With 2 kinds of oats, rice crisps, and coconut flakes this Oil-Free Chocolate Coconut Granola is the ultimate crunchy, cluster-packed sweet snack or cereal!
Oil-Free Chocolate Coconut Granola courtesy of yours truly. Falsely festive vibes courtesy of striped dishtowel. There is nothing holiday-flavored about this granola, but from the look of things you would think it was made of nothing but candy canes and fruitcake. In real life those stripes are actually much more magenta than Christmas red, so I wasn’t going for the candy striped look. But hey, we started the week with gingerbread, why not keep the premature holiday mood rolling.
I suppose you could say homemade granola dressed up in a ribbon-wrapped mason jar would be a lovely holiday gift. Or you could say chocolate is always appropriate no matter the holiday. Or you could say that sprinkling on extra coconut after baking looks like snow flurries falling on granola ground.
But I really just whipped up this super easy snack/cereal because it is long past time I expanded on my original oil-free but oh so crunchy granola with some flavor fun! And chocolate seemed like the obvious place to start. And coconut seemed like the obvious mix-in match.
I have also found a new favorite granola addition: steel cut oats! I stand by my original combination of rolled oats and crispy brown rice cereal, but add steel cut oats in too and the texture is even better. Light airy crunch of crispy rice, chewy granola-familiar flakes of rolled oats, and crunchy little nubs of steel cut oats–that’s a lot of textural diversity.
Take all that texture plus chocolate, coat it in my oil-free granola-crunchifying secret weapon, maple syrup, stir in the coconut flakes, and you have the perfect sweet snack-able cacao coconut clusters!
Or cereal. I’m usually more of a granola by the handful or as a topping for creamy things kind of person. But chocolate granola is a different story because 3 words: chocolate cereal milk.
Speaking of breakfast foods that can also be snack foods that are really easy to make (okay that was a stretch)…did you see the English muffin recipe I shared on The Big Man’s World this week? Made with oats. Made without oil. Made in the microwave in 2 minutes (or there’s an oven option!) Made to be slathered with jam or nut butter or frosting!
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With 2 kinds of oats, crispy rice, and coconut flakes this Oil-Free Chocolate Coconut Granola is the ultimate crunchy, cluster-packed sweet snack or cereal!
Ingredients
- 1 cup rolled oats
- 1 cup crispy brown rice cereal
- ½ cup steel cut oats*
- ¼ cup cacao or cocoa powder
- Optional: pinch of salt
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup unsweetened shredded coconut or coconut flakes
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F.
- Combine the rolled oats, steel cut oats, rice cereal, cacao/cocoa powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Stir briefly to combine.
- Add the maple syrup. Mix to evenly coat.
- Stir in the coconut.
- Spread onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press into a solid rectangle.
- Bake for 10 minutes at 375F.
- Let it cool for at least 30 minutes before breaking apart for the most clusters.
- Transfer to an airtight jar. It will keep for 1-2 weeks.
Notes
You could alternatively use buckwheat, seeds, nuts, or just more rolled oats instead of the steel cut oats.
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Oh so yummy! Funny, this morning my daughter woke up and wanted chocolate for breakfast. I ended up making some raw chocolate granola-ish bars/bites, but next time I’m making this! I don’t make nearly enough granola even though I love it with a splash of coconut milk or on top of nice cream. Can’t wait to try this!
Hmmm I wake up every morning with the same thought, the struggle is not ALWAYS acting on it haha? How lucky that she has you and your mad kitchen skills to just whip up something chocolatey on the spot! I don’t make granola enough either, not sure why that is because I love it. Mmmm yes on nicecream–that’s my favorite way too <3
Sweet, crunchy, chocolatey goodness <3 So many goodies in here. I've been eyeing up that english muffin too – looks so good, Natalie!!
Oooh you should try it! It has been helping me cope with the fact that nicecream for breakfast is maybe not the best idea anymore with the chillier weather 😀 Thanks Leah!
Loving all the ‘premature’ festivities going on here! 🙂 Looks so delicious, and I can just imagine what a great crunch these clusters will give! Yummo! 🙂 I’ve decided that most of my Xmas gifts this year will be some sort of homemade snacks, so this will be a perfect recipe for me to use! Pinning it for sure! xxx
I love homemade gifts, plus half the fun is making them and packaging them up all cute and festive! I like your plan 🙂 Thanks Anna!
