Crunchy Tropical Chocolate Chip Granola Recipe
on Apr 11, 2021, Updated Nov 23, 2022
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure for more info.
A super crunchy healthy chocolate granola that tastes like dessert? Sign me up! Made with coconut oil, honey, nuts, cocoa and dried fruit, this low sugar granola has an irresistible tropical twist.
What you’ll love about it
This crunchy chocolate granola may well be your new favourite healthy granola. Not only is it an easy and decadent (but not really) treat of a breakfast, it also makes an easy snack (just grab a handful), or tasty topping for yogurt or ice cream.
It’s hard to know whether to call this breakfast or dessert, but one thing we can definitely call it is super easy to make and delicious!
Here’s what else you’ll love:
All healthy ingredients. It’s low in sugar (natural sugar all the way!), gluten free (if you get gluten free oats) and vegan too (if you stick to dark chocolate with no milk).
Crunchier than your average healthy granola. Thanks to a ‘secret’ ingredient – a whisked egg white. Shh, don’t tell!
Easy to prepare in just 10 minutes. The oven does the rest in just 30 to 40 minutes!
Make it your own. It’s so easy to swap out the ingredients for the ones you prefer and have. Allergic to tree nuts? Use peanuts instead. Want to make it even healthier? Throw in a few chia, hemp or sesame seeds as well.
Can make a perfect gift. Just package in an airtight glass container, add a label and give as a yummy gift.
About the ingredients
Coconut oil: This healthy fat adds a subtle coconut flavour, but feel free to use another healthy neutral tasting oil instead. Rice bran oil, grapeseed oil, avocado oil or even olive oil are all good choices.
Honey: Any runny honey you like. Can you replace with maple syrup? Yes, why not!
Cocoa powder: Any you like although unsweetened is best. Super healthy cacao works well, too, if you prefer.
Cinnamon: I love to add a little hint of cinnamon flavour. Substitute for ground ginger if you like – or add ginger as well.
Salt: A little salt helps to bring out the other flavours. Don’t skip it.
Rolled oats: Make sure you use rolled oats or old fashioned oats and not quick cooking oats or steel cut oats. This is important to get the texture of the granola right.
1 whisked egg white: This is the ‘secret ingredient’ to make your yummy chocolate chip granola super crunchy and delicious.
Tropical fruit and nuts: I’ve made some suggestions in the recipe (coconut, banana chips, peanuts, etc…) but have a wander around your local bulk buy store and see what they have. Different types of nuts, seeds and dried fruits will all work well.
Dark chocolate chips: I like chocolate chips with 70% cocoa, but use what you have and like.
How to make it
It couldn’t be simpler to make this delicious crunchy chocolate granola.
Step 1: Pre-heat the oven to 300F/150C and line a large baking tray with baking paper.
Step 2: Melt the coconut and honey together in a large pan. Stir in the cocoa powder, cinnamon & salt.
Step 3: Pour this mixture over the oats in a large bowl and mix really well so that all the oats get coated.
Step 4: Whisk the egg white with a small whisk until it’s light and frothy (a minute or two), then stir this into the mixture too.
Step 5: Spread the mixture out evenly over the baking tray and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, turning once half way through cooking.
Step 6: Leave the mixture to cool for about ten minutes before stirring through about half of the chocolate chips. When the mixture has fully cooled, stir in the tropical fruit and nuts and mango pieces, plus the remaining chocolate chips.
How to serve it
I love to grab handfuls of tropical chocolate granola when I need a quick snack. It’s also delicious sprinkled over a bowl of oatmeal or yogurt for breakfast.
If you’re thinking more dessert, sprinkle on top of ice cream (or healthy 5-minute chocolate banana nice cream!) or English pancakes.
This granola also makes a really classy and healthy food gift! Just pile it into a mason jar and attach a gift tag to it. The granola will keep well for a week or two or if can be put in the freezer for a couple of months.
Top tips
- For super crunchy granola, lightly press the mixture down on the baking tray before baking. Only stir once, half way through. Then leave to cool before stirring it. You can always break up some bigger chunks if you like when it’s completely cool. Yum!
- Some ingredients, such as coconut, will burn if added before baking. Check the recipe carefully to see which ingredients are added before and which after.
Variations
The great thing about homemade granola is that you can swap things out for others. Just make sure you keep the weight of the dry ingredients about the same as stated in the recipe. Here are some ideas for substitutions:
- Add a quarter cup of nut butter (peanut, almond, whatever you like) to the coconut oil and honey mixture.
- Swap the mango for dried papaya, raisins, pineapple, or any other ‘tropical’ type fruits. Or add some chopped pieces of these delicious candied oranges!
