Chocolate Coffee Granola

This Chocolate Coffee Granola is a unique and utterly decadent granola recipe that's a dessert, a breakfast, a snack, a topping, a gift, or whatever you want it to be.

Chocolate granola is so delicious, and who doesn't love a little coffee with their granola?

Right!?

Which is why my Coffee Granola with Chocolate was born.

It's a brilliant, slightly over-the-top breakfast, it can complete your ice cream dessert, and it's a super satisfying snack.

Ingredient Notes

• unsalted butter - I always bake and cook with unsalted butter so I can control exactly how much salt is in the recipe.
• brown sugar - Light or dark.
• maple syrup - Use your favorite, from dark to amber. The darker the color, the stronger the flavor.
• instant espresso powder - This one is my go-to for all of my baking. Substitution: instant coffee.
• pure vanilla extract - Nielsen-Massey vanilla is excellent.
• cocoa powder - I use this one.
• kosher salt - Use half the amount if you use table salt.
• almond meal - Be sure to use almond meal and not almond flour, which is much finer.
• sliced almonds - Slivered almonds are okay if you don't have sliced, but the thinner pieces work their way into the granola a bit better.
• rolled oats - Rolled oats are best - avoid using instant.
• mini chocolate chips

How to Make It

(More detailed instructions are in the recipe card below.)

- Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a sheet pan with parchment paper.

- In a large bowl, mix the butter with the sugar. Then mix in the syrup, vanilla, cocoa powder, espresso powder, salt, almond meal, almonds and oats.

- Pour the granola mixture onto the parchment-lined baking sheet and use a flat-bottomed metal spatula to flatten it. It should be about ½ inch thick.

- Place the pan in the oven and bake until the edges are golden brown, about 25 minutes. Remove the pan and let cool completely.

- Use your hands to break the granola apart into small pieces and mix in the mini chocolate chips.

Recipe Tips and Substitutions

• If you're on a gluten-free diet, be sure to purchase oats that specifically say they are gluten-free.
• If you don't have brown sugar, use granulated. I like brown sugar in this recipe because it adds a caramel-like flavor.
• I mix the chocolate chips into the granola after it's baked and cooled so they keep their shape and are loose. It really doesn't make a big difference if you want to add them before baking.
• For an extra coffee kick, swap the mini chocolate chips for chocolate-covered coffee beans. Seal them in a zip-top bag, crush them with a meat mallet or the bottom of a small pan, and then mix them into the cooled granola.

Serving Suggestions

• Top your ice cream or yogurt with it. (It would be amazing on coffee ice cream or this Kahlua Espresso Gelato!)
• Fill a bowl with it and snack on it.
• And of course, it's delicious with milk for breakfast.
• And by the way, Coffee Granola with Chocolate makes a fantastic foodie gift. Just fill a Mason jar or coffee mug with it, tie a bow around it, and it's good to go.

Can you make it ahead?

• The granola will be good for a few days stored in an airtight container in a cool place, but the fresher, the better.
• If it seems to have lost its crunch, spread it out on a sheet pan and heat it for 5 to 10 minutes in a 350°F oven. (The chocolate chips will melt, and that's okay.)

Chocolate Coffee Granola FAQs

Can I make coffee granola bars?

Yes! Mix the chocolate chips into the granola before you bake it. When it comes out of the oven, cut it into bars any size you'd like, then let them cool completely on the sheet pan.

Can I use ground coffee instead of instant espresso powder?

I recommend instant espresso powder because it dissolves right into the butter mixture and gives a deep coffee flavor without any grit. Finely ground coffee works in a pinch, but the texture will be a little sandy.

Can I make it decaf?

Yes! Use decaf instant espresso powder. Just keep in mind that the cocoa powder and chocolate chips have a little natural caffeine, so it will be low in caffeine but not completely caffeine-free.

More Granola and Coffee Recipes

I hope you love every last morsel!

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