For years, my husband ate a bowl of sugar cereal for a late night snack. There were so many things wrong with that picture from a health standpoint, but I totally understand the desire for some comfort food at the end of a long day. He’s moved away from the late night snacking and I don’t bring sugar cereal into the house. This chocolate granola recipe is a small peace offering to my husband, who fortunately is on board with our real food lifestyle.
We all love chocolate in my family, so this granola doesn’t last long. It’s yummy enough for dessert and healthy enough for breakfast. You can also mix it into a bowl of Greek yogurt for a healthy snack. If your children (or spouse) ask for sugar cereal, give them this whole grain, nutritious chocolate granola instead. It should keep them happy.
Ingredients
- 2 cups oats
- 2 cups brown rice crisp cereal
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 3/4 cup almonds (or other nuts/seeds) chopped finely
- 1/2 cup melted coconut oil
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 275 degrees.
- In a large bowl, mix together the oats, rice cereal, cocoa powder, coconut, and chopped nuts.
- In a small bowl, stir together the coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract. Pour the liquid mixture over the dry ingredients and stir to cover evenly.
- Transfer the mixture to a 9x13 inch baking dish (or similar). Bake for about an hour. It should bind together easily and feel solid to the touch.
- Remove the granola from the oven and let it cool completely before breaking apart. Store in an airtight container.
Chocolate Granola Recipe Price Breakdown
This recipe costs a total of $5.87 and it yields 7 cups. This comes out to $.65 per 3/4 cup serving. This chocolate granola recipe makes a delicious, healthy breakfast or snack. Your family won’t miss sugar cereal when you have this in the house.
Here are some other granola recipes you may enjoy:
Maple Granola
Peanut Butter Granola
Pumpkin Granola
Beth says
Can you use honey instead of the maple syrup?
Annemarie says
Yes, Beth, you can substitute honey for the maple syrup 1:1. Let me know how you like it!
Kevin says
This sounds delicious, but I’m not a fan of coconut–any suggestions on a substitute? Or would it be okay to leave it out altogether?
Annemarie says
Kevin, you could leave it out altogether or substitute a cup of any of the other bulky ingredients (nuts, oats, brown rice cereal). Let me know if you try it.
silverbells2012 says
Sounds really good! Wish I had some at home right now….
Annemarie says
Thank you! I hope you have a chance to try it.
tasteofdivine says
Hi Annemarie! This granola looks amazing! I am always on the hunt for new granola recipes to try that don’t use sugar as a sweetener. I’ll try this one next 🙂
Annemarie says
Thanks so much! I hope you like it.
kle105 says
That looks really good and perfect for a snack or with yogurt! Yum!
Annemarie says
Thanks, Kerry. It works for breakfast, snack, or dessert. The perfect food! 🙂