Here is another delicious granola and my first one I’ve made using raw cocoa powder! Say what…How can that be since I love everything about Chocolate! I have been known to add raw cocoa in my smoothie bowls, smoothies, protein bites, and muffins on more than one occasion.
My previous, and one of my most favorite granolas has cocoa nibs, which in my opinion are awesome since they are not only great tasting, but high in anti-oxidants. This time I decided to use raw cocoa powder and assorted crispy nuts and seeds. Of course you can add additional cocoa nibs if you’d like! I mean why not?.
What I LOVE most about making my own granola you can control what ingredients you’d like to use. I love using plenty of nuts & seeds. Most often I prefer using coconut oil and very little sweetener. You honestly don’t need much! For this granola I used a cup of organic gluten free oats but if you want to make this grain free like this one, simply leave out the oats.
I do love my Matcha Tea Granola since sometimes I prefer less carbs certain times of the day. But I also am not opposed to using gluten free oats when I need more healthy carbs in my diet after my long runs or tough interval/pace runs.
Is anyone else hungrier the days you run hard or after long runs? Seriously folks, I feel like I can eat every two hours! In this photo I just finished EF POLLEN for the first time successfully. Yeah Me?♀️?!
Notice the red blotch in between my eyes on my forehead. It’s my birthmark. It shows up when I am either sick or stressed. AND I am not sick! However, this workout is tough and therefore puts some stress on the body. And yes, I could never fake being sick…my birthmark sticks out like a sore thumb?.
I love my polar watch! There is so much cool data including how much time you need for recovery after each run. After uploading your runs, you an also see how much time you need for recovery based on your run that day. I never tire of easy running. I could run easy every day and there is actually proof it’s more beneficial than harder runs. It’s one of the reasons I decided to try Heart Rate Training a couple years ago. I also want to continue to run for many more years and I honestly believe this is one way to stay in it for the long haul!
CHOCOLATE SEA SALT NUTTY GRANOLA
INGREDIENTS:
- 1 cups old fashioned rolled oats
- 2 cups chopped raw nuts- I usually use 1/2 cup walnuts, 1/2 cup almonds, and 1/2 cup cashews, and 1/2 cup hazelnuts…all crispy! BUT try pistachios, pecans, brazil nuts, or peanuts
- 3/4 cup raw crispy seeds ~ I like pumpkin seeds and chia seeds, but have also tried sunflower seeds and flax seeds
- 1 to 2 cups coconut flakes (unsweetened)
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 3 tablespoon raw cocoa powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/3 cup coconut oil
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
DIRECTIONS:
- Preheat oven to 250 degrees F.
- Mix all the dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
- Melt the coconut oil in a pan and add the maple syrup.
- Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix completely.
- Spread the mixture out pretty thickly on a baking sheet and place in oven.
- Stir every 15 to 20 minutes. After 40 minutes keep checking after 5 minutes and make sure it’s not burning.
- Take out when sufficiently brown…DO NOT BURN. Cool
- REMEMBER…”it goes from not quite there to now it’s black” Preeetty quickly.
Are you a Chocolate or Vanilla Fan? I love them both actually but if I were to choose just one…Chocolate.
Do you ever top your smoothies or bowls with Granola…I am hooked! I love a bit of a crunch.
How about you…how many days do you run a week and are the majority of them easy?
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