These Homemade Dark Chocolate Granola Clusters Are Easy + Healthy
Inside: Get a recipe for easy Dark Chocolate Granola that bakes up into big clusters, so it’s great for snacking and packing in lunch boxes too. Perfect for chocolate lovers!
Homemade granola is a fixture around here, ever since my husband discovered he much preferred a bowl of it to any boxed cereal I brought home.
I’m not a big breakfast eater, but I most certainly AM a world-class snacker.
A granola that makes both a good breakfast and a delicious snack? Challenge accepted!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It bakes up into big granola cluster, not small crumbles like you get with most granola recipes. Tossing the granola with two egg whites before baking produces those big clusters.
- It has a dark chocolate flavor thanks to dark chocolate cocoa powder and chocolate chips that are baked right in.
- It has less sugar than a lot of store-bought granola (but if it’s not sweet enough for your tastes, add another tablespoon or two of maple syrup or brown sugar).
- It’s full of healthy ingredients like oats and nuts, so it’s got feel-full fiber and protein.
Ingredient List for Dark Chocolate Granola
- Old-fashioned rolled oats: You can also use quick oats
- Sliced almonds: If you don’t have sliced almonds, chop whole almonds in a food processor or by hand
- Unsweetened shredded coconut: You can use coconut flakes as well
- Sunflower seeds: Feel free to use pumpkin seeds if that’s what you prefer
- Ground flaxseed meal
- Chocolate chips: Use semi-sweet or dark chocolate chunks
- Butter (Feel free to swap in melted coconut oil)
- Unsweetened cocoa powder, preferably a dark chocolate cocoa powder like Hershey’s Special Dark
- Pure maple syrup
- Packed brown sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Almond extract (optional)
- Salt: Use table salt, kosher salt, or sea salt
- Egg whites
Did you know? Almonds are the tree nut highest in protein, fiber, calcium, vitamin E, riboflavin, and niacin.
How to Make Dark Chocolate Granola
In a large mixing bowl, mix your dry ingredients: oats, almonds, coconut, sunflower seeds, flaxseed meal, and chocolate chips.
In a saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add the cocoa, maple syrup, brown sugar, extracts, and salt. Stir until well blended.
Pour the chocolate mixture over the dry ingredients and stir well. t may seem too dry at first, but continue to stir until the mixture is completely coated.
Whisk egg whites (I use the saucepan to get all the remaining chocolate goodness!) and pour over oat mixture. Stir until completely coated and blended.
Spread granola in a single layer onto a parchment-lined large baking sheet and bake in a preheated oven for 45 minutes.
Take it out and let the granola cool, then break into pieces and store in airtight container.
FAQ About Dark Chocolate Granola
Can I use coconut sugar instead?
Yes, it has a similar flavor as brown sugar. Wondering whether it’s healthier? See The Truth about Coconut Sugar
I don’t have any chips, but I have a bar of dark chocolate. Can I use that instead?
Yes. Feel free to finely chop a dark chocolate bar and use that in place of the chocolate chips.
Can I use cacao nibs instead of chocolate chips?
Yes. Keep in mind that while cacao nibs are very intensely chocolatey, they are not sweet at all.
Dark Chocolate Granola Clusters
These Dark Chocolate Granola Clusters have just the right amount of sweetness to satisfy, with a deep chocolate flavor thanks to dark chocolate cocoa powder and chips that are baked right in.
Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
- 1/4 cup ground flaxseed meal
- 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 4 tablespoons butter, 1/2 stick
- 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract, optional
- 1 pinch salt
- 2 egg whites
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix oats, almonds, coconut, sunflower seeds, flaxseed meal, and chocolate chips in a large bowl.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over low heat. Add cocoa, maple syrup, brown sugar, extracts, and salt. Stir until well blended.
- Pour chocolate over oat mixture and stir well. It may seem too dry at first, but continue to stir until the mixture is completely coated.
- Whisk egg whites (I use the saucepan to get all the remaining chocolate goodness!) and pour over oat mixture. Stir until completely coated and blended.
- Spread granola onto parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes.
- Remove granola and allow it to sit until cool, then break into pieces and store in airtight container.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1/2 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 328Total Fat: 19gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 260mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 6gSugar: 13gProtein: 8g
More Granola Recipes
Use-What-You-Have Pantry Granola
Soft + Chewy Chocolate Granola Bars
Sounds good. Do you think I could use honey instead of maple syrup?
Helena–yes, I’m sure you could!
Just curious what “grade” maple syrup you used in this recipe and in general. I bought some @ Costco for the first time and it seems super running…not syrupy at all. Suggestions/thoughts on grades/brands of pure maple syrup appreciated. 🙂
Hi Tamara–I typically buy my pure maple syrup at ALDI, because they have a great price on it. Sometimes I pick some up at the farmer’s market and the local stuff definitely has a different taste and texture. I don’t know too much about grades. But we go through enough of it that I do focus mostly on price (and making sure it’s pure/real).
that should be “runny” not “running”.
it’s funny, I just posted chocolate almond granola today too! But I think yours is a bit more chocolatey than mine! Looks delicious!
Hi Heather–how funny! Your recipe looks great: http://www.nuttynutritionandfitness.com/chocolate-almond-granola/
This looks so tasty!! I’ve never made granola and have a love/hate relationship with granola we buy at the store. Will definitely be trying this!
I happened to have all of the ingredients and made this today! My kids and I thinks it’s great! I am glad you mentioned that it is not too sweet because I usually cut sugar from recipies. The almond extract makes this recipe smell amazing!
I’m a huge breakfast eater, but never really a big bowl of granola. That said, I love it over Greek yogurt and like you, as an out of hand afternoon snack. This version looks amazing, Sally!!
I’m curious if the brown sugar could be replaced with additional syrup or left out. We typically not use honey and pure maple for sweetening. Recipe looks amazing
Erin–you should give it a try! If you do, let me know how it worked out. 🙂
I used maple syrup only and it turned out great!
Great to know–thanks Erin!
I’m picky about granola, and I really enjoyed this version! It was a nice way to switch up from my usual granola recipe. I packed it in my girls’ lunches today with vanilla yogurt and strawberries. Yum!
I’m so glad you liked it!
these granola clusters look amazing! just wondering how long it should last for? and should i store it in the fridge or is just in the cupboard okay?
thanks!! really looking forward to trying out this recipe 🙂
Keep them in an airtight container in the cupboard and eat within 2-3 weeks. Hope that helps!