Crunchy Tropical Chocolate Chip Granola Recipe (2024)

A super crunchy healthy chocolate granola that tastes like dessert? Sign me up! Made with coconut oil, honey, nuts, cocoa and dried fruit, this low sugar granola has an irresistible tropical twist.

What you’ll love about it

This crunchy chocolate granola may well be your new favourite healthy granola. Not only is it an easy and decadent (but not really) treat of a breakfast, it also makes an easy snack (just grab a handful), or tasty topping for yogurt or ice cream.

It’s hard to know whether to call this breakfast or dessert, but one thing we can definitely call it is super easy to make and delicious!

Here’s what else you’ll love:

All healthy ingredients. It’s low in sugar (natural sugar all the way!), gluten free (if you get gluten free oats) and vegan too (if you stick to dark chocolate with no milk).

Crunchier than your average healthy granola. Thanks to a ‘secret’ ingredient – a whisked egg white. Shh, don’t tell!

Easy to prepare in just 10 minutes. The oven does the rest in just 30 to 40 minutes!

Make it your own. It’s so easy to swap out the ingredients for the ones you prefer and have. Allergic to tree nuts? Use peanuts instead. Want to make it even healthier? Throw in a few chia, hemp or sesame seeds as well.

Can make a perfect gift. Just package in an airtight glass container, add a label and give as a yummy gift.

About the ingredients

Coconut oil: This healthy fat adds a subtle coconut flavour, but feel free to use another healthy neutral tasting oil instead. Rice bran oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil or even olive oil are all good choices.

Honey: Any runny honey you like. Can you replace with maple syrup? Yes, why not!

Cocoa powder: Any you like although unsweetened is best. Super healthy cacao works well, too, if you prefer.

Cinnamon: I love to add a little hint of cinnamon flavour. Substitute for ground ginger if you like – or add ginger as well.

Salt: A little salt helps to bring out the other flavours. Don’t skip it.

Rolled oats: Make sure you use rolled oats or old fashioned oats and not quick cooking oats or steel cut oats. This is important to get the texture of the granola right.

1 whisked egg white: This is the ‘secret ingredient’ to make your yummy chocolate chip granola super crunchy and delicious.

Tropical fruit and nuts: I’ve made some suggestions in the recipe (coconut, banana chips, peanuts, etc…) but have a wander around your local bulk buy store and see what they have. Different types of nuts, seeds and dried fruits will all work well.

Dark chocolate chips: I like chocolate chips with 70% cocoa, but use what you have and like.

How to make it

It couldn’t be simpler to make this delicious crunchy chocolate granola.

Step 1: Pre-heat the oven to 300F/150C and line a large baking tray with baking paper.

Step 2: Melt thecoconut and honey together in a large pan. Stir in the cocoa powder, cinnamon & salt.

Step 3: Pour this mixture over the oats in a large bowl and mix really well so that all the oats get coated.

Step 4: Whisk the egg white with a small whisk until it’s light and frothy (a minute or two), then stir this into the mixture too.

Step 5: Spread the mixture out evenly over the baking tray and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, turning once half way through cooking.

Step 6: Leave the mixture to cool for about ten minutes before stirring through about half of the chocolate chips. When the mixture has fully cooled, stir in the tropical fruit and nuts and mango pieces, plus the remaining chocolate chips.

How to serve it

I love to grab handfuls of tropical chocolate granola when I need a quick snack. It’s also delicious sprinkled over a bowl of oatmeal or yogurt for breakfast.

If you’re thinking more dessert, sprinkle on top of ice cream (or healthy 5-minute chocolate banana nice cream!) or English pancakes.

This granola also makes a really classy and healthy food gift! Just pile it into a mason jar and attach a gift tag to it. The granola will keep well for a week or two or if can be put in the freezer for a couple of months.

Top tips

• For super crunchy granola, lightly press the mixture down on the baking tray before baking. Only stir once, half way through. Then leave to cool before stirring it. You can always break up some bigger chunks if you like when it’s completely cool. Yum!
• Some ingredients, such as coconut, will burn if added before baking. Check the recipe carefully to see which ingredients are added before and which after.

Variations

The great thing about homemade granola is that you can swap things out for others. Just make sure you keep the weight of the dry ingredients about the same as stated in the recipe. Here are some ideas for substitutions:

• Add a quarter cup of nut butter (peanut, almond, whatever you like) to the coconut oil and honey mixture.
• Swap the mango for dried papaya, raisins, pineapple, or any other ‘tropical’ type fruits. Or add some chopped pieces of these delicious candied oranges!
• Add a teaspoon of ground ginger and/or a little chopped candied ginger.
• Throw in extra seeds such as hemp, chia, flax and sesame for extra nutrition.

More things to know (recipe FAQ)

More healthy snack recipes

• Love granola? You may also like this homemade low sugar granola recipe. So easy to customize and make your own!
• It’s hard to choose between these healthy chocolate orange date bars or these healthy chocolate orange truffles. Both so easy to make with only 5 ingredients!
• Fan of granola bars? These healthy sweet and salty peanut butter granola bars are a Nature Valley copycat, and hard to resist.

Fan of healthier snacks in general? Check out this 50+ sweet healthy snacks that don’t taste boring.

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