Chocolate Chip Granola
Earlier this month when we went to the beach, I stocked our car snack bag with a few bags of granola that Nature Valley had sent my way. Believe it or not, I’m usually anti-chocolate when it comes to breakfast, so I’d never tried a chocolate or chocolate chip granola before. Not long into our trip, we busted open the bag of Oats ‘n Dark Chocolate, and dug in. Suffice it to say, we were totally hooked by the second handful. I loved the mild, plain-ish flavor of the oats combined with the dark chocolate. It was sort of like eating crumbled up oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. Which is never, ever a bad thing.
It didn’t take very long before it was decided that I needed to try recreating the granola at home. I made my first batch with chopped dark chocolate, but that turned into a terribly messy event. The chocolate never set after coming out of the oven, which rendered it pretty much impossible to eat with your hands.
On to round number two… I took my favorite crunchy granola recipe, stripped away all of the nuts and dried fruit, and simply added two cups of chocolate chips. This turned out a much better result, seeing as how chocolate chips generally hold their shape when baked, and will remain firm enough when cooled down to be handled. Success!
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If you’re down with chocolate in your breakfast, all you need is 10 minutes and some pantry staples to whip this together. If you’re not down with chocolate for breakfast, then you have a fabulous afternoon snack. Thank goodness for road trips or I may have never realized what I was missing in the whole chocolate chip granola department!
One year ago: White Chocolate Raspberry Swirl Ice Cream
Two years ago: Grandma’s Ambrosia Salad and Old-Fashioned Ice Cream Sandwiches
Three years ago: Blueberry Muffins
Four years ago: All-Occasion Sugar Cookies
Six years ago: Herb-Baked Eggs
Chocolate Chip Granola
Ingredients
- ⅓ cup (0.02 ml) pure maple syrup
- ⅓ cup (73.33 g) light brown sugar
- 4 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon (0.5 teaspoon) salt
- ½ cup (109 ml) vegetable oil
- 5 cups (405 g) old-fashioned rolled oats
- 2 cups (360 g) chocolate chips
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla extract and salt. Whisk in the vegetable oil to combine. Add the oats and chocolate chips and fold the mixture together with a rubber spatula until all of the oats and chocolate chips are thoroughly coated.
- Turn the oat mixture onto the prepared baking sheet and spread into a thin, even layer. Using a stiff metal spatula, compress the oat mixture until very compact.
- Bake until the top is lightly browned, 40 to 45 minutes, rotating the sheet halfway through baking. Remove the granola from the oven and let cool on a wire rack to room temperature, about 1 hour. Break the cooled granola into pieces as large or as small as you like. The granola can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.
Notes
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review below, then snap a picture and tag @thebrowneyedbaker on Instagram so I can see it!
Made this today! What a great and relatively easy recipe..simple, yet delicious!
Like crumbled up oatmeal cookies? Sign me up! I’ll have to try this with carob chips.
What a great on-the-go snack- such a delicious and healthy way to satisfy an afternoon sugar craving. :)
This looks delicious, I simply love granola, but find so many in the shops are full of nuts, thanks so much for sharing a nut-free recipe, means I can still enjoy granola even though I’m allergic to nuts!! :D
OMG this was so good! I added some coconut and pecans and this was really, really good!
Is it weird that i want to mix it with Ice Cream?
Hello,
Any thoughts on how to modify this for a granola bar instead of granola cereal? Perhaps par-slicing into bars when removed from the oven, letting everything cool and then break into bars? I’m not sure what the best process would be but I look forward to your advice!
Kind regards,
Penny
Hi Penny, I would actually recommend these chocolate chip granola bars: https://www.browneyedbaker.com/2012/02/28/chewy-chocolate-chip-granola-bars/. This granola is too crispy to stay in bar form.
Oh wow, all chocolate should have granola, or do I mean all granola should have chocolate? ha both! This would make a great breakfast!
I’m down with chocolate any time! I think homemade granola always tastes better than any you can buy. Thanks for sharing the recipe and your beautiful pics.
Every granola needs a little chocolate in it right? I love homemade granola and this granola looks perfect!
I want to add peanut butter. Any suggestions?
This looks great!
I have a couple of questions.
1) What can I use in place of vegetable oil? I never use vegetables oils, only EVOO.
2) Can I use this recipe just like cereal, in a bowl with milk?
Thank you Michelle!
Hi Louise, I do not recommend replacing the vegetable oil. It has a two-pronged effect – it provides moistness so the oats don’t become brittle, and it also allows the granola to crisp up, giving it a crunchy texture. Some people do eat granola with some milk, if you like it, go for it!
So, I made this using olive oil and also added a little oranfe zest. It is fine! You do not taste the olive oil at all. I gave some to my little one with milk and she really liked it! Without milk is great too! Thanks Michelle!
I’ve been looking for a good granola recipe forever! If I wanted my granola to be loose, should I not pack it into the pan? Thanks!
Hi Leilani, I would still pack it into the pan, as this helps create a crunchy granola. You can then break it up into pieces as small as you’d like.
Is there any ingredient you can substitute the maple syrup with? Is it possible to use honey instead? I don’t like maple syrup and even if I’d like it, it’s hard to get where I live. I would love to try this recipe :)
Hi Christina, I have tried this recipe with honey in place of the maple syrup. I personally prefer the maple, and I found that the honey caused the granola to brown quite a bit more. If you try it, I would reduce the baking time and keep an eye on it.
Granola should always have chocolate in it, love!
I love the combination of granola & chocolate!
Hi Michelle, I love your recipes. Quick question, is the vegetable oil required? I am new to the granola and have only tried one other recipe which was great. Wondering what effect it will have if I just leave out the vegetable oil?
Hi Kelli, Yes, the vegetable oil is an important ingredient. It provides moistness while giving the granola a crispness that is not too dry.
Thanks, that is great to know.
I made this substituting coconut oil for veggie oil and I used dairy free chocolate chips. Holy crap that’s good!
This looks perfect to bring on summer bike rides or hiking! Thanks! :)
We love homemade granola, and throwing in chocolate chips is aways a plus!
I’m certainly not anti-chocolate for breakfast, and would love a bowl in the morning or a large handful for snacking! :)
That looks delicious! I love making homemade granola, will have to try this variation soon! :)
Sounds tasty! I’m going to add chocolate chips to my granola recipe, but I think I’ll add them after the granola is baked. And maybe I’ll keep the nuts.
Yay for this recipe and that I already have all the ingredients in my house!
I love granola, so I will be making this ASAP! Nature Valley granola is one of my favorites. Costco used to sell it in bulk but doesn’t any more (and yes…I need food in bulk…haha).
Wow, I’m kind of the opposite. I need chocolate for breakfast to get my day started right!
So this granola is right up my alley, of course. It looks fantastic. Nothing is better than chocolate chips in granola!
Homemade granola and granola bars are the best! Nothing you’d buy in the store could ever compete! pinned!
This is how granola should always be, so great!! And my boys would never turn it down.
Even better- peanut butter granola! I make a version of this: http://www.davidlebovitz.com/2014/03/peanut-butter-and-chocolate-chip-granola-recipe/
This looks good but is it a hard treat or is it on the soft side. I do not like the hard treats. Thank you :)
It’s going to be hard.
The oats will be crunchy post-baking.