Haha. I think I like this style of “falsely festive” vibes. 😉 The candy cane-esque stripes really do add a super fun Christmas-y feel to this post. Either way, I know I MUST have all of this granola! I love that you put this chocolate and coconut-ty twist on your already awesome oil-free granola recipe. Also, that shot with the pouring milk is INSANE. And by insane, of course, I mean it’s amazing. (They totally mean the same thing, right??) Love it. Woohoo on steel-cut oats. There’s just something sexy and cool about that name, right? Haha. And lastly, your English muffin recipe is incredible. So… can you bring over some granola, a funfetti cupcake or two, and some English muffins so we can have the most awesome breakfast ever? 😉
I told you I love coconut but never use it, this was my attempt to change that! And to eat all the chocolate clusters of course, but mostly the first one 😉 Oh I can’t even tell you how many pour shots I attempt that never see the light of day (light of internet?), that was a lucky one! Ha steel cut oats–the epitome of sexy? Did you mention cupcakes in those breakfast plans!? Then heck yes, be right there…<3
This looks so good! I love chocolate granola…I make a chocolate cinnamon granola quite often and it is so good in cereal as well! Granola are the best snacks and I send them to school with Olivia. We just finished off a pumpkin spice batch, so since I already have steel cut oats in the pantry, I will need to try this with those! I’ve never tried them in granola before, but I imagine they would definitely add an awesome texture. I’m with you on the maple syrup, it’s the only sweetener I’ve ever used for years in my granola…so much flavor and crunch! To me, granola is a problem though, because no matter how big of a batch I make, I can’t keep my hands off of eating it constantly! It’s sooo addictive. I imagine I would have the same “problem” with this amazing recipe, too, lol! Oh, and I love your festive striped red towel…perfect for following up with gingerbread, heck yeah!
Mmmm chocolate cinnamon granola sounds wonderful! I know for a fact I would have a very hard time not plowing through that batch much too quickly one handful at a time. I’m safer eating it as cereal, once I start just snacking on it there is no stopping haha. Maple syrup is just the bomb in general, isn’t it!? I go through so much it’s ridiculous. I ran out the other day, ran to the store just for that, and came home with 30 dollars worth of nothing but maple syrup lol. Might as well stock up 😀 I am totally being that person who just skips over Thanksgiving and jumps straight to Christmas this year it seems, but oh well! Thanks Brandi!
Chocolate is ALWAYS a good place to start ? I’ve never had steel cut oats before but I’m loving the textures in here! Haha!! Chocolate cereal milk ? Mmmm, I would totally devour a bowl of this granola and (chocolate) milk. YUM! I was always an eat-it-by-the-handful or throw it on a smoothie bowl kind of girl, but when it comes to chocolatey things, milk is a perfect way to pair it. Goodness, yet another recipe to add to my list! XO
I must confess, I have never really given up chocolate on AIP? Okay I did for about a week, felt no difference, and then added it back lol. It’s just too good in any and every form. I’m usually a intend to eat it as cereal and then end up eating it all by the handful kinda girl 😀 Thanks lovely <3 xo
At first when I read this title I thought it said “chocolate crunchola” and that actually sounds about right becuase looks so crunchy and clustery!!! Lol my mind is playing tricks on me!
Hahahaha!! That is an awesome word actually, so now I kinda want to rename it 😀
Looks good! Could you substitute rice krispies for the brown rice cereal?
Absolutely!!
This is awesome…could just eat whole pan right now!!
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Haha I have the same urge pretty much anytime I make granola 😀 I’m so happy to hear that you like it though Jody, happy snacking!
Love that this is nut free, great for school option! I don’t have an issue with oil and wanted lower sugar for kids so I did 1/3 cup coconut oil and 1/3 cup syrup and added 1/3 cup pumpkin seeds. Delicious!
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I am so happy to hear that you liked it, and hopefully your kids did too! Yep swapping in some coconut oil totally works and keeps it crispy and cluster-packed. Thanks for the feedback Kristen 🙂
I love most of your recipes! Its hard to find low-fat in the healthy fooe recipes. Always so much fat or nuts in granola, going to try 🙂 DO
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I know exactly what you mean–most granola recipes tend to be a party of all kinds of nuts and seeds. But this one is perfectly crispy and delicious without. Oh and the chocolate addition doesn’t hurt 🙂 Hope you enjoy Dana!
