If you need a snack that’s as indulgent as it is nutritious, this dark chocolate granola recipe is your new best friend! It’s packed with nutrients like magnesium, iron, healthy fats, and fiber while satisfying your sweet tooth!

bowl of dark chocolate granola with oats and chocolate chunks, nutritious breakfast or snack

This dark chocolate granola is a blend of my favorite foods: chocolate, oatmeal (have you tried my overnight oats or strawberry-baked oatmeal yet?!), and cereal.

It’s decadent enough to count as dessert but full of good-for-you ingredients and nutrients to could as a breakfast or snack. You really can’t go wrong. And the best part? Make a batch on the weekend and you can enjoy it all week long.

This recipe is a chocolate-lovers adaptation of my base granola recipe, using nutrient-rich ingredients with the addition of dark chocolate and cocoa powder, which is as good for your body and brain as it is for your soul!

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Jump to:

Why you’ll love this dark chocolate granola
Nutrient-packed ingredient list
How to make chocolate granola
Adapt this recipe to make it even easier
Ideas to make this recipe your own
Ways to eat dark chocolate granola
Storage instructions
FAQs
Recipe
📖 Recipe

Why you’ll love this dark chocolate granola

It’s a simple snack to meal prep on the weekend and enjoy all week long.
Tons of wholesome ingredients that offer a big mood boost and help balance your blood sugar with 11 grams of healthy unsaturated fats and 4 grams of fiber in each serving.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with the benefits of dark chocolate, which contains mood-boosting compounds and a lot less sugar than milk chocolate.
It’s versatile and kid-friendly. It’s the perfect addition to breakfast, snacktime, or dessert. My kiddos (who generally do not like dark chocolate) love this recipe too!

Nutrient-packed ingredient list

While this recipe is incredibly flexible, each ingredient adds something special to this cocoa granola.

Rolled oats - An excellent source of complex carbohydrates to give you stable energy for hours after eating. They’re also packed with soluble fiber, which helps stabilize blood sugar and can even help lower cholesterol. They’re the perfect breakfast or snack ingredient for kids or parents on the go.
Nuts and seeds- You can use a wide variety of nuts and seeds in this recipe, making it perfect for using up what you have and adding healthy fats, protein, and nutrients like magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, and vitamin E.
Millet - My secret ingredient for super crunchy, nutrient-rich chocolate granola! One-half cup of uncooked millet has 31% of the DV of magnesium, adding tons of this brain-boosting mineral to your diet!
Unsweetened cocoa powder - Not only does this add a rich chocolate flavor to this granola recipe (without any added sugar), but it’s a natural mood booster!
Dark chocolate - Dark chocolate is decadent and rich in antioxidants and nutrients that support your mood and body’s stress response. Using chocolate with a higher cocoa percentage means you’ll get more health benefits and less sugar in each ounce. I like to use 85% dark chocolate.
Maple syrup - A natural sweetener that adds a touch of maple flavor. You could reduce this if you don’t like your granola quite as sweet or want to reduce the sugar content.
Avocado oil - A heart-healthy fat that’s rich in monounsaturated fats and helps the granola bind together so you get big, crunchy chocolate granola clusters.

How to make chocolate granola

rolled oats mixed with seeds, nuts, cocoa powder and salt in a large bowl, dark chocolate granola

dark chocolate granola wet mixture with avocado oil, maple syrup and vanilla syrup

Mix dry ingredients: Combine oats, seeds, nuts, millet, cocoa powder, and salt in a large bowl.
Whisk wet ingredients: Stir together avocado oil, maple syrup, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Combine and coat: Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients and mix until everything is evenly coated.
Bake: Spread the mixture on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a thin layer and bake at 275°F for 30 minutes or until lightly browned at the edges and crisp. Be sure to check every 5 minutes after the 30-minute mark to make sure it doesn’t burn.
Cool and add chocolate: Let the granola cool completely before stirring in the dark chocolate chunks and breaking into pieces.

Adapt this recipe to make it even easier

For days that you need an even simpler recipe, use these tricks!

Don’t have the millet? Just leave it out. This recipe is incredibly flexible and forgiving.
Use pre-chopped nuts to save yourself a step.
Use dark chocolate chips instead of chopping a bar.

Ideas to make this recipe your own

This recipe is incredibly customizable, so you can make it exactly how you like it or use what you have on hand each week. Here are some ideas:

Mix and match any nuts you’d like: Almonds, walnuts, pecans, peanuts, or hazelnuts are great options.
Do the same for seeds: whole flax seeds, pumpkin, chia, hemp, sunflower, poppy, or sesame seeds are great options.
Add dried fruit like cherries, cranberries, or raisins for an extra touch of sweetness.
Mix in a handful of shredded coconut for dark chocolate coconut granola.
Use a pinch of cinnamon or cayenne to add some warming spice.
Swap avocado oil for melted coconut oil for a hint of coconut flavor, or use light olive oil if that’s what you have on hand.

bowl of freshly baked dark chocolate granola with oats and dark chocolate chunks, crispy and wholesome, dark chocolate granola

Ways to eat dark chocolate granola

Yes, you can eat this chocolate granola by the handful, but here are some other ways to include it in your day:

Sprinkle it over Greek yogurt with fresh fruit for a high-protein breakfast. (I like to let it sit in the refrigerator for 30 minutes or so, mixed with the yogurt so it’s chewy– try it, it’s so good!).
Enjoy it as a topping for smoothie bowls or high-protein oatmeal.
Pair it with milk for a satisfying high-protein cereal alternative.
Munch on it straight out of the jar as a quick, energy-boosting snack.
Mix it with a blander cereal like plain shredded wheat or plain Cheerios for a more flavorful, healthy breakfast.

Storage instructions

Once cooled, store your granola in an airtight container at room temperature. It should stay fresh for up to 7-10 days. But honestly, I’ve never kept it around for longer than a week to see for sure!

FAQs

Is dark chocolate granola healthy?

Yes! With ingredients like whole-grain oats, nuts, seeds, and millet, this granola with dark chocolate is loaded with protein, fiber, healthy fats, antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals for a healthy and satisfying snack or breakfast.

What does 85% dark chocolate do for you?

Not only is dark chocolate with 85% cocoa rich in antioxidants, but some research has found that it may have prebiotic effects on the gut microbiome, resulting in positive effects on mood and emotions.

Why is my granola not crunchy?

For the crunchiest granola, spread the granola into a thin layer on the pan and keep the heat low, baking until the edges begin to look slightly browned. I like to leave the granola untouched from the time it goes into the oven to after it has cooled on the pan, then break it apart into large, crunchy granola clusters!

Recipe

📖 Recipe