Healthy Homemade Granola with Chocolate and Spices Recipe
This Healthy Homemade Granola recipe combines wholesome rolled oats, crunchy hazelnuts, and rich coconut with aromatic spices like cinnamon and cardamom. Naturally sweetened with honey and lightly bound with egg white, it bakes to golden perfection and is topped with melted dark chocolate flakes for a decadent yet nutritious breakfast or snack option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: About 8 servings (approx. 2 cups granola) 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Dry Ingredients
- 200 g rolled oats (2 cups)
- 100 g hazelnuts (1 cup)
- 50 g shredded or desiccated coconut, unsweetened (½ cup)
- 2 tsp cinnamon powder
- 1 tsp cardamom powder
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 tbsp brown sugar (optional)
Wet Ingredients
- 60 ml coconut oil, melted (¼ cup)
- 60 ml honey (¼ cup)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 egg white (from 1 egg)
- 40 g chocolate flakes or dark chocolate chips (¼ cup)
Instructions
- Combine Dry Ingredients: Place the rolled oats, chopped hazelnuts, shredded coconut, cinnamon powder, cardamom powder, salt, and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl. Stir well to evenly distribute all dry components.
- Combine Wet Ingredients: In a separate small bowl, mix the melted coconut oil, honey, and vanilla extract until well blended.
- Mix Wet and Dry Ingredients: Pour the wet ingredient mixture into the bowl with the dry ingredients. Stir thoroughly to ensure all the oats and nuts are evenly coated.
- Beat Egg White: In a clean bowl, beat the egg white until foamy using a whisk or electric mixer. This helps to bind the granola clusters together.
- Incorporate Egg White: Fold the whipped egg white gently into the combined granola mixture, mixing thoroughly until everything is well combined.
- Prepare Baking Sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Transfer the granola mixture onto it and firmly press it down using a spatula to compress it into a large, bar-like shape.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 150°C (300°F). Bake the granola for 30 to 40 minutes. About halfway through baking, carefully flip over large clusters of granola and press them down again with the back of a spatula. Return to the oven to finish baking.
- Monitor Doneness: Bake just until the granola is lightly golden on top. Avoid overbaking as the clusters will crisp up further while cooling.
- Add Chocolate Topping: Remove the granola from the oven and immediately sprinkle the chocolate flakes over the top. The residual heat will melt the chocolate and help it stick to the clusters.
- Cool in Oven: Turn off the oven and place the baking sheet with granola back inside. Let it cool completely in the turned-off oven to allow it to set and become crispy.
- Store: Once cooled, transfer the granola to an airtight container. Store at room temperature for up to 2 weeks to enjoy fresh, crunchy granola anytime.
Notes
- For a vegan version, omit the egg white or substitute with a flax egg, but binding may be slightly different.
- Use dark chocolate to keep sugar content lower and add rich flavor.
- Pressing the granola mixture firmly ensures chunkier granola bars rather than loose granola.
- Flipping the granola halfway through baking promotes even toasting and browning.
- Store granola in a cool, dry place in an airtight container to maintain crispness.
Keywords: healthy granola, homemade granola, baked granola, oat granola, hazelnut granola, cinnamon granola, breakfast granola, granola bars
