Easy, Chocolate Granola Recipe (No-Bake & Grain Free!)

It doesn't get easier than this 20 minute, no-bake chocolate granola recipe! We're skipping the oven, the oil, and all the frills with this simple, minimal ingredient chocolate granola recipe!

I made this with mixed salted nuts, hemp hearts, chopped dates, rice cereal, and melted vegan chocolate. To make it grain free you can skip the rice cereal or substitute a grain free cereal like Love Bird! It's so simple, requires no cooking, and it's perfectly sweet and salty. Plus, those loved granola clusters practically make themselves.

At the bottom of the granola recipe I share my protein yogurt bowl to make this a high protein breakfast you can whip up in minutes.

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Why You'll Love This Easy Granola Recipe

• All you need is 3-4 ingredients!
• It takes 20 minutes to put together, and no turning on the oven.
• The most perfect granola clusters.
• Sweet, salty, and perfectly crunchy.
• Totally customizable.
• Can be made totally grain free, low sugar, and higher in protein with some simple swaps.

What You'll Need To Make This Chocolate Granola Recipe

Dairy free chocolate. There are a variety of chocolates on the market from keto to vegan, to low sugar, to no sugar, to sweet and packed with sugary goodness. The kind of chocolate you use here is totally up to you. I use either Zazubean for a no added sugar version, or Enjoy Life for a regular chocolate version with a little more sweetness.

Pre-roasted nuts and/or seeds. I used pre-salted, pre-roasted mixed nuts. My bag had a fun combination of pecans, macadamias, almonds, brazil nuts, and cashews.

Hemp hearts for healthy fats and boost of protein.

Rice puff cereal or your preferred cereal. This adds bulk for minimal calories. 

Medjool dates, pitted and chopped. 

Substitutions

Realistically you can substitute everything except the chocolate! The chocolate is what holds it all together and makes those crunchy granola clusters. You choose your chocolate choice though based on your preferences. Otherwise you can substitute:

Any pre-roasted nut or seed combo. Pre-roasted is key since we're not baking this. 

Any cereal to add bulk and crunch.

In place of hemp hearts use ground flax or chia seeds. 

Skip the dates, or substitute another dried fruit. 

If your nuts and seeds aren't salted like mine, I would add sea salt to the mix!

Storing

Granola will keep on the counter in a tightly sealed container for up to a week. 

I love these glass meal prep containers, and use them for everything. 

If you love a sweet breakfast, next up try these healthy, sweet start, meal prep recipes:

Apple Pie Overnight Oats

Chocolate Brownie Baked Oats

Please note: all macros and calories have been calculated to the best of my ability but may vary slightly. 

 

Chocolate Granola Recipe

Recipe makes 10 servings 

Macros per serving:

210 cals - 14g fat - 16g carbs - 6g protein

 

Ingredients:

• 1 cup pre-roasted nuts
• 1 cup rice puff cereal (or preferred cereal, such as a grain free variety!)
• 1/2 cup hemp hearts 
• 4 large Medjool dates, chopped 
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips or chopped chocolate

 

Instructions:

1. If your nuts are whole, give them a rough chop. I like to just cut them mostly in half for a chunkier granola. 
2. Add the chopped nuts to mixing bowl with cereal, hemp hearts, and chopped dates.
3. Melt the chocolate over a double broiler or gently in the microwave on low, low heat. Stirring the chocolate every 5-10 seconds so it doesn't burn.
4. Pour the melted chocolate into the granola bowl, and mix everything together really well. Make sure the chocolate is mixed all the way through and coating all the nuts, cereal, hemp hearts, and dates.
5. Line a baking tray or flat tray with parchment paper and pour the granola mixture onto it. Using the back of a spoon, flatten the granola into one layer.
6. If your nuts aren't pre-salted, add a pinch of salt to the top of the granola now. 
7. Set the tray of granola in the fridge or freezer for a few minutes, or until chocolate is completely firm.
8. Break the granola up into chunks and add to a tightly sealed container.
9. Granola will keep on the counter at room temperature in a sealed container for up to one week.

 

Using Chocolate Granola for a high protein bowl:

Add 1 scoop protein powder to one serving vegan yogurt, and whip together until super smooth.

Top with 1 serving chocolate granola, and your preferred fresh chopped fruit. 

Enjoy!

Let us know in the comments how this recipe went for you!