Dark Chocolate and Walnut Granola

Old Fashioned Dark Chocolate and Walnut Granola is a delicious honey-sweetened granola with bits of dark chocolate and walnuts for a perfect rich flavor combination.

Lately, I have been experimenting with different granolas. Typically, I make this no-sugar Classic Granola Recipe. To keep on hand for quick breakfasts of granola in milk or to pair with my homemade yogurt. It is my favorite granola recipe and one you should try if you love granola as much as we do.

This time around I was wanting a chocolate sort of granola. The kind that looks like a dessert rather than a breakfast item. However, sugar-filled this may seem to be at first glance.

I have opted to go with honey over brown sugar for sweetening. Along with dark chocolate for the rich deep flavor and antioxidants. As much as this dessert-style granola for my morning yogurt. It is one I feel good about serving even at breakfast time as a treat.

Why I Love This Recipe

Since realizing just how easy it is to make granola right at home. I have been able to control the sugar content and the quality of the ingredients in the granola. Before this, it was somewhat challenging to find granolas that didn’t have a ton of sugar in them.

Even the organic ones were packed with sugar and labeled themselves as the “healthier option”. Even making this Dark Chocolate and Walnut Granola. I feel much better about serving it for breakfast even with the chocolate in it. Since I know that it is sweetened with raw honey and good fat in coconut oil. I love that it is made with whole ingredients that I can feel good about.

What You Will Need to Make It

1 cup of raw honey

3 cups of old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup coconut oil

1 tsp of cinnamon

1/4 tsp sea salt

2 tsp vanilla

1 1/4 cup finely chopped walnuts

1 cup of dark chocolate chips or chopped up dark chocolate bar

Directions

Heat the oven to 300℉. In a large stock pot or Dutch oven, over low heat add the coconut oil and melt just to where it’s melted but not hot.

Pour in the oats, walnuts, cinnamon, and vanilla, then stir to coat all the oats in the oil. Pour the honey in and stir until it’s also coating all the oats evenly.

Remove from heat and spread evenly over a nonstick or lined cookie sheet. Back for 20 minutes, then take it out of the oven and stir it up. Then pop it back in the oven for another 20 minutes. The oats should be evenly browned. Remove from oven. While they cool down.

Do a rough chop on the chocolate. I like to add them to the granola when it’s just about room temp but not all the way. The chocolate melts a tad and coats the granola causing it to be a little more chocolatey.

Be careful not to add it too soon or you’ll have a mess. Mix it all in. Let cool completely and store in an airtight container. I recommend a half-gallon mason jar.

FAQ

Why coconut oil?

Coconut oil is a very healthy good fat to add to this Classic Granola Recipe. I also love that it gives a slight coconut base flavor to the overall granola. You can sub it out for olive oil or avocado oil as well. This will create a slightly different taste but still good granola.

What type of oats are best?

I use the standard old-fashioned oats when making any of my granola recipes. I like that they are sturdier and can stand up to anything I add to my granola.

What other sweetener would work for this recipe?

Maple syrup would be a good alternative to raw honey. If doing so, I would use real maple syrup. Please note, that the granola will of course have a bit of a taste difference but still delicious granola nonetheless.

Is granola healthy?

Of course, this all just depends on what is in the granola you are consuming. We have all seen those dessert-style granolas loaded with sugar in the grocery store. That is one of the benefits of making your granola. You can decide the quality of ingredients and control the amount of sugar that goes into your recipe.

This Dark Chocolate and Walnut Granola generally has a relatively lower sugar content when compared to other store-bought granolas. As such consuming good quality granola with low sugar content can have many suggested health benefits. This granola uses honey in place of sugar and dark chocolate which has less sugar than regular milk chocolate.

Granola has soluble fiber that is known for its ability to help lower HDL cholesterol. It can boost energy without overloading your body with sugars. It is also a good source of plant-based protein among other health benefits.

Ways to Enjoy

• Enjoy this Classic Granola Recipe poured over homemade yogurt or your favorite store-bought kind.
• Pour milk into a bowl and eat Dark Chocolate and Walnut Granola as cereal.
• Use as a topping on your ice cream, parfait, or as a snack in itself.
• Use it to top sliced apples with nut butter and honey drizzled over.
• This Dark Chocolate and Walnut Granola is particularly good sprinkled over sliced bananas. To make it even more “dessert” worthy, top the banana and granola with whipped cream.

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If you try this recipe and love it, I would appreciate you coming back to give it 5 stars!

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