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Olive Oil Dark Chocolate Granola Will Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth Without Wrecking Your Blood Sugar

Author:

Jess Damuck

March 27, 2024

Recipe Developer, Food Stylist & Author

By Jess Damuck

Recipe Developer, Food Stylist & Author

Jess Damuck is a recipe developer, food stylist, and the cookbook author of two cookbooks, Salad Freak and Health Nut.

March 27, 2024

We carefully vet all products and services featured on mindbodygreen using our commerce guidelines. Our selections are never influenced by the commissions earned from our links.

This granola is really a snacking granola, the kind you eat by the handful while walking around the kitchen. It feels very rich and decadent but not quite dessert material. I love Hu date-sweetened chocolate chips here, or Guittard's coconut-sugar chips.

Dark Chocolate, Olive Oil & Sea Salt Snacking Granola

Makes 6 cups (730 g)

Ingredients

½ cup (70 g) raw hazelnuts
2 cups (180 g) old-fashioned (not thick-cut) oats
¼ cup (30 g) unsweetened shredded coconut
½ cup (50 g) raw sliced almonds
¼ cup (40 g) sesame seeds
½ cup (45 g) unsweetened (100% cacao) dark chocolate chips or date-sweetened or coconut sugar–sweetened chocolate chips
¼ cup (30 g) cocoa nibs
¼ cup (25 g) cocoa powder
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
¼ cup (60 ml) olive oil
¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup
1 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

Prep: Preheat the oven to 325°F (165°C). Roughly chop ½ cup (70 g) hazelnuts. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, combine 2 cups (180 g) oats, ¼ cup (30 g) coconut, ½ cup (50 g) sliced almonds, ¼ cup (40 g) sesame seeds, ½ cup (45 g) chocolate chips, ¼ cup (30 g) cacao nibs, ¼ cup (25 g) cocoa powder, 2 teaspoons vanilla, ¼ cup (60 ml) oil, ¼ cup (60 ml) maple syrup, and 1 teaspoon salt. Mix well. Transfer to a baking sheet.
Bake the granola: Bake for 15 minutes and then give the granola a good stir. Bake for another 15 minutes and stir again; the granola should be getting dry and toasty around the edges. At this point it may need another 5 to 10 minutes. The cocoa will look very dark, so taste it—the oats and nuts should be nice and toasty, but nothing should be burnt. Let cool completely, then store in an airtight container for 3 to 4 weeks.