Chocolate ginger granola
This chocolate and ginger granola combines two warming flavors: the slight spiciness of the ginger and richness of dark cacao. It is vegan, nut free and can be made gluten free too!
Servings 1 batch
Ingredients
- 200 g rolled oats (gluten free if needed)
- 50 g puffed grains *
- 3 Tbsp (30g) raw cacao powder
- 2 Tbsp (20g) coconut (or brown) sugar
- 1/4 Tsp cinnamon
- 100 g dates already pitted**
- 2 Tbsp (30g) Tahini***
- 1/2 Cup (120ml) water
- 1 1/2 Tbsp freshly grated ginger
- 1/2 Tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 Cup+ 1 Tbsp (40g) cacao nibs
- 1/3 Cup (around 70g) cristalized ginger****
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200C.
- Blend the dates together with the water, Tahini, vanilla extract and ginger until it is smooth and creamy.
- In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients (oats, puffed grains, cacao powder, cinnamon and sugar)
- Add the date paste and stir until well combined. Spread the mixture out onto a lined baking tray in a rectangle.
- Reduce the temperature to 180C and bake everything for 25-30 minutes. Halfway through, break the rectangle into pieces using a wooden spoon. Check on the granola from then on every few minutes and stir it.
- Once ready, let everything cool completely. Add the cacao nibs and crystallized/ chocolate covered ginger if using. Store in an airtight container or jar. Enjoy!
Notes
*I used millet. But any other puffed grain would work too. Of course you can also opt for a gluten free variety.
**you need to soak the dates in hot water for around 10 minutes.
***Tahini is great if you cannot eat nuts. But feel free to use sunflowerbutter instead or almond/cashewbutter if you can eat nuts.
****The ginger in the chocolate granola base is not too overwhelming. It may sound like a little experiment, but you will not be disrupted by the subtle taste. The addition of cristalized ginger however might be a little too intense for some people. If you are not sure wheter you like it or not, i suggest you leave out the ginger first and try adding a small amount to a portion. If the flavor speaks to you, add the ginger to the whole granola batch. You could also start with chocolate covered ginger which I personally find not too strong!