- Add a teaspoon of ground ginger and/or a little chopped candied ginger.
- Throw in extra seeds such as hemp, chia, flax and sesame for extra nutrition.
More things to know (recipe FAQ)
In an airtight container at room temperature, it will keep for a week or two. If you want to keep it for longer, you can freeze it for up to 2 months.
No, this isn’t a good idea. The texture may not be the same. You want nice big chunky oats! Use rolled oats or old-fashioned oats. Not steel cut oats, either.
Coconut oil works really well as it’s healthy and adds a subtle coconut flavour. But yes, other healthy oils work well, too. Try a light olive oil, rice bran oil or other favourite healthy oil.
More healthy snack recipes
- Love granola? You may also like this homemade low sugar granola recipe. So easy to customize and make your own!
- It’s hard to choose between these healthy chocolate orange date bars or these healthy chocolate orange truffles. Both so easy to make with only 5 ingredients!
- Fan of granola bars? These healthy sweet and salty peanut butter granola bars are a Nature Valley copycat, and hard to resist.
Fan of healthier snacks in general? Check out this 50+ sweet healthy snacks that don’t taste boring.
IF YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE, LET ME KNOW HOW YOU GET ON BY LEAVING A COMMENT AND RATING BELOW… AND DON’T FORGET TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE ALL MY NEW RECIPES BY EMAIL!
FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM, PINTEREST AND YOUTUBE.
Crunchy Tropical Chocolate Chip Granola Recipe
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil
- 1/3 cup runny honey
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/3 teaspoon salt
- 3 3/4 cup rolled oats, not quick-cook & use gluten-free oats to make the granola gluten-free
- 1 large egg white
- 7 ounces mixed tropical fruit & nuts e.g. brazil nuts, coconut flakes, banana chips, unsalted peanuts etc.
- 3 ounces dried mango, chopped if necessary
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 300F/150C and line a large baking tray with baking paper.
- Melt the coconut oil
and honey together on a low heat. Add the cocoa powder, cinnamon & salt and stir well. - Let the mixture cool slightly, then pour it over the oats in a large bowl and mix really well so that all of the oats are coated.
- Whisk the egg white in a small bowl until it’s light and frothy, then pour it into the mixture and stir in well.
- Spread the mixture out evenly over the baking tray and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, turning regularly (or a little less regularly if you prefer a chunkier granola).
- Leave the mixture to cool for about ten minutes before stirring through about half of the chocolate chips. When the mixture has fully cooled, stir in the tropical fruit and nuts and mango pieces, plus the remaining chocolate chips.
- Serve in a bowl with milk or on top of some Greek yoghurt with a little extra honey drizzled over the top. Store in an air-tight container.
and honey together on a low heat. Add the cocoa powder, cinnamon & salt and stir well.
Gorgeous granola! I don’t mind traveling by plane internationally, but now that I have a baby I’m a bit more daunted by the whole experience! Can’t wait to see your adventures in Australia!
Ooh, I can’t imagine travelling with a baby all that way! So happy you like the granola and yes, hopefully there will be some great adventures to share from over here. Unfortunately we’re working and living rather than doing the fun travelling thing, but I’m sure there’ll be a few fun times as well!
So exciting that you’re on your way to Australia! Hope you get in and settled and enjoy this new adventure! This granola looks yummy : )
Thanks so much, Natalie! Loved yours!
I have far too many Doh! stories, and one is like your laptop. I was sitting on the shuttle bus to go from the airport to the parking lot, got off the bus, and realized as the bus drove away I’d left my IPad on it. I yelled for the bus to stop but it didn’t hear me! I looked at the bus number, asked the next shuttle driver to radio the bus and arrange for me to pick up the IPad. It worked, and thank goodness I got it back. I’m glad you had a reunion with yours as well. 🙂
This granola sounds insanely delicious, and I would of course add chocolate chips, because I love chocolate for breakfast, or any time of day! Pinning!
Thanks so much for the pin, Marcie, and for sharing your ‘doh!’ moment. It makes my heart sink just thinking about leaving something on a bus. Now you’ve just reminded me of another awful story. I lent a travel bag that belonged to someone else to another friend. Very bad idea, as she then proceeded to leave this bag on the bus. It turned out that the bag had belonged to the owner’s twin sister who had passed away, so she was very upset about it. Oh my goodness, how could I ever make up for that? 🙁
Oh dear … anyway, so glad you like the granola. I was so impressed with myself that I think I might make another batch today, maybe without chocolate this time for hubby. 😉
Homemade granola is such an improvement over store bought (and much healthier as well!) I agree! And with a little swishing about and some time in your oven, it really is a cinch. I have made chocolate granola before a long plane trip as well and loved it but used the antioxidant rich cacao in mine with great success but love your addition here of the tropical fruits. So pretty too!
