Granola is one of the most versatile things you can have in your pantry and while there are some delicious store bought granolas out there, unfortunately many of them contain artificial sweeteners, flavors and preservatives. The good news is that making a healthy, protein packed granola that is crisp, delicious and chemical free is quite easy to do right in your own kitchen.
Let’s get started…
The first step is to combine your dry ingredients in a large bowl. Each one of the ingredients in this granola has its own nutritional benefits…
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- Old Fashioned Oats: 1 cup of oats contains over 26 grams of protein and in additional to that, oats are packed with fiber, vitamins and antioxidants
- Almonds: I cup of almonds contains 20 grams of protein and these delicious nuts are also a great source of calcium and phosphorus
- Coconut: this superfood is high in fiber, potassium and iron. Studies suggest it offers anti-inflammatory properties as well
- Pumpkin Seeds: they are a great source of healthy fats and are full of magnesium, selenium and beta-carotene
- Chai Seeds: just 2 tablespoons of chai seeds contain 5 grams of protein! These little seeds are also considered a complete protein due to the fact that they contain all nine amino acids. They are also full of fiber, omega-3’s and calcium
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Our final 2 dry ingredients are chocolate protein powder and natural unsweetened cocoa powder. Choose your favorite chocolate protein powder, as it will have a big impact on the overall flavor of the granola. I am using Pro JYM’s Chocolate Cookie Crunch protein powder and was very happy with how the flavor turned out!
The addition of cocoa powder is not just for added chocolate flavors either! Cocoa powder has many health benefits. It contains polyphenols, which are the same antioxidants found in wine that can reduce inflammation, increase blood flow and can naturally improve your cholesterol levels.
Give the dry ingredients a good mix and let’s get the remaining ingredients ready to go…
In a small saucepan, combine the 1/2 cup of peanut butter or tahini, 1/2 cup of pure maple syrup, 1/3 cup of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom, 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon of cloves and 1 teaspoon of sea salt and bring to a low simmer over medium heat.
Like I said above, every ingredient in this granola has been added for its own unique nutritional benefits….
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- Peanut Butter: 1/2 cup of peanut butter contains 33 grams of protein along with vitamins B and E, selenium, iron and magnesium. Peanut butter is also a good source of fiber and healthy fats
- Tahini: if you prefer tahini or peanut butter, you will be adding selenium, phosphorus and antioxidants that are helpful in detoxing the liver. While peanut butter does offer more protein, tahini is also a very nutritious choice
- Pure Maple Syrup: now there is a massive difference between real pure maple syrup and the knockoff stuff, so be sure to go with a good quality maple syrup when making your granola. Pure maple syrup is packed with manganese, riboflavins, copper and calcium, plus it adds the perfect amount of natural sweetness without any of the chemicals
- Olive Oil: it is important to note that “extra virgin” olive oil is the least processed version in which heat is not used to process the oil. This allows all of the natural polyphenols and antioxidants to survive and make it into your granola, so choose a high quality extra virgin olive oil. It can be a little pricey, but its health benefits are definitely worth it
- The Spices: there are loads of studies that prove the health benefits of spices like cinnamon, ginger, cloves…etc. From improved digestion to immune system benefits and anti-viral and bacterial properties, adding these spices is not just for their beautiful flavor
- Sea Salt: let me start by saying that adding salt to granola is what will ensure that you have a flavor packed snack that will make you smile every time you take a bite. Salt is a very important flavor magnifier that helps bring the best out of everything we are adding into this granola. It is also a wonderful source of natural electrolytes, sodium and iodine. Sea salt also helps your body to properly absorb other nutrients, which is so amazing!
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Once the olive oil mixture has come together and the spices are completely incorporated, pour over the oat mixture and mix until you no longer see anything dry. Be sure that everything is well coated in the wet mixture.
Spread the granola mixture over a large greased baking sheet. I used this 12″x18″ baking sheet and it fit perfectly.
Push everything out thin and evenly, all the way into the corners, making sure that the center is not packed more densely than the outer edges.
Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes, rotating the baking sheet about half way thru. Some ovens have hotter zones and rotating your baking sheet will prevent one half of your granola from getting more heat than the other the entire time.
Allow the granola to fully cool before breaking it up. If you start moving it around too soon, you won’t get those crispy, shattering breaks that I love in my granola. It takes some self-control, but leave it alone until it feels room temperature and then start lifting the edges and break it into the texture you prefer.
I like leaving some larger chunks in the mix. Those are what I grab when I need a quick bite of something sweet and you can always break them down with your spoon later…
The flavor in this granola is addictive. Its chocolatey and warmly spiced and a little too delicious to believe that it is packed with so much protein and nutrients. It feels like a sweet treat, a dessert and not something that is healthy to enjoy every morning, but I’m not complaining. I’m just gonna keep baking up batches and enjoy the benefits…
Chocolate Chai Protein Granola
Ingredients
- 3 cups of old fashioned oats
- 1 cup of almonds, roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup of desiccated coconut
- 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds
- 1/4 cup of chia seeds
- 1/4 cup of chocolate protein powder
- 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup of peanut butter or tahini
- 1/2 cup of pure maple syrup
- 1/3 cup of extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon of nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger
- 1/2 teaspoon of cloves
- 1 teaspoon of sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven 350 degrees
- In a large bowl, combine 3 cups of old fashioned oats, 1 cup of almonds, chopped, 1/2 cup of desiccated coconut, 1/2 cup of pumpkin seeds, 1/4 cup of chocolate protein powder and 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder and set aside for now
- Combine 1/2 cup of peanut butter or tahini, 1/2 cup of pure maple syrup, 1/3 cup of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1 teaspoon of nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom, 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger, 1/2 teaspoon of cloves and 1 teaspoon of salt a small saucepan over medium heat, warm until everything is fully combined and pour over the oat mixture
- Mix until completely combined
- Spread over a generously greased 12"x18" baking sheet
- Bake in a 350 degree oven for 30 minutes rotating the baking sheet once
- Transfer the baking sheets onto a cooling rack and allow the granola to cool fully before crumbling
- Store in an airtight container for up to 30 days
