Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola

Start the morning with Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola. Gluten free, vegan and low sugar, this granola makes a tasty breakfast or snack. Toss rolled oats and pecans in unsweetened cocoa powder, then coat in a mixture of maple syrup and water before baking. When crisp, let the granola come to room temperature, then add the dried tart cherries. Enjoy by the handful, over yogurt, with milk or whatever suits your fancy.

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 1

Total Time 1 10

Servings servings

Calories 109kcal

Ingredients

2 cups rolled oats (gluten free)
1 cup pecans chopped
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
½ cup pure maple syrup
¼ cup warm water
½ cup dried tart cherries

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a nonstick baking mat. Set aside.
Combine the oats, pecans and cocoa powder in a large bowl. Toss together until the cocoa powder coats all the ingredients.
In a smaller bowl, stir the warm water and maple syrup together.
Pour the wet mixture over the dry ingredients, and mix using a rubber spatula until every piece is coated.
Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet, spreading out the granola evenly.
Transfer the baking sheet to the oven. Bake for 30 minutes, then turn off oven and allow to cook/crisp for another 30 minutes. (This might take longer, depending on how old your oven is. I baked mine for 30, set another timer for 30, and the granola was still soft, so it sat in the warm oven for an additional hour.)
Once granola is crisp, remove from the oven and allow to cool.
When the granola has cooled, add the dried tart cherries, and mix well.
Store in an airtight container, and enjoy ¼ cup of granola at a time!

Notes

If you want more chocolate in your granola, add a handful of dark chocolate chips or cocoa nibs once it's cooled along with the cherries. While I think this granola is chocolatey enough with the cocoa powder, I can respect wanting more for a decadent breakfast. Just be aware if this is added, there will be more sugar, and the calories per serving will go up.

Nutrition