Crunchy double chocolate almond granola CLUSTERS made with dark chocolate cocoa powder and sweetened with honey
I have a love-hate relationship with granola. I loveeee eating it, but I don’t love that a measly 1/4 cup serving often has 200+ calories, or that I have absolutely no self-control around an open package of those crispy clusters. I don’t even need yogurt– just hand me a bag of granola and I can go to town.
My favorite store-bought granola has to be Trader Joe’s “Just the Clusters.” There’s a chocolate almond kind and a vanilla almond kind and they’re both really good, with surprisingly short ingredient lists. The best part is that they’re packed with huge chunks of granola, not just broken little pieces. Much clusters. So yum. (<- How my roommate and I started talking last year when we were way too tired.) I highly recommend trying it if you live near a Trader Joe’s.
But if you don’t happen to live near a Trader Joe’s or prefer to make your own granola, no worries. I set out to recreate that incredible chocolate almond granola, clusters and all, and I have to say…the homemade kind is even better.
From start to finish, you can have your granola mixture stirred together, baked, and out of the oven in less than 25 minutes. After it cools, toss in a handful of chocolate chips and be prepared to satisfy your deepest chocolate cravings for less than 200 calories per serving (a big handful of clusters)!
Double chocolate almond granola– much clusters, way crispy, so yum.
Skinny Double Chocolate Granola- a decadent and healthy treat with less than 200 calories per serving!
- 2 3/4 cups old-fashioned whole rolled oats (not quick or instant)
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (I use dark chocolate cocoa powder)
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon instant espresso powder, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup canola oil
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1/2 cup slivered or chopped almonds
- 1/4 cup semi-sweet or dark chocolate chips
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Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.
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Combine oats, cocoa powder, brown sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Add canola oil and honey and stir to coat oats completely. Add slivered or chopped almonds and stir just to combine.
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Spread onto parchment or silicone-lined baking sheet. Bake for 16-18 minutes without stirring.
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Remove from oven and allow to cool completely, and then add chocolate chips. Break into large clusters.
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For best results, either store covered at room temperature for up to 10 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
For perfect clusters:
Refrain from stirring the granola once it is on the baking sheet, only breaking it apart into large pieces once it is completely cooled.
Press granola down with spatula once it comes out of the oven to help it clump together.
The espresso powder doesn't make the granola taste like coffee. It just enhances the chocolate flavor, but is completely okay to leave out if you don't have it on hand.
Inspired by this recipe
Nutrition info for one serving (1/12 of the recipe):
Calories: 192 Total fat: 9g Saturated fat: 1g Carbs: 28g Fiber: 4g Sugar: 12g Protein: 4g
Questions for you:
Have you tried making your own granola?
What’s one of your favorite things to buy at Trader Joe’s?
Besides their granola cereals, I love their dark chocolate peanut butter cups and their tomato basil hummus.
How do you like to satisfy your chocolate cravings?
Usually with ice cream…but anything that’s extremely chocolate-y works for me!
I am exactly the same with granola. I love it, but you get so little for so much calories. This looks like it would be totally worth the calories though.
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on Feta, Avocado and Roasted Red Pepper Sandwich by Ami@NaiveCookCooks
I agree- if I’m going to have granola or something that’s pretty high in calories, it has to be really delicious so it’s worth it! Fortunately, this granola’s lower in calories than most 🙂
I love making homemade granola! Not only is tasty and can be a whole lot healthier than store bought, but the smell while it is baking is like no other!
Brie @ Lean, Clean, & Brie recently posted…WIAW: With Balance Comes Dessert
Even if I never got to taste baked goods, the smell of them in the oven would be worth making them!
Double chocolate anything is a must-have! My favorite thing to get at Trader Joe’s has to be their cottage cheese.. no shame. It is truly the best!
I really enjoy making homemade granola, also. The best part is putting anything you want into it.
Alison @ Sweetly Petite recently posted…Choco-Sun Granola Recipe
I LOVE cottage cheese so that’s good to know! I’ve kind of forgotten about it recently so thanks for the reminder. i actually love mixing it into bowls of spaghetti, like easy lasagna 🙂
Double chocolate. Need I say more?
My favorite TJ find (besides their wine) has got to be their cookies n’ cream cookie butter. That stuff is dangerous for me!
Stacie @ SimplySouthernStacie recently posted…Getting Through the Hump: Part 2
I’ve seen that before at Trader Joe’s! I’m generally not a huge fan of sweet nut butters/cookie butters for some reason, but I LOVE cookies ‘n’ cream and have no doubt that it’s pretty addictive!
Ok I know we’ve discussed this before…I’m not a big “granola for breakfast” girl but this would be a KILLER dessert 🙂 nom!!
Lauren @ ihadabiglunch recently posted…Studio Review: Orangetheory Fitness
HAHA I love that we’ve had conversations like this before 🙂 Granola’s definitely more of a snacky food and dessert for me, too, since I’d probably have to eat a ton of it to be a whole meal, which mighttt not be the best.
