SRC: Chocolate Chip Granola

It’s no surprise that we are a granola loving family.  It’s one of those items I love having on hand at all times.  It’s perfect to top yogurt, accompany cereal, have a delicious parfait or just a quick and easy snack on the go.  More times than not you can guarantee I have a bag in my purse for those times I need a quick pick-me-up while I’m running errands.

Granola is so easy to make and it’s so much fun to customize.  I’ve made various types of granola from white chocolate cranberry, tropical, and even a simple brown sugar version and they have all been amazing.  The flavors and tastes can easily be changed by adding different fruits and nuts to the mix.  Granola is also one of those items that is fun to get the kids involved with too.  It’s just a matter of combining and stirring a few different ingredients, pouring them on a baking sheet and popping them in the oven for a few minutes.  When it’s all said and done you’ve got a delicious snack that the kids will love and they’ll be so proud because they helped make it.

So when it came time for this month’s secret recipe club assignment, I was perusing Erin’s blog, our table for seven, and I came across her recipe for chocolate granola and I instantly knew what I wanted to make.  This combines two of my favorite things; granola and chocolate.  Yum!  This is a girl after my own heart; Erin and her family sound about like me and my family, we both are addicted to granola…and chocolate.

Erin is a fun-loving wife and mother of 5.  She is an incredibly strong woman who grew up with 4 siblings, has a large family, loves cooking and photography.  She has her hands full with 5 kids so she knows how important it is to be able to make a healthy meal that can please 5 kiddos and her husband and she also knows that it needs to be done quickly.  Quick, easy and healthy is the name of the game; with a few splurges here and there.  She has an abundance of tempting and mouthwatering recipes on her blog that I can’t wait to try.  I tried my best not to go for the granola for the swap, but it just looked and sounded so good I just couldn’t help myself!  So be sure to head on over to Erin’s blog and check her and her recipes out!

Chocolate Chip Granola

Ingredients:


3 Cups rolled oats
2 1/2 Tbsp packed brown sugar
Pinch of salt
1 Cup almonds, roughly chopped
1/4 Cup + 2 Tbsp honey
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
3/4 Cup mini chocolate chips

Directions:


Preheat oven to 325.  Spray a baking sheet with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.

Place oats, brown sugar, salt, and almonds in a bowl and toss to combine.

Place honey and vegetable oil in a microwave safe bowl and heat for 25-30 seconds, until honey is thin. Stir and pour over the oat mixture.  Stir the mixture to ensure all the ingredients are covered in the honey mixture.  Spread on the prepared baking sheet and place in the preheated oven and bake until golden and the oats start to get crunchy, about 25 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to sit, untouched for about 5 minutes.  Once the mixture has cooled slightly, using a spatula, gently move the granola around to ensure it hasn’t stuck to the pan.

Allow the mixture to cool completely, gently transfer to a bowl and add the chocolate chips and toss gently to incorporate.

*This method allows some of the granola to form little chunks, which I love.  If you prefer a granola without chunks then stir the mixture throughout the baking process.

Recipe source: slightly adapted from Our Table for Seven