Crunchy Chocolate Granola
This granola is absolutely delicious! Because I am a constant snacker, I always try to have something lying around the house for moments of weakness. Before I started to eat healthy, I used to buy highly processed granola bars from the store but they always left me with stomachaches from the excess sugars added. Instead of settling and giving into unhealthy granola, I decided to make a batch of my own with only a few delicious ingredients; ones that make your body feel energized! This granola does just that as its full of antioxidants from the cacao, magnesium from the pecans to help fight inflammation, and protein from the coconut flakes, maintaining healthy muscles.
This granola has the perfect amount of sweetness from the melted maple syrup blending with the cacao, giving it a rich chocolate-y taste. The toasted buckwheat and crispy coconut flakes add such a lovely crunch to the soft pecans. The whole granola is then topped off with the heavenly chocolate sauce, coating each morsel in warm melted chocolate!
The great thing about making granola from scratch is making it in bulk and storing it for weeks in an airtight container, always having it on hand. However, I warn you that this granola is so good that when your friends are over, it will be gone in about 3 days. I just made my second batch this week for this reason! It also makes for a great topping to any sweet dish. I love having it atop coconut yogurt, creamy smoothie bowls, by the handful, and simply enjoyed with almond milk as a healthy cereal in the mornings. Whichever way you take this granola, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!
Serves: Many
Prep Time: 10 minutes | Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients for the Granola:
- 1 cup pecans
- ½ cup hazelnuts
- 1 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1 ½ cups rolled oats
- 1 ½ cups raw buckwheat
- 3 teaspoons cinnamon
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 5 tablespoons coconut oil
- 5 tablespoons cacao powder
- pinch of sea salt
Instructions:
Start by preheating the oven to 350F. In a large bowl mix the oats, buckwheat, chopped nuts and coconut flakes. Now in a small saucepan simply heat the coconut oil and maple syrup on low until dissolved. Then add the salt, cacao powder, vanilla, and cinnamon to the saucepan and stir until blended. Pour the chocolate sauce onto the oat mixture and mix until the chocolate has coated each ingredient. Now sample a taste and see how delicious this sauce is!
Line a baking pan with parchment paper and evenly pour the chocolate granola on top. Firmly press with your fingers to keep the batch compact. Bake for 20-25 minutes while turning the granola every 5 minutes. Be careful to make sure the edges are crisp but not burnt. Then remove from the oven and let cool for 10 minutes. Enjoy!