This lower sugar chunky chocolate granola is super simple to make, naturally sweetened and so chocolatey. It's a new easy staple you are going to want to add to your list!
The best chocolate granola-ever!
If you've been around here for a while, you probably know my love of granola. My cinnamon sugar granola has been a staple in my house for years. I've even made these granola cookie cups for a portable version of my favourite yogurt parfaits. Granola is just so easy to make. It can be customized with whatever you have in your cupboards and it's an amazing snack, breakfast or even dessert! This lower sugar chunky chocolate granola may be my new favourite!
This granola is.....
The most chocolatey- I am a firm believer that chocolate makes everything better. Which is why I thought I needed to combine my love of granola with my love of chocolate. So I set out to make the best lower sugar chunky chocolate granola ever.
The most chunky- Sure you can just go buy granola at the store- but I LOVE making my own (and it's super easy). One of my main 'must-haves' when I make a new granola recipe is it has to be chunky. I don't mean small little individual pieces of baked oats- I mean REALLY chunky. I like my granola to basically be a crumbled oatmeal cookie.
Lower sugar- I also need my granola to be lower sugar. This is something that's very hard to find when you are buying a pre-made granola at the store. Most are loaded with sugar, which isn't a bad thing if you're eating it for dessert but if you're like me and mainly eating it for breakfast- I like a lower sugar breakfast granola!
Packed with flavour- Finally I like my granola to be packed with flavour. So you can be sure this doesn't just taste like plain oats. This lower sugar chunky chocolate granola is the perfect combination of sweet and rich chocolate (but not too sweet).
What ingredients do I need to make this lower sugar chunky chocolate granola?
One of the things I love most about granola is how simple the ingredients are! You probably already have many of these ingredients on hand (and if you don't they are very easily substituted).
Oats- You cant have granola without oats! I typically use minute oats in my recipes because that’s what is most available to me. However you can also use rolled or quick oats!
Honey- A natural sweeter and binder. The honey acts as a way to make this granola a little sweeter without added cane sugar. Due to it’s stick nature, it also helps stick everything together like the nut butter!
Nuts and Seeds- This is totally up to you! I’ve tried this lower sugar chunky chocolate granola with just chopped almonds. I’ve tried with a mix of walnuts, almonds, chia and hemp seeds. I’ve even tried with cashews. The choice is yours!
Cocoa powder- For that rich chocolatey flavour!
Salt- I personally love the salt and dark chocoalte flavour combination because it elevates the flavour of the chocoalte however if you are not a salted chocoalte lover feel free to just leave the salt out!
Vanilla extract- My favourite flavour enhancer! Artificial or real vanilla extract will both work here!
Melted coconut oil- Typically in my granola recipes I use some type of nut or seed butter to keep everything together. However to help conserve the most chocolatey flavour possible and ensure there was no competing flavour I decided to stick with coconut oil. I personally love the very subtle coconut flavour it adds and it creates the perfect crispy granola clusters. If you are looking for a substitution: any nut or seed butter will work, I have not tested any other substations so if you try let me know how it turns out!
Non-stick reusable silicone baking sheets- We recently purchased some of these silicone baking sheets and I love them! They are the perfect way to make your pans non-stick while also being conscious of the environment. I use them for this granola and the work perfectly!
What can I pair this lower sugar chocolate granola with?
- As a topping on a yogurt or smoothie bowl
- As a topping on my oatmeal
- As a snack on it's own
- With milk and some fruit for a healthy breakfast option
- On top of sliced apples with some drizzled chocoalte and peanut butter for some apple nachos!
How do you get your homemade granola chunky?
Like I said, chunky granola is the key to my heart. If a granola isn't chunky enough to be considered a cookie, I won't bother with it.
The secret to getting the chunkiest homemade granola is patience. I know that sounds so cliche but I swear it's true (partially).
Here are my three biggest tips to the chunkiest granola at home:
Preparation- The first step to make your granola chunky is ensuring the granola mixture is moist enough to stick together prior to baking. I like to do this by adding banana, maple syrup, honey and some type of nut butter or oil! Basically what you are trying to do is give the granola enough stickiness to stick together even once it's baked.
Baking- Once your granola mixture is made (and moist) the next secret is pressing it onto a cookie sheet AS A SINGLE PIECE. This is probably the most important step to getting chunky granola. Many granola recipes will have you just sprinkle the mixture onto the cookie sheet before baking. However since we are trying to get the chunkiest chocolate granola this is necessary. Essentially what you are doing is making a giant oatmeal cookie that you break up into smaller pieces after baking!
Patience- Finally once your granola is baked, you need to wait AT LEAST one hour before touching it. I know it's tempting (because it also smells so good) but I promise it's worth the wait. Giving the granola time to cool as a single piece will ensure it sticks together once you break it up. This also gives you the power to break it into whatever size pieces you want!
PS. I love seeing my recipes in action! If you decide to make this lower sugar chunky chocolate granola clusters be sure to tag me on Instagram @nourishedbynic or leave a comment here letting me know how it was 
📖 Recipe
Lower Sugar Chunky Chocolate Granola
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups oats quick, minute or rolled all work
- ¼ cup coconut oil melted
- ¼ cup honey
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoon cocoa powder
- ½ cup nuts and seeds of choice
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup chocolate chunks divided (plus more for sprinkling)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300°F.
- In a large bowl, combine the oats, nuts, coconut oil, honey, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, salt, and half of the chocolate chunks.
- Evenly spread and press the granola onto a prepared baking sheet in one large piece (it should easily stick together). You can press it down until it’s about ¼ inch thick.
- Bake granola for 30-35 minutes or until the edges start to brown.
- Remove from oven and allow to cool for at least one hour to allow the granola to harden.
- After the granola has cooled, break it into pieces (I like bigger chunks) toss with the remaining chocolate chunks (plus more if desired) and store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.
Melissa
This is so good! I used hemp hearts, sliced almonds, and chopped pecans for my nuts and I used a Lindt 85% dark chocolate bar for my chocolate pieces. The edges of the pan got a little crispy so I may try baking it about 5 minutes less next time, but there will definitely be a next time!!
Nicole Addison
I'm so glad to hear you enjoyed it... the Lindt chocolate would be amazing! All ovens are slightly different so I think baking it 5 minutes less will solve that problem!
Jill
Delish!
Nicole Addison
Yay I'm so glad you enjoyed this granola!