Vegan & Gluten Free Salted Dark Chocolate Granola

This Vegan and Gluten Free Chocolate Granola is the perfect snack or quick breakfast with healthy ingredients. Made with gluten-free ingredients such as raw cacao powder, dairy-free chocolate chips, oats, and a natural sweetener, this is a great recipe for chocolate lovers.

If you’re looking for a scrumptious and wholesome breakfast or snack option that fits your vegan and gluten-free lifestyle, look no further than this mouthwatering vegan and gluten free chocolate granola recipe. 

Packed with rich cocoa flavor, crunchy oats, and nutty goodness, this homemade granola is a perfect balance of indulgence and nourishment. Get ready to treat your taste buds to a delightful chocolaty experience without compromising your dietary preferences. 

This double chocolate granola is one of my most favourite ways to start the day! Perfect to enjoy with yogurt, almond milk, or as a snack completely on it’s own! 

I grew up eating boxed granola for breakfast on my oatmeal, yogurt, and fruit. What I didn’t know was that your average cup store bought granola typically contains at least 20g of sugar. 

I was on a mission to create granola that tasted just as good as the stuff I ate as a kid, and keep the ingredients clean. Fortunately, homemade granola is very easy to make, and very easy to make gluten free and allergy friendly. 

If you’ve never made your own granola, you are missing out. It’s as easy as mixing it all up, dumping it onto a cookie sheet in an even layer, and popping it in the oven. 

If you love gluten-free granola recipes you may also like to try my Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Granola or my Gluten Free Peanut Butter Cup Grain-Free Granola. 

INGREDIENTS FOR THE VEGAN AND GLUTEN FREE CHOCOLATE GRANOLA

You will need the following ingredients listed below to make the healthy granola recipe (the exact measurements and full recipe are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post):

• Certified gluten-free oats – can use regular oats if you’re not celiac or gluten intolerant. 
• Nuts or seeds of your choice –  I used chopped almonds but sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, cashews, or walnuts all work great.
• Cacao nibs
• Unsweetened coconut flakes
• Coconut oil
• Pure maple syrup
• Unsweetened cocoa powder
• Vanilla extract
• Sea salt
• Vegan dark chocolate chips – can use chocolate chunks as well.
• Optional – coconut sugar or brown sugar, chia seeds, olive oil, almond butter, seed butter, etc.

HOW TO MAKE

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F and line a baking dish with parchment paper.
2. In a large bowl mix together the gluten free oats, nuts, cacao nibs, and coconut flakes.
3. In a separate bowl combine the melted coconut oil, maple syrup, cocoa powder, and vanilla.
4. Pour wet ingredients over dry ingredients and stir until everything is well coated.
5. Spread out on a large baking sheet and press down on granola (this will yield more chunky pieces), sprinkle with the sea salt, and bake for 30-40 minutes, mixing once or twice.
6. Remove from oven, add the dark chocolate chips, and let sit for at least one hour. This will allow everything to crisp up and harden like store bought granola so you can break into large clusters.
7. Store in fridge for up to two weeks! Keeping in the fridge will keep everything more crunchy and solid.

TIPS AND TRICKS

1. Store your granola in the fridge! I always keep mine in a mason jar or in a glass container to keep it fresh and crunchy!
2. Really press down on your granola before putting it into the oven. This helps the granola stick all together so you get big chunks (and who doesn’t love big chunks of granola???)
3. Once you take your granola out of the oven, let it sit for about an hour. This really lets it dry out and again, gives it that CRISP! Once it’s fully cooled and has crisped up you can put it in the fridge in an airtight container!

WHAT TO SERVE THE EASY CHOCOLATE GRANOLA RECIPE WITH

1. Vegan yogurt: My favorite way is to top a bowl of creamy yogurt with a generous sprinkling of chocolate granola. The combination of crunchy granola, creamy yogurt, and the chocolate flavor will create a delightful contrast of textures and tastes.

2. Homemade almond milk: Pour a bowl of cold milk over a serving of the healthy chocolate granola recipe for a delightful breakfast or snack. The granola will add a satisfying crunch to your milk, and the chocolate flavor will infuse into the milk, creating a chocolatey breakfast experience.

3. Smoothie Bowl: Create a vibrant and nutritious smoothie bowl by blending your favorite fruits with a liquid base, such as almond milk or yogurt. Top the smoothie bowl with granola clusters for added texture, flavor, and a touch of sweetness.

4. Fruit Parfait: Layer chocolate granola with fresh fruit and yogurt in a glass or bowl to create a delicious and visually appealing fruit parfait. The combination of fruits, yogurt, and vegan chocolate granola will provide a balanced mix of flavors and textures.
5. Chia Pudding: Make a batch of chia pudding and sprinkle the healthy dark chocolate granola on top for a wholesome and indulgent breakfast or snack. The granola will add a delightful crunch factor to the smooth and creamy chia pudding.

IS CHOCOLATE GRANOLA ACTUALLY HEALTHY?

Well, this granola has a lot of healthy elements, like oats, healthy fats, and raw cacao. It depends how much chocolate you decide to add in, as that will make the sugar content a bit higher. In this recipe I use cacao nibs in place of some of the chocolate chips, which lowers the overall sugar content.

SUBSTITUTION OPTIONS

Gluten Free Oats – if you are not gluten free, you can use classic rolled oats instead. Another option is using steel cut oats, which you will need to bake for slightly longer, but they will work!

Almonds – these can be subbed out for any other type of nuts! I have also made similar recipes with cashews, pecans, peanuts, walnuts, or simply just more oats instead!

Other Breakfast Recipes You May Like To Try!

• Healthy And Easy Oatmeal Protein Cookies
• Gluten Free Morning Glory Muffins
• Easy Homemade Blueberry Bagel Recipe
• 15 Easy Protein Overnight Oats Recipes
• Vegan & Gluten Free Protein Waffles
• Chocolate Chip Granola Bars 

IF YOU TRIED THIS HOMEMADE CHOCOLATE GRANOLA RECIPE PLEASE LEAVE IT A COMMENT AND STAR RATING. I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOUR CREATIONS! YOU CAN PIN THIS RECIPE ON PINTEREST OR SHARE ON INSTAGRAM BY TAGGING @basicswithbails and #basicswithbails