Crunchy Tropical Chocolate Chip Granola Recipe
on Apr 11, 2021, Updated Nov 23, 2022
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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.
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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.
First, ugh turbulence – I hate it! Makes me so nervous! And second, oh my gosh on the laptop – I would have started crying : ) haha
And then I would console myself with this granola – it looks excellent! I love making granola at home. And I do tons of silly things – the other day I boiled water in my kettle and then instead of pouring it in the cup I poured it all down the drain. Why? No idea – haha I was so mad I had to boil more!
That’s so hilarious that you poured all your boiled water away … lol! That totally sounds like the kind of thing I would do, too. I regularly heat my drinks up in the microwave, forget about them and find them there hours (or even days!) later. So glad you like the granola. I felt like it was a good first attempt at making my own – definitely getting into the granola groove now!
I am glad you managed to get your laptop back – ugh – the moment when I realized mine was lost would have been a terrible moment for me too! GAH! One of my “doh” moments happened when I tasted a cake that apparently I had put salt into instead of sugar!
I’ve yet to make my own granola – this sounds lovely specially as I am a chocolate at every meal kind a gal 🙂
Now there’s an idea – chocolate at every meal! I think you should have a go at your own granola, Shashi, and share what you come up with with us. You always come up with the most creative ideas! Can’t believe you put salt in a cake instead of sugar! Ugh! 🙂
I adore reading about your trips Helen dear! You’re so funny! Also, I really hope you have a terrific time in Perth – I’ve always wanted to travel there!
This granola looks incredibly awesome! I wish it was tomorrow’s breakfast 🙂
So happy that I entertain you, Consuelo! I do try … haha! If you ever get the chance to visit Australia, I’d say go to Sydney and/or Melbourne first, but especially Sydney (sorry Perth).
Glad you like the granola!
I make my own granola every week and I am so going to add some chocolate nibs to the next batch – yours looks divine. I hope you enjoy Perth 🙂
Hi, Tandy. I think I’ll be doing the same from now on! I’m really keen to experiment with some different ingredients. Definitely have a go at adding in the chocolate, though – and the cocoa! 🙂
Wow, your photography is beatiful!! Recipe looks mouthwatering!!
Thanks, Ami! 🙂
Wow this granola looks fabulous! Yummy! I just love the chocolate and tropical fruit twist!
Hello, Jessica! Thanks so much for paying me a visit and so glad you like the granola. I was pretty impressed that homemade granola is so easy and tasty. I think I’m going to be making this rather a lot!
Wow this looks so delicious! WIll definitely be making this on the weekend! Would be perfect for my Sunday gathering! 🙂
I had a good friend tell me yesterday that she would be taking this to a friend’s house for ‘second breakfast’! I love that – second breakfast! So glad you like this granola and … I hope you enjoy it!
I have always wanted to make granola too, Helen. I tried making one once but used vegetable oil and it just did not turn out very good. Also I am not one for cereals in the morning, I go more for bread because…carbs. But the ”chocolate” on the title definitely got my attention!
It worked really well with coconut oil, if you can get your hands on some of that. I was going to use olive oil, though. I think that should work so long as you don’t overdo it and maybe use the ‘mild tasting’ version. Glad I’m not the only one who thinks it’s OK to eat chocolate for breakfast!
Oh Helen, you are too funny :)! I love your granola! that would be a perfect snack to go for my work!
I did have a ‘Doh’ moment at the airport too: we are leaving France with my hubby and son (daughter not born yet) and it is emotional, going back to France, I ask my brother to take my carry on suitcase while we are checking in. All good, all smooth. We have time, let’s go for a coffee. Then goodbyes, then security, then wait… then as we walk on the bridge to board, “where is the suitcase? the one with all the clothing of my son… DOH.. still by the seat close the checking area… Great, it is probably destroyed by now! thank god it was not! we were lucky on that one. Doh + stress = not fun when traveling! See you are not alone 🙂
Haha! So happy that it’s not just me. The worst part of these kinds of moments is the very instant that you realise what you’ve done. Then you try to evaluate in your mind at lightning speed how serious the situation is. I enjoyed your story – a bit similar to my laptop experience, really.
So glad you like the granola! 🙂
If my kids see this they would probably love you more than they do me……
Haha! Actually, after I’d eaten this, the milk was brown, which really reminded me of Coco Pops! Definitely a kids’ kind of breakfast!