Chef John's Chocolate Granola

4.9
(27)

Don't be deceived by its indulgent, chocolaty flavor — this granola contains less sugar than most. Introducing cocoa into the mix not only makes it delicious, but it also makes it better for you! Possibly... The point is this really tastes great, with a pronounced chocolate flavor, and would make a wonderful treat for chocolate lovers and hippies alike.

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Prep Time:
10 mins
Cook Time:
1 hr
Total Time:
1 hr 10 mins
Servings:
14
Yield:
3 1/2 cups
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 14 servings

  • cup packed brown sugar

  • ¼ cup maple syrup

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil

  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper (Optional)

  • 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder

  • 2 cups rolled oats

  • ¾ cup chopped almonds

Directions

  1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).

  2. Combine brown sugar, maple syrup, vegetable oil, vanilla extract, salt, cayenne pepper, and cocoa powder in a bowl. Whisk thoroughly. Add oats and almonds. Toss and smear the mixture together using a spatula until well coated. Spread mixture evenly over a silicone-lined baking sheet.

  3. Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Toss granola with a fork, breaking up any clumps to get a finer texture. Continue baking until desired texture is reached, 30 to 60 minutes more. Sprinkle some granola onto a plate; if it clinks, it is ready. Turn off the oven and leave granola inside the oven to dry and cool to room temperature.

    close up view of Chocolate Granola in a jar
    Chef John

Chef's Notes

I used Guittard(R) Cocoa Rouge, a Dutch-process cocoa, which has a lower acidity than regular cocoa.

If you want a stickier granola, that will more easily clump together, you can up the brown sugar and maple syrup a bit, as I used the bare minimum in this recipe, but I think it's plenty sweet enough, especially if you're a fan of dark chocolate.

Accessorize this as you see fit. Coconut flakes are an obvious choice, as are other usual suspects like dried fruit, any and all nuts, and assorted seeds.

32 home cooks made it!

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

128 Calories
6g Fat
18g Carbs
3g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 14
Calories 128
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 6g 7%
Saturated Fat 1g 4%
Sodium 106mg 5%
Total Carbohydrate 18g 7%
Dietary Fiber 2g 8%
Total Sugars 9g
Protein 3g 6%
Calcium 28mg 2%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 116mg 2%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.