Chocolate Walnut Granola

This recipe is entirely too tasty to relegate it just for breakfast. In fact, today I ate it for my dessert and I was humming the entire time! However, just because it has the word chocolate in it, does NOT mean it is an unhealthy recipe.  A cup of cocoa has almost three times the antioxidants of a cup of green tea, another drink touted for its health benefits. Dark chocolate and unprocessed cocoa powder can be a positive addition to a healthy diet if chosen and used wisely.

I have been baking several kinds of gourmet granola today for a missions fund-raiser tomorrow evening. I did not take photos for each recipe, however, I did photograph my mid-afternoon dessert!

This was my granola mixture when I took it out of the oven, before I added the miniature chocolate chips. I could hardly wait for it to cool before I tasted it! I layered it with Greek vanilla yogurt, topped with a dash of cinnamon and a few mini chips!

Chocolate Walnut Granola

3 cups rolled old-fashioned oats
1/3 cup coconut flakes
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/3 c. ground flax seed
1/4 c. unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 c. agave
3 Tbsp. honey
2 tsp. vanilla
1/4 tsp. salt.
1/2 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 275 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the oats, coconut, walnuts, flax seed, cocoa powder and cinnamon. In a small saucepan, combine the oil, syrup, honey,  vanilla, and salt. Stir over low heat just heated through. Add syrup mixture to the oat mixture and stir until thoroughly combined. Spread onto cookie sheet and bake for 40 – 45 minutes. (stirring several times) Remove from oven and let cool completely before breaking into chunks. Stir in chocolate chips to the cooled granola and store in an air-tight container.

The crunch factor coupled with just the right amount of sweetness of this granola makes it a sure winner! This is the first time I have made this recipe, but it will not be the last. Next time I will double the recipe!