Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Ditch the Box of chocolate cold cereal- CHOCOLATE GRANOLA has arrived!



I love, love, LOVE cold cereal for breakfast!  Specifically, I love CHOCOLATE cold cereal-cereal like Cocoa Krispies, those yummy little puffs that make my milk chocolatey and my tummy happy.  I also have gone crazy for Cocoa Puffs on occasion.  But, having given up boxed cereal years ago, I haven't had my fix for way too long.  That doesn't mean I haven't dreamed of a big spoonful of that chocolatey goodness.  But who knows what's in that stuff at the store?  I just can't buy it.

I recently set out on a mission to find a homemade solution to my chocolately breakfast love.  And, I have found and successfully made, the best, most delicious, chocolate, stays crunchy in milk, leaves my milk chocolatey, HOMEMADE cereal and it's called "CHOCOLATE GRANOLA"!

I've made one other chocolate granola recipe but wasn't sold on it.  It was made by melting chocolate chips and it left my cereal a little to bitter tasting.  I was looking for something similar to those Cocoa Krispies I grew up on.  This recipe pretty much nails it!  I keep mine in a big gallon glass jar and it keeps perfectly.  

You could eat this Chocolate Granola with vanilla yogurt, berries, bananas, but seriously, the best way to eat it is with cold milk, in a bowl, with a spoon!

I had it yesterday for breakfast and found that I was amazingly full and satisfied until lunch.  Winner, winner, granola dinner!

I actually had all of the ingredients in my pantry to make this.  I even had the chia seeds, which I found in my grocery store in a small pouch for hardly nothing.  I usually add them to my smoothies as they are a super food.  I was thrilled to see them included in this recipe.  There is also coconut in this recipe.  I have to confess that I don't taste the coconut one iota in this recipe.  I'm sure it adds to the overall perfect taste but don't worry that this will taste like an Almond Joy candy bar, if you don't happen to like those.  It really just tastes like chocolate cereal.  YUM!  

Here's how I made Chocolate Granola AT HOME MY WAY:


Chocolate Granola
www.AtHomemyWay.blogspot.com

  • 4 cups old fashioned oats
  • 1 cup shredded coconut
  • 1 cup raw walnut, pecan pieces - or almond slices
  • 1/2 cup ground chia or flax seeds (optional) 
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup cocoa powder
  • 1/3 cup melted coconut oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
Instructions:

Preheat oven to 325°.

Melt coconut oil and stir in cocoa powder, salt, honey and brown sugar.  Heat CAREFULLY so not to scorch just until brown sugar is melted.  Remove from heat.  Add the vanilla and stir well until smooth.

In a large bowl, combine oats, coconut, chia seeds.

Pour hot cocoa mixture over oat mixture and stir well with a big spoon until well coated.

Layer on a large cookie sheet which has parchment paper or has been first SPRAYED with cooking spray.

Bake at 325° for 15 minutes.  Stir and bake another 10-15 minutes.  Remove from oven.  Let cool, then break apart and store once completely cool in glass jar or resealable bag.

Now, eat, enjoy, and don't feel guilty because you know exactly what's in this delicious cold cereal!

Enjoy!



Gina