Recipe: Homemade Cacao & Nut Granola

I always try my best to make my own recipes if possible. In my household we are always looking for snacks that are quick to grab on the go, but still healthy.  We love granola and I found that I was spending $7/bag on a local brand of granola every week! While I am all for supporting local business, this is something I can make at home and save myself the $$. 

I meal prep this in advance, put it in a container and throw it in the pantry. It usually lasts a whole week (there are only 2 of us).  So, here’s the recipe! Hope you like it! :)

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Ingredients 
1/2 cup honey or syrup (3/4 cup and it will clump together better)
1/2 cup olive or canola oil
3 heaping spoons full cacao powder
1 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg (can be overwhelming, so back off the amount if you don’t want a strong nutmeg taste)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 cups oats (can use gluten free oats)
1 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped pecans
1/2 cup flax seeds
​1/4 cup of pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds
1 cup dark chocolate chips 

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 300 degrees and line a baking sheet with oven-safe parchment paper. 
2. In a large bowl, whisk together first 7 ingredients: honey through vanilla. 
3. Toss in all remaining ingredients (oats through pumpkin seeds) and stir until everything is evenly coated with chocolate mixture. 
4. Spread oat and nut mixture evenly on parchment-lined baking sheet and bake for 30 minutes. Let cool on pan for 30 minutes then break up granola into bite-sized pieces.
   Toss together granola with chocolate chips before serving. 

Add granola to your yogurt, chia seed pudding, fruit, or eat it alone!

Author

Candice Canace Rulnick has been a NASM certified personal trainer since 2014.  She specializes in women's fitness, weight loss, and overall health and wellness. Candice offers personal training to women in Charlotte, NC and also provides home and gym workouts through her online training app.

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