Could this be frozen and still be yummy once thawed?
How would you suggest freezing to keep it as good as fresh?
Hmm I’ve never tried freezing granola so I can’t say, but I’m guessing it will be soggy/mushy after thawing. But even at room temp if you seal it really well it can last a couple of weeks 🙂
Could you use all oatmeal in this recipe? Leaving out the cereal? Thanks.
The recipe already calls for oatmeal, that is what the rolled oats are. But you could use more oats in place of the cereal, yes. Although if you make that substitution it won’t be quite as much, probably just 1/2-3/4 cup for the 1 cup cereal 🙂
Hi Natalie,
Knowing my oven, I’ve put it on a lower temperature and it still got burnt pretty quickly.
Do you have any suggestions?
Thanks!
Definitely lower temp, did you do 350 or 325? And then just less time–check it at 5 minutes or so and then just keep a close eye on it. You could try stirring it up halfway through the cooking, that will definitely help prevent burning, but you won’t get as big of clusters then. Hope those tips can help!
I did 325.
Thanks for the tips, i’ll try making it again.
🙂
325 should be good, I wouldn’t go much lower than that. The stirring will definitely help though 🙂
EASY AND DELICIOUS!!
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Woohoo!! I’m so happy you liked it Marie🤗
I just made this and it tastes amazing! I had never used steel cut oats in granola before but really added a nice texture. Where I live I could not find crispy brown rice cereal so I just used plain puffed rice and it worked fine, but I imagine it being even crunchier with the crispy kind. Thank you so much for sharing this delicious recipe, will make again soon!
I am so happy you liked it Helen!! Yes the steel cut oats are a fun addition, and the crispy rice cereal does give it that crunch but puffed still adds a light element which I love🤗😋 Thanks for the feedback and I hope you enjoy many more batches to come!
Quick, easy and sooo yummy! A new staple at our house! Thank you !
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Woohoo!!! I am so happy it was a success🤗 Thanks for the feedback Brooke, and enjoy many more crunchy batches to come!
A couple of questions. Can I use date paste if I don’t have maple syrup? Also, do you cook the steel cut oats or just use them raw? This looks so good and I can’t wait to make it!
I used raw steel cut oats, cooked they will be too mushy. And I don’t recommend date paste for this recipe, the water in it will make the granola chewy and soft instead of crunchy, but I do have this date-sweetened granola recipe instead: https://www.feastingonfruit.com/date-sweetened-3-seed-granola/
This is so good!! I just had a baby and had to go dairy and soy free to nurse her so I’ve been searching for some easy and healthy snacks and this one is perfect! And the added bonus is that oats help increase milk production. This is going to be a staple in my house. Thanks!
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Aw yay!! I am so happy you tried and liked it🤗 Congrats on the baby and best of luck to you with the new diet (and just life in general😳❤️)
I just made this and it’s incredible! I didn’t have any crispy rice cereal on hand, so I used rice chex 😂 Just as delicious I’m sure! I also added in some coconut oil because I wanted a little less sugar. Definitely going to make this again😁
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Rice chex granola actually sounds amazing though haha!! I bet the texture was quite different but delish😋 I am so happy you liked it, and yes coconut oil works too. Thanks for the feedback and happy monday, Kylie!
This was super simple and quick to make and really tasty. Satisfies the need for something sweet and chocolatey but in a healthy way. Love it!! I used half the amount of maple syrup and just added a tiny bit…maybe a quarter tsp…of pure powdered stevia to sweeten. It turned out perfect. Thanks!!
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I am so happy it was a success Tammy! Good to know about the stevia too since I never know how to sub in stevia when people ask🙈 Thanks for the feedback, and enjoy snacking through the rest!
So since my first comment I have made this two more times. It’s never even made it to the cereal bowl cause I just can’t stop munching on it. The second batch I made earlier this week was pumpkin spice. Used this recipe but left out the cocoa and added 2 tsp of pumpkin pie spice and 1 tsp of vanilla. Still just used half the called for amount of maple syrup and about a qtr tsp of stevia. It was delicious. Today I’m back to the chocolate version…..this may become a daily obsession. 🙄
That. Is. Genius!! Okay I gotta make a pumpkin spice batch soon thank you for the inspiration🤗 I absolutely adore this stuff too, I went through a phase of making it back to back to back for months😂 So happy you are loving it, Tammy!