Whether you enjoy it for a tasty breakfast or grab a handful for a mid-afternoon snack, this healthy chocolate granola recipe is great to have on hand in your pantry. The ultimate crunchy homemade granola that’s loaded with dark chocolate chips and is so quick and easy to make! {Vegan, dairy-free & gluten-free}
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Healthy Chocolate Granola
Nothing beats the taste of fresh homemade crunchy granola and chocolate! That’s why you’re in for a real treat with this healthy chocolate granola recipe!
Made with cocoa, almond butter, maple syrup and chocolate chips, this double chocolate granola is a delicious tasting, healthier alternative to store-bought granola that’s minimally processed and lower in sodium. Plus, with its rich chocolatey flavors, it almost feels like you’re eating a brownie in granola form. Chocolate lovers will adore this healthy granola recipe!
We’re huge fans of homemade granola because it’s so convenient to have on hand. Grab some for a quick breakfast on a busy morning, enjoy it as a snack on some yogurt, or use it to top up your favorite desserts for a crunchy chocolatey bite that is sure to satisfy any chocolate craving.
There are so many ways to put this dark chocolate granola recipe to use, and it’s so easy to make!
If you’re looking for more healthy homemade granola recipes, be sure to try my Easy Granola Recipe {4 ways} and Pumpkin Flax Seed Granola too!
Why We Love This Homemade Chocolate Granola Recipe
- Quick and easy: Just mix all of the ingredients together in a bowl, spread it in an even layer on a baking sheet, and bake. It really doesn’t get much easier than this!
- Make ahead: Be sure to make a big batch of this homemade chocolate granola recipe. It has a pretty good shelf life, so you can make it once and enjoy it for weeks.
- Simple ingredients: You only need a few simple ingredients to make this recipe. Many of them are common pantry staples, so you probably have most of the ingredients on hand already!
- Kid-friendly: My kids gobble up this double chocolate granola! It makes a fun topping for Greek yogurt, apple nachos, or a banana split, all while getting the goodness of the oats, almond butter, and dark chocolate!
Ingredient Notes
- Oats: I find that rolled oats are typically best for homemade granola as they’re larger in size and have a nice chewy texture to them. Quick oats can be used in a pinch. Avoid steel-cut oats as they won’t work well for granola due to their tough texture.
- Seasonings: Cinnamon, salt and vanilla extract help to flavor this healthy dark chocolate granola.
- Cocoa powder: Use unsweetened cocoa powder for a rich chocolatey flavor. Raw cacao powder works well too, for a less processed option and more antioxidants.
- Coconut oil: Some form of fat is required when you make granola; otherwise, the oats will be too dry and won’t crisp up as much. Melted coconut oil is a great option for this homemade chocolate granola and adds a nice subtle flavor too.
- Maple syrup: I prefer to use pure maple syrup to sweeten this easy chocolate granola recipe for the perfect sweetness. You can use honey instead if you don’t require the recipe to be vegan.
- Almond butter: This adds a nice nutty flavor and also helps to make this granola recipe nice and crunchy. Sunflower seed butter is a great nut-free alternative, or natural peanut butter can be used instead of almond butter for a peanut butter granola recipe.
- Dark chocolate chips: Because there’s no such thing as too much chocolate! I like to use mini dark chocolate chips since you get little bits of chocolate in every bite, but you can use regular-sized chocolate chips as well.
Required Kitchen Equipment
No fancy equipment is required to make this granola recipe, so the prepping and clean up is a breeze!
Here’s what you’ll need:
How to Make Chocolate Granola – Step-by-Step
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the oats, cinnamon, salt, and cocoa powder. Stir to combine.
- Pour in the coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla and stir to combine.
- Add the almond butter last, and mix until incorporated. It’s okay if there are some clumps here and there, just try to get it mixed in evenly.
- Spread the granola evenly onto the lined baking sheets.
- Bake for 12 minutes. Toss the granola on the pan, ensuring that you move the bits on the edges to the inside of the pan, so they don’t get burnt. Bake for 11-15 more minutes, or until golden brown and crunchy.
- Allow the granola to cool completely before removing from the baking sheets. Toss in the dark chocolate chips and store in an air-tight container.
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
Recipe Tips:
- Spread the oat mixture evenly on the baking sheets so that it all cooks and crisps up evenly.
- Make sure that the granola stays closer to the middle of the baking sheet. If the little bits of granola creep too close to the edges, it’s more likely to burn. It can also help to rotate your pan halfway through baking.
- Don’t add in the chocolate chips when the granola is still warm; otherwise, they might melt. If you like ooey-gooey chocolate granola, this isn’t a terrible thing, but it may be messier to handle.
- After you take the granola out of the oven, allow it to fully cool before handling it. Don’t go tossing it around or breaking it up with a spatula (or eating it all by the handful) since that will prevent the crunchy granola clusters from forming.
How to Make Granola Crunchy
There are a few ways to ensure that your granola gets extra crunchy.
- When you mix the ingredients together, make sure that everything is really well combined and the oats are evenly coated.
