Dark Chocolate & Coconut Breakfast Granola
This Samoas-inspired granola recipe is packed with the flavors of your favorite Girl Scout cookie! It’s got coconut, chocolate, and caramel-ly dates, and uses nutritious old fashioned rolled oats. Vegan and gluten free.
Did you grow up eating Girl Scout cookies? I certainly looked forward to them every year, especially Samoas. These were always my favorite kind! The combination of coconut, caramel, and chocolate is just so good.
When I was brainstorming new homemade vegan granola recipes, I decided to replicate the flavors found in Samoas girl scout cookies. You’ll get all the flavors you love about the cookies in each bite, complete with stripes of rich dark chocolate. As a Registered Dietitian, I love that this granola satisfies a craving for sweets while using nutritious ingredients!
Looking for even more granola recipes? Try this homemade gluten free granola or healthy honey nut granola!
This chocolate and coconut granola recipe makes about seven cups of granola. It’s easy enough for beginners to make!
Ingredients in chocolate & coconut granola
Here are all the ingredients you need to make this granola recipe. I’ve included some substitutions in the comments.
- Old fashioned rolled oats (gluten free if needed): It’s important to use rolled oats in this recipe, not quick oats or steel cut.
- Unsweetened shredded coconut: Shredded coconut is best for this granola, instead of the large coconut chips you see sprinkled on top for a garnish.
- Raw cashews: Feel free to use another nut, such as almonds or walnuts.
- Coconut oil: I like using coconut oil in granola because of it’s slightly sweet and coconutty flavor. But any neutral flavored oil would be a fine substitution.
- Maple syrup: This liquid sweetener adds to the caramel flavor profile we’re going for with Samoas granola. Feel free to use honey if not vegan.
- Medjool dates: Medjool dates have a very sweet and caramel flavor, so they are the ideal type of date for this recipe.
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Dark chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate baking bar
Kitchen tools needed
To make this recipe, you need parchment paper, a baking sheet, and a medium to large size mixing bowl.
How to make chocolate & coconut granola
- Preheat your oven to 325 degrees F.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside.
- Combine the dry ingredients in a mixing bowl: oats, shredded coconut, cashews, cinnamon, and salt. Mix together.
- Add the wet ingredients to the bowl: maple syrup and coconut oil. Stir to combine very well.
- Spread out the granola mixture on the parchment paper lined baking sheet and press it down into an even layer.
- Bake for about 30 minutes without disturbing until golden brown.
- Let the granola cool completely. Then use your hands to break it up into clusters.
- Spread the clusters out in an even layer on the baking sheet.
- Melt the dark chocolate with a teaspoon of coconut oil added in the microwave in a microwave-safe bowl.
- Use a spoon to drizzle the melted chocolate over the granola clusters.
- Pop the tray in the fridge for about 10 minutes for the chocolate to harden.
- Mix in chopped Medjool dates and enjoy!
Storing homemade granola
Store this granola in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 weeks to prevent the chocolate from melting.
Can you freeze granola?
Yes, if you have extra granola, you can freeze it! Store in an airtight container with as little air as possible, such as in a silicone baggie. Freeze for up to 3 months. Eat it straight from the freezer, or let it sit out at room temperature overnight before enjoying.
How to serve chocolate & coconut granola
- Top a bowl of nutritious Greek yogurt with some granola and caramelized banana or fresh raspberries.
- Make a nice cream sundae (or a frozen Greek yogurt sundae), with chocolate banana nice cream, granola, whipped cream, and a cherry on top.
- Straight up! It’s seriously addicting all on it’s own.
- With a bowl of creamy oat milk.
- Bake muffins or banana bread and use it as a topping.
- Make a double batch and share some with your neighbor.
Oats nutrition benefits
Oats are good source of dietary fiber, and provide both soluble and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber is particularly beneficial for heart health. It can bind to cholesterol in your body, and may help lower total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and blood glucose levels.
In addition to fiber, oats have several other nutrients! One half cup of dry oats provides:
- 5-6 grams of plant-based protein
- 1.7 mg iron (10 percent of your daily needs)
- 55.89 mg magnesium (14 percent of your daily needs)
- 11.71 mcg selenium (22 percent of your daily needs)
- 166.1 mg phosphorus (24 percent of your daily needs)
Medjool dates nutrition benefits
A 75 gram serving of Medjool dates (about 3 large dates) has 5 grams of dietary fiber, or 20 percent of your daily needs! Dates are also rich in micronutrients, providing:
- 522 mg potassium (11 percent of your daily needs)
- 0.604 mg pantothenic acid (12 percent of your daily needs)
- 0.27 mg copper (30 percent of your daily needs)
- 40.5 mg magnesium (10 percent of your daily needs)
Let me know if you love this recipe by leaving a comment or star rating below, and check out Instagram and Pinterest for more healthy lifestyle inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!
Print
Dark Chocolate & Coconut Breakfast Granola
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: Makes 7 cups of granola 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Samoas-inspired granola recipe is packed with the flavors of your favorite Girl Scout cookie! It’s got coconut, chocolate, and caramel-ly dates, and uses nutritious old fashioned rolled oats. Vegan and gluten free.
Ingredients
- 3 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 1 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- 1/2 cup raw cashews, roughly chopped
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 3 tbsp coconut oil, melted
- 1/2 cup chopped medjool dates
- 4 oz dark chocolate baking bar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Mix together oats, coconut, cashews, cinnamon, and salt in a large mixing bowl.
- Add the maple syrup and melted coconut oil. Mix together so everything is well combined and dry ingredients are fully coated in the wet ingredients.
- Use your hands or mixing spoon to spread the granola into an even layer on the lined baking sheet. You want the granola to basically be all one sheet, not in separate clumps.
- Baked for 30-35 minutes without disturbing, until granola is nicely golden brown.
- Let granola cool completely to room temperature, then break it up into clusters using your hands.
- Spread the granola clusters into an even layer on the baking sheet.
- In a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate in the microwave or use a double boiler. Use a spoon to drizzle the chocolate all over the granola clusters.
- Pop the tray of granola in the fridge for 10-15 minutes for the chocolate to harden.
- Mix in the chopped dates. Enjoy!
Notes
- Store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Best stored in the fridge.
- The secret to giant granola clusters is to bake it in a single layer, then let it cool completely before handling it. If you try to mix it up before it cools, the granola won’t have big clusters.
Keywords: samoas granola, chocolate and coconut granola, homemade vegan granola, homemade gluten free granola
