis of a recipe I saw in a French magazine years ago. However, it was unnecessarily overloaded with sugar. If you follow this blog, you'll know that too much sugar can totally kill flavour if too much of it.
Extra sugar is unnecessary and unhealthy too. For breakfast, keep sugar to a minimum. Heree, even better, there's NO ADDED SUGAR in this chocolate granola recipe.
When it comes to granola - and baking from scratch - making recipes homemade means you can control the sugar content. This recipe instead relies purely on the natural sugars via healthy, dried fruits and maple syrup. Adding dried fruits after baking means the juicy fruit retains all of its healthy nutrients.
Gluten Free Homemade Granola
If you follow a strict diet or you are Celiac, please do ensure that your oats are specifically labelled as being gluten free.
Is Coconut Oil Good or Bad in Granola?
Coconut oil is basically a saturated fat oil which is not good for your health if used regularly. It's so saturated in fat, that's why it hardens. So please use with moderation - that's the important advice given by professional nutritionists in France. Just imagine that on your arteries over time!
If you do use coconut oil, I've seen people say to ensure you check the label when buying that it's both cold-pressed and unrefined. Basically it's the same - it's a saturated fat so just keep it in moderation and do not use it on a regular basis.
That's why I sometimes use it in this recipe but alternate with healthier sunflower or other neutral oil such as rapeseed oil (aka canola).
When is Granola NOT Vegan?
Making this for somebody following a strictly vegan diet and worried about granola being 100% vegan?
Granola is not vegan when honey or milk chocolate is used - it's as simple as that. Also ensure that there are no milk additives in your cocoa powder.
Chocolate Coconut Granola for Vegans
If you are following a strict vegan diet, use vegan dark chocolate for the recipe. Good quality chocolate chips are good, as are dark chocolate chips. If you're not following a vegan diet, however, you may prefer to use milk chocolate which will work well.
Best Tips for Baking Chocolate Granola
How do you bake a good quality chocolate granola?
The the best tip I have for you is adding the chocolate after baking. Bake it together in the oven and the chocolate will be burnt - who wants that? Burnt chocolate is incredibly bitter and what a waste of your best chocolate! Instead, melt it gently and give it the respect it deserves.
Either wait until your granola cools down completely and add chocolate chips. Alternatively, my best method, as soon as it comes out of the oven, scatter over your chocolate chips (drops or grated dark chocolate) to melt into the hot cereal.
As soon as the chocolate melts, stir the granola around again to mix it well together. Leave to cool for 15 minutes in the fridge and voilà ! Fill a cookie jar with your luxury chocolate granola!
Healthy Recipe Variations
To vary the flavours, enjoy with a mixture of almonds like in this plain Maple Granola (without the chocolate). For the holidays, add a hint of warm spices - such as cinnamon, gingerbread spice or pumpkin spice for a spiced festive granola.
Benefits of Healthy Nuts & Seeds in Granola
Brazil nuts are particularly good for selenium (great for memory). Just 2 brazil nuts a day will have you covered - just don't forget to buy them! (groan - like not being able to open strength pills!) Again, brazil nuts are good as long as they are consumed with moderation.
Sesame seeds (poppy seeds or flaxseeds) are good natural sources of calcium. All this makes for a healthy thyroid too - and, if you're like me without a thyroid, it's a great way to keep a daily healthy supply of essential nuts and seeds.
Serve with the freshest of berries, like raspberries or blueberries.
Chocolate Granola Recipe
Ingredients
- 300 g (10.5oz/3 cups) jumbo oats (if on a strict GF diet, ensure they're labelled gluten free)
- 100 g (3.5oz/1 cup) brazil nuts roughly chopped (or mix with walnuts)
- 50 g (2oz/½ cup) sunflower seeds
- 25 g (2 tbsp) sesame seeds (or flax seeds)
- 50 g (2oz) dessicated coconut
- pinch salt (fleur de sel, Celtic sea salt or Maldon flakes)
- 3 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder (I use Van Houten)
- 75 g (5 tbsp) sunflower oil or other neutral oil like grapeseed/canola
- 75 g (5 tbsp) maple syrup
To add after baking:
- 100 g (3.5oz/¾ cup) dried plump cranberries (or golden raisins)
- 125 g (4.5oz) dark chocolate chips, drops, or grated chocolate (Vegan if necessary)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 180°C (160°C fan)/350°F (Gas 4).
- In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients except the chocolate and dried fruits. Mix well until completely coated in the oil and maple syrup.
- Cover a baking tray with baking paper (or a silicone mat). Spread out the oat mixture evenly. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes, turn over the mixture and return to the oven for a further 15-20 minutes.
- As soon as out of the oven, immediately sprinkle over the chocolate chips/drops/grated chocolate and the dried fruits over the hot granola (see note*). Turn over the granola to mix in the melted chocolate and dried fruits. Leave to cool- either on the counter at room temperature or for at least 15 minutes in the fridge for chocolate to set.Transfer to a sealed container when cool.
Video
Notes
Otherwise, if it doesn't need to be vegan, enjoy with yoghurt, milk or fromage blanc
Lucie
I'm not even exaggerating when I say that this is part of the main reasons why I love coming home... One of the best breakfasts ever imo!
I finished our stock this morning and was desperate to make a batch right after - was way easier/quicker than I thought it'd be, won't be the last time I make this! 😀
Jill Colonna
You're a sweetiepie Lucie. I LOVED that you made this straight after you finished the jar. Feel that this post was so worth it! Thanks for being such a whiz in the kitchen. Love that you're home!
Choclette
I am so up for chocolate coconut granola for breakfast. I haven't made any chocolate granola for ages and ages and now I've seen yours, looking so generous and delicious, I'm really craving it. Making your own is soooooo much better I find than shop bought.
Jill Colonna
I can't agree more with you, Choclette. Even Lucie's coveted Shreddies she gets from her sister in the UK used to be so special. Now it's still not touched and she has this granola. I have to admit, it's decadent but there's no sugar in it and with good chocolate, it's in a class of its own! Here's to our homemade stuff.
Sisley White
I absolutely love this. It tastes so good and becomes more a delicious treat too.
Jill Colonna
I'm thrilled you have tried it, Sisley. I agree. Once you start with this, though, there's no turning back to the supermarket stuff!
Mardi (eat. live. travel. write.)
I love homemade granola (a little too much actually - I tend to snack on it too much when I make it!). My favourite kind is also chocolate and coconut - will have to try your recipe 🙂
Jill Colonna
Thanks, Mardi - even Lucie likes this over her favourite bought cereals so at least I'm on to something!
Christina Conte
This is sort of freaky: my favorite granola from Trader Joe’s (a store here in the US) is their cranberry coconut! Love the addition of cocoa and chocolate! Must try! Thanks, Jill!
Jill Colonna
Another funny one for us, indeed. I forgot to mention that Lucie only loves chocolate cereals and so I bet her I could win her around to eating homemade only without the ton of unnecessary sugar. I won! 🙂
Christina Conte
Have to come back to say that I made this tasty granola yesterday and absolutely love it, even without brazil nuts. I made it without nuts as I want to send it to my nut-allergic daughter, but I have 2 lbs of brazils coming tomorrow! Yippee!
Jill Colonna
The best compliment ever. Thanks so much, Christina. Sending hugs to her too - and enjoy with the Brazils later!