Chewy Chocolate Granola

You ever just crave something chocolaty like a cookie or brownie but know those don't exactly scream healthy?  Well what if I told you you could get something that tasted pretty darn close with some crunchy texture and good for you ingredients?  After expanding on my granola prowess, this was supposed to be a bar but turned into a happy accident.

Here's what you'll need:

1 3/4 cup rolled oats
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa (I use Valrhona)
1/4 cup real maple syrup
1 cup raw almonds
15 dates, pitted
3 tbsp organic coconut oil
2 tbsp natural peanut butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 block 70% Chocolate Scharffen Berger (or 1/3 cup 70% dark chocolate of your choice)
1/4 cup raw pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
1/4 tsp salt
2 tbsp chia seeds
1 tbsp raw honey


In a food processor or blender, pulse the oats a few times until it's broken down but not a flour consistency.  You still want some whole pieces.

In a bowl, add the oats, cocoa and maple syrup.

Stir until well combined.

Put your whole almonds in the food processor and pulse until they are smallish chunks.

Pit 15 dates and put them in the food processor...

... and pulse until broken down.

Add coconut oil, peanut butter, honey, and vanilla to the dates in the food processor...

...and pulse until it becomes paste like.

Get your pepitas ready.  You can keep them whole or rough chop them depending on preference.

Add the chia seeds, pepitas to the oat and nut mixture...

Add salt and toss to combine.

Scharffen Berger is a great, high quality chocolate and I get it at Target.

Use one block and rough chop until somewhat small.

Add it to the oatmeal mixture.

Put the date mixture into the oatmeal mixture...

Now it's time to get your hands dirty!  Take off your rings and squish it until it all comes together and there aren't any dry bits.

Like so...

Cover the finished product and refrigerate for about an hour.  Break into 12 servings (about 58g on a food scale) and bag for portion control.

It'll keep 7-10 days in the fridge...if it lasts that long.

The Mr loves this because it tastes like textured chocolate cookie/brownie crumbs but with less guilt!

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