I’m totally with you, I can eat an entire bag of granola without a second thought. I’ve never made my own granola but I like making at home granola bars 🙂 Best thing to buy at TJs is the cauliflower rice – totally bought into it! I have a few pieces of dark chocolate which helps satisfy my sweet tooth.
Jamie recently posted…WIAW – Diaya
Ooh I’ve seen recipes for cauliflower rice before but haven’t ever noticed it at Trader Joe’s! They have so many great freezer options.
I love making my own granola but this chocolate one is totally calling my name!
I love making granola and this one looks delicious! Anything “double chocolate” sounds pretty perfect to me.
I started shopping at Trader Joe’s pretty recently, but so far some of my favorite things are their sweet potato fries and dried mandarin orange slices. Trying new products is fun 🙂
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday recently posted…Lately I’ve Been…
Ooh, I haven’t tried their sweet potato fries or dried mandarin orange slices. Sounds yummy!
There’s a Trader Joe’s near where I grew up, but we never really went. (Though we still have a couple of their big reusable bags that we use all the time!) I want to go back some time as an adult and see what all the fuss is about.
Rebecca @ MyEagerFeet recently posted…Hatfield McCoy Marathon Recap (Round Two)
There’s definitely a lot of hype about Trader Joe’s! I love it because the prices are usually pretty low and they have a lot of fun snacky foods and healthy frozen items (like precooked brown rice, quinoa blends, etc.), but it’s more of an extra stop for me rater than a one stop shop since there are usually a few things I need that they don’t have 🙂
First of all, yum, this looks so good! My sister and I are definitely on a granola kick right now! It’s funny, because the last granola we made was very similar to this one. It wasn’t perfect, though, and we didn’t stir in chocolate chips at the end, which was a mistake. =S
I am the same way – give me plain granola (especially chocolate!), and I don’t need anything else! Although, my new favorite way to have it is out of hand with a glass of milk. Kind of like the traditional way of in a bowl, but it doesn’t get soggy.
My favorite thing to buy at TJs is probably their Pounds Plus Belgian Chocolate. Once it’s cut up, one (or more!) of those squares is usually how I satisfy my chocolate cravings. If you haven’t tried it, you really should! I like their 72% out of hand, but not everyone does. The dark chocolate is a good place to start, IMO. 😀 (Also, their chocolate chunks are really good!)
Abbie recently posted…Goodbye Selfies + Baby Puppy Pics
I actually have tried their Pound Plus dark chocolate and the 72% is the perfect sweetness for me! I’ve also used it for baking homemade brownies 🙂
I have never made homemade granola! My friends have made it before and always give me some of the extra (how can there be extra?!) I’ve only been to TJs twice and bought cookie butter each time. However I did try all the samples =P My chocolate fix is usually a PB&Nutella sandwich (eating one now ahhaa)
Ellie recently posted…The Yoga Cat
Your friends sound wonderful! And seriously- how do they have “extra” granola? This was gone in my house in about 2 days!
Ah, I have the same love-hate relationship with granola too. I seriously could eat an entire box in one sitting…which is why I don’t eat it very often. But it’s soooo good and this recipe looks incredible!
I’m glad it’s not just me who can’t stop eating granola! I try not to eat it toooo often either, but I love making it for special occasions or to give away as a gift!
Wow, this looks like dessert, but knowing me, I could definitely justify having it for breakfast. 🙂 I think I need to make granola very soon, and I think I know what kind it will be!
Emily recently posted…TOL: How to Vary your Diet!
I buy TJ’s Pound Plus chocolate all the time but have never tried their granola. Make mine homemade. This one looks fabulous – more like a snack than breakfast, which is fine by me.
YASSS you’ve been killing it with the chocolate stuff lately!
Paola Angeli recently posted…Full Day of Eating #9 | 07.03.15 | Beach Vacation
I need cluster-filled granola! I actually get upset when it is all crumbled away before I get a chance to eat it! You’re so inventive Liv, and I love the recipe!
Julia @ Lord Still Loves Me recently posted…Five Things Friday: July 3rd, 2015
Liv, this looks AMAZING!
Liz @ A Latte Running recently posted…XC-eason Goals and Some Updates
Ahhh!! This looks amazing! Love that you added chocolate chunks!! …and I hear ya on the granola/ high calorie issue… like for real! Lol, yours is SO much better!
Cailee recently posted…Coconut Cocoa Banana Treats!
I might have to try this. I have an obsession with Granola. I also really love no bake peanut butter bites.
Rachael Turns Pages recently posted…6-15-6-21 Coyer has begun!
No bake peanut butter energy bites are my jam! (no pun intended although pb + jelly…) 🙂
this granola looks so darn good! Love that you added espresso powder to really bring out the chocolate 🙂
rachel @ Athletic Avocado recently posted…Paleo Dark Chocolate Chip and Orange Cookies + Thrive Market Review
I’ll add espresso powder to just about anything chocolate-y to bring out the richness of the chocolate! Even chocolate chip cookies 🙂