- Spread the granola mixture in a single layer when baking so that it crisps up evenly, and toss it halfway through cooking.
- Let the granola cool fully on the baking sheets before storing.
How to Store Homemade Granola
You may be wondering how long can homemade granola last? Good question! It can be stored at room temperature in an airtight container or mason jar for up to a month.
Recipe FAQs
The chocolate granola recipe does not need to be refrigerated. Store it at room temperature out of direct sunlight to prevent the chocolate chips from melting.
Yes! Granola will keep well frozen for up to 3 months. Store it in freezer bags with as much air removed as possible. Thaw it out at room temperature before serving.
Not all granola is gluten-free, so it’s important that you check the labels if purchasing store-bought or the ingredient list if making homemade granola. This recipe for chocolate granola is naturally gluten-free. If you do have an intolerance to gluten, be sure to double-check that you use certified gluten-free oats, as they can be cross-contaminated with gluten when processed.
Not all granola is vegan, so double-check the label and ingredients. This recipe is a vegan option. We use maple syrup to sweeten the granola, and dark chocolate chips which don’t contain dairy.
This DIY dark chocolate granola is free from highly processed ingredients. It contains complex carbs and fiber to help keep you satisfied and provide energy for the day. Additionally, almond butter provides heart-healthy fats that can help keep cholesterol levels in check. The cocoa and dark chocolate chips are rich in antioxidants, and some research has found that dark chocolate may help lower blood pressure when consumed in small amounts (source).
Keep in mind that the higher the percentage of cocoa solids, the more heart-healthy flavonoids the chocolate contains, so aim for a higher percentage wherever possible to reap the most benefits.
A million times, yes! It’s often lower in salt and sugar and less processed overall. It’s definitely a more nutritious option since you can control exactly which ingredients you’re putting into the granola. Plus, it tastes so much more fresh! I love making my own granola as you can easily customize it to suit your tastes.
Optional Add-Ins
Make this granola your own by trying some of these additional ingredients:
- Shredded coconut flakes
- Sliced or chopped almonds
- Raisins
- Pumpkin seeds
- Chia seeds
- Sunflower seeds
- Cacao nibs
- Flax seeds
What to Eat with Homemade Granola
Serve this healthy chocolate granola recipe as part of a healthy breakfast with these delicious options:
- In yogurt (try it on some of this Homemade Fruit on the Bottom Yogurt)
- In a parfait
- With fresh fruit
- On a PB and banana wrap
- As an ice cream topping (try it on this Chocolate Nice Cream)
- Mixed with nuts and dried fruit as a trail mix
- With milk
- On a smoothie bowl
- Sprinkled on top of overnight oats
- Sprinkled on apple slices with peanut butter (or on these Apple Nachos)
- By the handful (try not to get too carried away)!
Recipe Variations
- To make nut-free: Use Wowbutter or Sunbutter instead of almond butter.
- Change the sweetener: Use honey instead of maple syrup. You can really use any liquid sweetener, but maple and honey taste the best.
- More protein: Try adding a sprinkle of protein powder into the granola mix before baking for protein granola.
More Similar Recipes
- Healthy Granola Bar Recipe
- Healthy Chocolate Avocado Pudding
- Healthy Rice Krispie Treats
- Heart Healthy Trail Mix
- Healthy Oatmeal Muffins
- Protein Overnight Oats
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Overnight Oats
- Oatmeal Breakfast Bars
- Peanut Butter Protein Bars
Did you make this recipe? Scroll down to leave a star rating and review!
Healthy Chocolate Granola Recipe {with Chocolate Chips}
Ingredients
- 3 cups rolled oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup coconut oil melted
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup almond butter
- 1/2 cup mini dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the oats, cinnamon, salt, and cocoa powder. Stir to combine.
- Pour in the coconut oil, maple syrup, and vanilla and stir to combine.
- Add the almond butter last, and mix until incorporated. It’s okay if there are some clumps here and there, just try to get the almond butter spread out as evenly as possible.
- Spread the granola evenly onto the lined baking sheets.
- Bake for 12 minutes. Toss the granola on the pan, ensuring that you move the bits on the edges to the inside of the pan, so they don’t get burnt. Bake for 11-15 more minutes, or until golden brown and crunchy.
- Allow the granola to cool completely before removing from the baking sheets. Toss in the dark chocolate chips and store in air-tight container.
Notes
- Spread the granola mixture evenly on the baking sheets so that it all cooks and crisps up evenly.
- Make sure that the granola stays closer to the middle of the baking sheet. If the little bits of granola creep too close to the edges, it’s more likely to burn.
- Don’t add in the chocolate chips when the granola is still warm, otherwise they might melt. If you like ooey-gooey chocolate granola, this isn’t a horrible thing, but it may be messier to handle.
- After you take the granola out of the oven, allow it to fully cool before handling it. Don’t go tossing it around or breaking it up with a spatula (or eating it all by the handful) since that will prevent the crunchy clusters from forming.
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted in January 2022 and was updated in September 2023 to include more helpful tips.
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