Crispy Coconut & Cacao Granola Recipe by Darina Coffey

Chocolate for breakfast? Don’t ever say I’m not good to you! This coconut and cacao granola recipe is healthy-ish, with an abundance of seeds, nuts and super food goji berries as well as coconut oil, a fantastic fatty friend for all.

Sprinkle this granola on a smoothie bowl, splash ice-cold milk over it or just empty the jar into your mouth – this is addictive stuff, you’ve been warned!

Makes enough to fill 3×1 litre mason jars

Ingredients:

– 350g oats (I use gluten-free)
– 150g sunflower seeds
– 50g flaxseed
– 150g pumpkin seeds
– 200g mixed nuts, roughly chopped (I love brazil and hazelnuts in this recipe)
– 100g flaked almonds
– 50g coconut shavings/flakes
– 100g goji berries
– 50g raisins (use 150g if you have no goji berries)
– 120ml honey
– 70g coconut oil
– 50g coconut sugar
– 2 egg whites
– 50g cacao powder/cocoa powder
– 1 tbsp cinnamon

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 150C and line 2/3 baking sheets.
2. Combine the oats, nuts, seeds and coconut shavings in a large bowl and mix in the cacao powder, cinnamon and a sprinkle of salt.
3. Melt the coconut oil, coconut sugar and honey together in the microwave for 2 mins or over a medium heat in a saucepan.
4. Pour the oil mix over the dry ingredients and stir to coat evenly.
5. Whisk the egg whites until foamy and pour over the mixture, stirring to coat.
6. Spread the mixture on the baking trays and bake for 30-25 minutes, stirring occasionally.
7. Remove from the oven and sprinkle over the goji berries and raisins.
8. Allow to cool before stirring to break into clusters.
9. Store in airtight mason jars.

Growing up with the name Darina, I was constantly asked if I could cook like my namesake. With that(and greed) as the ultimate motivator, I realised that baked goods make excellent bribes and an obsession was born! With bachelor’s and master’s degrees in law I undertook a PhD, but a preference for cookbooks to textbooks persisted. As a (self-confessed!) demon in the kitchen, I am the only person to have contested both Masterchef and the Great Irish Bake off, fuelling my desire to focus on food in a serious way. Working with TheTaste allows me to satisfy this craving and marries my food fascination with my love of writing and ranting.