Friday, January 20, 2012

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Granola Recipe

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Granola

I made some of the most decadent, delicious granola, but it’s still pretty darn healthy.  I’m loving having it for breakfast and maybe a little snacking here and there, too.  It won’t last long, but you can be sure I’ll be making this Dark Chocolate Raspberry Granola again soon!

Dark Chocolate Raspberry Granola, by Katrina, Baking and Boys!

4  1/2 cups old fashioned oats

1 cup shredded unsweetened coconut*

1/4 raw sunflower seeds

1/2 cup sliced almonds

1/4 cup flaxseed meal

1 teaspoon kosher salt

1/4 cup dark cocoa powder (I used Hershey’s Dark)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup canola oil

1/4 cup honey (or agave nectar)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

3 ounces good quality dark chocolate, chopped

3/4 cup freeze-dried raspberries**

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat.

In a large bowl, combine the oats, coconut, sunflower seeds, almonds, flaxseed meal, salt, cocoa powder and brown sugar.  Mix well.  In a medium sized microwaveable bowl, combine the oil and honey.   Microwave for about 30 seconds.  Whisk until well combined.  Add the vanilla and combine.  Pour over the dry ingredients and stir well until all is coated.  Spread evenly on the baking sheet.  Bake for about 22 minutes.  Remove from oven and don’t mix the granola.  Let cool completely.  Break into pieces.  Add the chopped dark chocolate and freeze-dried raspberries.  Store in an airtight container.

*If you don’t like coconut, don’t add it.  You could add a little more oats, or another nut if you’d like to replace it.

**If you don’t have or can’t find freeze-dried raspberries, some dried tart cherries or even dried cranberries would be good! 

Chocolate Raspberry Granola

Every morning for breakfast I have plain Greek yogurt (mixed with a little Dannon Light & Fit Vanilla Yogurt—I just can’t quite do plain Greek), but with this granola on top, it is the bomb!  The freeze-dried raspberries have a great light crisp texture and a perfect bit of tart to go with the chocolate.  The granola itself is not too sweet at all, in fact I like that it isn’t. 

**I have one of these large cans of freeze-dried raspberries, they are a little expensive, but the can is large and lasts a while and they are so good and healthy, it’s worth it.  The website, Honeyville Grain also has some smaller bags, too.  Freeze Dried Raspberries from Honeyville Grain.  One thing I love about Honeyville is that their shipping is always $4.49 no matter how much you order in weight.  I ordered a 50 pound bag of whole wheat pastry flour from them and it only cost $4.49 in shipping!  Check out all the products they have!

16 comments:

Lisa Ernst said...

Now this is my kind of granola! Love the dried raspberry added in. My philosophy is that there's no better way to start the day than with (dark) chocolate. This granola would work quite well for breakfast.

Jersey Girl Cooks said...

Wow, now this is good granola!

Leslie said...

Can I pick out the chocolate for myself? Love me some granola!!!

Shelby said...

Yummy, and I've never had freeze dried raspberries but will now have to get some!

marla said...

We are addicted to those freeze dried raspberries. Love the chocolate with them too :)

Emily said...

I'm going to have to check out Honeyville Grain. Your granola looks amazing! I love chocolate and raspberry together.

Cindy said...

I have several granola recipes--none with chocolate. Looks like I need to try this recipe.
Freeze dried berries are excellent. Years ago we did bulk neighborhood orders from Honeyville. A semi would pull up in front of the house and we would spend days getting orders straight!
Ordering is so much simpler now, I'll have to check out their website.

Anonymous said...

Delicious way to start the day - I always make granola for the family but yours sounds particularly tempting!
mary x

Lisa said...

You know, I've been stumbling your amazing creations so much, completely enjoying staring aat them, that it feels like I've left comments, but it's been a while! Geesh. I love this granola, especially because it contains freeze-dried raspberries, which I LOVE. Definitely bookmarking this, plus..I stumbled it, so there's a bookmark there lol

Sue @ Cakeballs,cookies and more said...

um, there are chuncks of chocolate in that!!! I so would love it.

scrambledhenfruit said...

Chocolate for breakfast is never a bad idea! :)

Eliana said...

Now this what I call THE perfect breakfast! Rock On!!!

Unknown said...

Yummy. I'm going to try this one!

Marilyn said...

I just made this. It's very easy and very good. i thought it was on the salty side though. Will omit the salt next time. But will definitely make it again. My B and B guests are going to dig this one!

Katrina said...

Marilyn, thanks for letting me know. Salt is definitely adjustable or can be omitted. Glad you like it!

Anonymous said...

I found freeze dries raspberries and strawberries at Trader Joe's. I don't remember the price... less than $4.00 per 1.2 oz bag. Unsweetened and unsulfured.