Why choose between healthy and decadent when you can have both?
Granola leads a double life. It’s sold as a health food, because it’s full of all kinds of wholesome ingredients we’re supposed to eat more of. It’s made mostly from whole oats, which have loads of fiber, and it usually has nuts, which are chock-full of those healthy omega-3 fatty acids that are so good for your heart.
But on the other hand, it’s also an incredibly indulgent treat. Because all those healthy ingredients are topped with sweet syrup and lots of delicious add-ins,,, dried fruit and coconut and even chocolate. So it’s that incredibly rare food that you can feel virtuous eating and also really enjoy.
The only catch is, it’s really pricey to buy in the store. I mean, we’re talking like five bucks a box. So unfortunately, most of us can’t afford to enjoy this healthy-yet-indulgent treat all that often.
Unless, of course, you make it yourself.
Making granola from scratch is easier than you think. All you have to do is make a basic sugar-and- syrup, mix it with some oil, pour that over your oats, and bake it. And the best part is, when you make your own, you can add in anything you like.
So, for instance, suppose you want a cereal with the indulgent flavor of chocolate-dipped strawberries. You just make your basic granola, and then while it’s still warm, you stir in some mini chocolate chips and white chocolate chips and stir it all together, so them melt all over the granola. And then when it’s cool, you add dried strawberries. Mmmmmmmmm.
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Granola…the most decadent thing you’ll ever feel good about.
Chocolate Covered Strawberry Granola
(printable recipe at bottom of post)
INGREDIENTS
½ cup coconut oil
½ cup maple syrup
¼ cup brown sugar
3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
2 cups oats
1 cup sliced almonds
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup of freeze dried strawberries
3 Tablespoons mini chocolate chips
1/3 cup white chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a pot, heat sugar, oil and syrup until sugar dissolves and mixture starts to bubble. Turn off stove and remove from heat.
2. In a separate bowl add oats, almonds, cocoa powder and salt. Add sugar and oil mixture and vanilla.
3. Stir to coat and pour onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 275°F for 40-45 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes.
4. Set tray on the counter and sprinkle with milk chocolate chips and stir to melt into the granola. Sprinkle with white chocolate chips let sit and melt for 3-4 minutes and gently stir. Allow to cool and add strawberries.
Note: You can let the granola cool completely before adding chocolate if you don’t want it melted throughout.
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CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRY GRANOLA
Ingredients
- ½ cup coconut oil
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 3 Tablespoons cocoa powder
- 2 cups oats
- 1 cup sliced almonds
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup of freeze dried strawberries
- 3 Tablespoons mini chocolate chips
- 1/3 cup white chocolate chips
Instructions
- In a pot, heat sugar, oil and syrup until sugar dissolves and mixture starts to bubble. Turn off stove and remove from heat.
- In a separate bowl add oats, almonds, cocoa powder and salt. Add sugar and oil mixture and vanilla.
- Stir to coat and pour onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 275°F for 40-45 minutes, stirring every 10-15 minutes.
- Set tray on the counter and sprinkle with milk chocolate chips and stir to melt into the granola. Sprinkle with white chocolate chips let sit and melt for 3-4 minutes and gently stir. Allow to cool and add strawberries.
- Note: You can let the granola cool completely before adding chocolate if you don’t want it melted throughout.
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Nutrition Information:
Nutrition Disclaimer
Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Cheri says
How much water and sugar??
Corey says
I am so sorry the sugar ingredient got cut off! It has been added back in. 1/4 cup 🙂 And there is no water needed for the recipe 🙂 Thanks Cheri!
Rachel says
I just found your site & loving thevrecipes already, on this one in step 1 do you add the coconut oil in with the sugar & syrup? In step 2 it says to add sugar & oil mixture except you haven’t added the oil, just making sure I do it right. Thanks going to print this recipe & bookmark your site.
Corey says
Yes, sorry Rachel. You add in the oil with the sugar. I will clarify that in the instructions.