DARK CHOCOLATE CHERRY GRANOLA

The Okanagan – in granola form! This addictive Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola is a mix of oats, dark chocolate, dried cherries, coconut and crunchy almonds. Enjoy solo, with a splash of milk, or over your morning yogurt. This also makes a beautiful gift packaged up in a jar with a ribbon!

It’s cherry season y’all! That means time to find a way to incorporate cherries into basically every meal. Luckily I have this incredible Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola to share with (and many other cherry recipes)!

Eating granola is a great way to start the day, and is easy to take on the go! I enjoy it best with a little milk and handful of fresh fruit on top, but to each their own. Make into a parfait with fruit and your favourite yogurt or even layer it into a popsicle mould with yogurt or leftover smoothie for a breakfast popsicle.  Consider your mind officially blown.  Keep scrolling for your new favourite granola recipe.

Recipe Ideas for Cherries

Cherries can be enjoyed in their purest of forms – right off the tree! But cherries also work great in both sweet and savoury dishes. Here are some of the ways I love to use fresh cherries:

1. Make a cherry smoothie
2. Enjoy in a salad (like this Cherry Kale Salad)
3. Add them to my morning yogurt
4. Make Cherry Ice Cream
5. Make a salsa with peaches
6. Black Forest Black Bean Brownies – just add ice cream and OMG so good
   

   Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola

   The Okanagan – in granola form! This addictive Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola is a mixture of dark chocolate, dried cherries, coconut and almonds. Enjoy solo, with a splash of milk, or over your morning yogurt. This also makes a beautiful gift packaged up in a glass jar.

    Course Breakfast, Snack

    Keyword Cherry, Granola, Nuts, Oats
    Prep Time 15 minutes

    Cook Time 20 minutes
    Servings 10 cups

   Ingredients

   • 5 cups old-fashioned oats
   • 2 cups coconut* (ribbon or flaked)
   • 1 cup roughly chopped raw almonds
   • 1 cup whole raw almonds
   • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
   • ¼ teaspoon salt
   • ½ cup neutral oil or melted coconut oil
   • ½ cup maple syrup
   • 1 teaspoon vanilla
   • 1 teaspoon almond extract
   • 1 cup dark chocolate chunks or chips optional
   • 1 cup dried cherries
   • ½ cup hemp hearts

   Instructions

   1. Preheat the oven to 325 F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
   2. In a large bowl combine the oats, coconut, almonds, cinnamon and salt.
   3. In a separate medium bowl whisk together the oil, maple syrup, vanilla and almond extract. Drizzle it over the oat mixture, stir well to combine.

   4. Spead the granola evenly on the prepared pan and bake for approximately 20 minutes, until a light golden brown. Once completely cooled, stir in the chocolate, dried cherries and hemp hearts. Store in a sealed container at room temperature for up to 1 month.

   Recipe Notes

   *sweetened or unsweetened, it’s up to you