Crunchy Cacao Granola {GF, Dairy-Free, Vegan, Refined Sugar-Free}
Is there any better snack than homemade granola? Yes! Homemade healthy granola! This crunchy cacao granola is surprisingly addictive and so full of superfoods it’s beyond healthy.
A healthy granola truly makes the perfect snack. It can be used as a smoothie bowl topper, a yogurt add-in or as a cereal replacement to make a quick breakfast. And with kids back to school- that last one is a necessity!
Crunchy Cacao Granola Recipe
Crunchy cacao granola is filled with healthy fats, plant-based protein and best of all: CRUNCH! Thanks to all the nuts in this recipe, this healthy granola will not only taste delicious but also keep you full and fueled until your next meal.
Cashews especially, contain many nutrients we rarely get enough of: zinc, magnesium, iron. And in this recipe, the Wildly Organic cashews help gives the granola a decadent flavor.
As for the crunch, that comes from Wildly Organic Cacao Nibs! Cacao nibs are one of the purest forms of chocolate and by themselves have a slightly bitter taste. This is because they’re minimally processed. Combining them with a sweetener is what makes them tasty!
These little nibs are also full of calcium, magnesium and antioxidants which make them a great add-in to homemade granola.
The best part? This recipe contains no processed sugars. Instead, it uses nut butters to help bind it and pure maple syrup to help keep it sweet, though Wildly Organic Coconut Syrup would also be great in this recipe!. The result is an almost caramel like flavor- sure to win over any store-bought granola fan!
The cacao granola is sweet but won’t leave you with a sugar crash after eating it. Thanks to the protein in the nuts as well as the quinoa and black bean puffs, this recipe not only tastes great but helps give you some fuel until your next meal.
Whip up a batch- or a double batch in case you eat the first too quickly! – and store it in the jars in the fridge. While it’s tasty on top of yogurt it’s also rather addictive and you’ll find yourself sneaking handful right out of the fridge.
Other Quick Snack Recipes You’ll Enjoy
- Easy Loaded Apple Slice Snacks {gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan}
- Paleo Dark Chocolate & Salted Caramel No-Bake Treats {5 ingredients, allergy-friendly, & vegan, too!}
- Nut and Seed Bars
- 5-Minute Paleo Spicy Glazed Cashews
- Real Food Toasted Coconut Trail Mix {paleo & vegan}
Do you like to make healthy snacks in the afternoon like this crunchy cacao granola?
- 1cup Wildly Organic Raw Cashews
- 1/2cup Wildly Organic Walnuts
- 2/3cup gluten-free certified oats
- 2/3cup gluten-free puffed quinoa cereal
- 3tablespoons Wildly Organic Chia Seeds
- 1/2cup Wildly Organic Cacao Nibs
- 1/4cup Wildly Organic Coconut Oilmeasured solid
- 1teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4cup Wildly Organic Almond Butter
- 1/4cup pure maple syrup
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Chop the cashews and walnuts into pieces.
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In a large bowl, combine the cashews, walnuts, gluten-free certified oats, puffed quinoa cereal, chia seeds and cacao nibs. Stir to combine and set aside.
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In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine the coconut oil, vanilla extract, almond butter and maple syrup ingredients and heat until the coconut oil is melted. Whisk until smooth.
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Pour the wet ingredients over the cashew and walnut mixture and mix until everything is combined and looks wet and sticky.
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Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pour out the granola onto the baking sheet.
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Use a silicone spatula to flatten it to 1/2 inch thick, making sure it stays together.
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Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 9 minutes. Drop the temperature of the oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Stir the granola around then flatten it once again.
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Bake for 7 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Check the granola halfway through, if the outsides of the granola are significantly browner than the middle, stir again. If not, let it be.
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Remove from the oven and let sit on the pan to cool for thirty minutes to firm up.
The post Crunchy Cacao Granola {Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan, Refined Sugar-Free} appeared first on Wildly Organic.
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