Actually, I did consider using cacao instead and probably will next time – I just didn’t have any when I made this. Thanks for the compliment on the photos. I tend to go for the prettiest foods just so that they will look better in the photos!
Hi Helen! I love the travel buzz too! I like international travel -it’s so exciting!!! That’s an AMAZING DOH moment! Why does it always happen when we travel?? hehe. I’ve had 2 -with my passport. Once, I was in grade 10 and on a layover in London heading to Italy and I left my passport on the counter of a coffee shop in the airport. Luckily I ran back half an hour later and it was still there!!! The second time I was in Monaco with my BF and we were popping into the hotel foyer to get the bags and I left my purse with EVERYTHING passports, visa, etc. in it and the driver took off. I thought he was going to steal all of our stuff but it turns out, he was just going around the block to find a parking spot. HEART ATTACK. Longest 5 minutes of my life.
It’s so exciting that you’re writing from 35,000 feet! Also, with a G&T, that sounds like THE life. The granola looks amazing! I’ve never made chocolate granola before and I really have no idea why. Sweet chocolate crunchiness with some yogurt sounds heavenly. And if any of this is “grass” granola, I totally can’t tell!
Haha … don’t worry, I carefully ‘screened’ the granola in my photos for any ‘greenery’! I would definitely have had a heart attack too if I’d seen a bus driver leaving with my purse. Losing something important is the worst feeling in the world, isn’t it?
So glad you ‘approve’ of the chocolate in the granola. Maybe next time I’ll replace the cocoa with healthier raw cacao to balance out the chocolate ‘naughtiness’!
Helen, I’m not particularly a fan of flying either. And I don’t like to fly long distance, but I fly a lot because I have family in South America, so from Canada to Brazil is about 10 hours fly… so long!
Your tropical idea looks delicious and summery 😉
Hi, Olivia! From England to Perth Australia the flight was 7 hours from England to Dubai and then another 10 hours from Dubai to Perth. The first part was OK but I found the last few hours just excruciating! My knees were aching so much in the end from sitting in the same spot for so long. Oh well – I think I’d better get used to it because I married an Aussie! Are you going back to Brazil for the soccer world cup?
Glad you like the granola!
No, unfortunately I am not going for the World cup. But I am going in December for Christmas 😉
Even better! 🙂
Like this? https://manilovefilms.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/5c1.jpg haha!
Anyway, this sounds like the perfect summer breakfast. I’ve pinned it and hope to try it sometime!
Hahaha! I wish I’d thought of posting that picture with my post, Aimee! Hilarious! So glad you like it and thanks for the pin! 🙂
Oh no! That’s too bad about your lap top…but definitely sounds like something I would do! Hopefully this granola made you feel a little bit better. I absolutely love that it’s both tropical AND chocolate! I’ve never made chocolate granola before, but this seems like the perfect recipe to try out!
Well, like I said the chocolate definitely divided opinion in our house! I’m all for it, though!
So glad you liked it!
Hi Helen!
You have nothing to fear with your “doh” moments. Now my husband and I have never lost a child, however, we have left our dogs at the park before. And we’ll be sitting in the car thinking…..where’s the dogs…..?? Oh dear, driving back in a hurry.
What I love best about your tropical granola is that it’s oh-so-portable. This is the snack that I put in my own nifty plastic container before heading to the park or pool with the kiddos. Your green one is adorable though.
And yes, a little chocolate for breakfast please!!!
Hahaha … your story about leaving your dogs at the park is hilarious! Definitely a ‘doh!’ moment! The funniest part is that both you and your husband forgot!
That’s a great idea to treat homemade granola like a portable snack. I constantly struggle to find healthy snacks at the supermarket that I actually want to eat. I’ll definitely try that!
Glad you approve of the chocolate … I put all my chocolate in there with a bit of trepidation and don’t think I’ll be able to get away with it the next time. I told my husband that I was just putting it in there this time for the blog but that I would make him some more without chocolate next time. Oh well, you can’t win them all. 😉
Je suis contente que le voyage c’est bien passé pour toi! c’est tellement excitant arrivé dans un nouveau pays…plein des belles choses à découvrir! Nottingham peut attend !
Ton granola maison est époustouflant ! 🙂
Merci beaucoup, Eva! Nous sommes encore tres fatigue mais au moins on est arrive sain et sauf! Tu as raison – Nottingham peut attendre!