Chocolate Lover’s Granola is a healthy and guilt free way to indulge in some early morning chocolate. It is naturally sweetened with a small amount maple syrup and is high in fiber and protein from almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds and chia seeds. The raw cacao powder, raw cacao nibs and goji berries pack this granola full of antioxidants and it is naturally vegan, dairy free and gluten free. Chocolate Lover’s Granola tastes delicious in a bowl with nut milk or yogurt and it is fun to sprinkle over a green smoothie or fruit salad.

Oats

Oats are an extremely heart healthy grain. They are an excellent source of fiber which helps remove cholesterol from the body so it doesn’t end up in the blood. Oats actually contain a special fiber that studies have shown can further lower cholesterol levels. Oats contain unique antioxidant compounds that help prevent free radicals from damaging LDL cholesterol which reduces cardio vascular disease. Oats are high selenium which decreases asthma symptoms and is involved in DNA repair. High quantities of manganese that support healthy bones and connective tissue can also be found in oats.

Oats are naturally gluten free but they are often processed in the same factories that produce various flours. This can cause cross contamination, therefore, if you have celiac disease or follow a gluten free diet it is important to use certified gluten free oats in your Chocolate Lover’s Granola. Certified gluten free oats can be found in some grocery stores and most health food stores.

Chocolate Lover’s Granola

(vegan, gluten free)

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 5 minutes and 30-45 minutes in the oven

Inactive time: 20 minutes

Serving size: 7 cups

Ingredients:

• 3 Tbsp maple syrup
• 2 Tbsp coconut oil
• 2 Tbsp nut butter
• 4 Tbsp raw cacao powder
• 1 Tbsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 3 cups rolled oats (gluten free if required)
• 1 cup chopped raw almonds
• ½ cup chopped raw walnuts
• ½ cup raw unsalted sunflower seeds
• 2 Tbsp unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/3 cup dried goji berries
• 2 Tbsp chia seeds
• 1/2 cup raw cacao nibs

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 250F.
2. Mix the maple syrup, coconut oil and nut butter in a sauce pan over medium heat. Add cacao powder and cinnamon then bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes or until the sauce becomes tick enough that you can see the bottom of the pot while you stir. Once it has reached desired thickness, add the vanilla and set aside.
3. In a very large bowl mix the oats, almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds and coconut.
4. When the chocolate mixture is done cooking, pour it over the dry mixture while it is still warm. Mix well until everything is evenly coated.
5. Spread the Chocolate Lover’s Granola onto one or two baking sheets lined with parchment paper. Bake for 30-45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes. If you are using two baking sheets rotate the rack it is sitting on each time you stir.
6. When the Chocolate Lover’s Granola is cooked, remove from the oven and let it cool for 20 minutes so it stiffens. Add the goji berries, chia seeds and cacao nibs and store in an air tight container in the fridge for up to a month.

Looking for more breakfast inspiration?

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day giving you the energy you need to get going in the morning.

For less than the price of your morning latte, you can buy The Holistic in the City 21 Day Smoothie Guide!

Smoothies can be made in less than 5 minutes and taken on the go making them super easy to fit into your busy morning routine.

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You can really play around with the Chocolate Lover’s Granola ingredients in this recipe by adding your favorite nuts, seeds and dried fruit. I would love to hear what delicious creations you came up with comments section!