Dark Chocolate Granola + Valentine’s Twist

Dark Chocolate Granola + Valentine’s Twist is a breakfast recipe built around rolled oats, coarsely chopped almonds and sweetened or unsweetened shredded coconut. Plan on 32 Servings (8 cups of granola) and about 75 minutes.

• Yield 32 Servings (8 cups of granola)
• Ready in 75 minutes
• Prep 15 minutes
• Cook 60 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 cups rolled oats (not quick)
• 1 cup coarsely chopped almonds
• 3/4 cup sweetened or unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1/2 cup unsweetened, Dutch-process or dark cocoa powder
• 1/3 cup light or dark brown sugar
• 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
• 1/4 cup melted coconut oil (avocado oil or a neutral oil like canola or vegetable oil)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt
• 1-2 cups chocolate chips
• Freeze-dried strawberries and vanilla yogurt bites (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Line two large (11X17-inches or so) baking sheets with parchment paper or silpat liners and set aside.
2. In a large bowl, combine the oats, almonds, coconut, cocoa powder and brown sugar and mix well.
3. In a separate bowl or liquid measuring cup, combine maple syrup, oil, vanilla and salt.
4. Slowly pour the maple syrup mixture over the oatmeal mixture, stirring well. Spread the granola evenly on the two prepared baking sheets.
5. Cook for 1 hour, stirring once or twice, until the granola smells fragrant. Add an additional 10-15 minutes if needed to help the granola crisp up a bit.
6. Remove the granola from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate chips on top. Stir very lightly if you want to incorporate them a bit into the granola and then walk away. Let the granola rest until the chocolate chips have melted and then cooled, 1-2 hours (you can speed this up by popping the baking sheets into the refrigerator).
7. Break the granola into clumps and add freeze-dried strawberries and vanilla yogurt bites, if desired. Store in an airtight container for 1-2 weeks.

Let the center settle before you cut it, or the slices will slump.