Once upon a time, I discovered the peanut butter & Nutella sandwich. Then, I discovered the Nutella + spoon combination. And sometimes the spoon never even came to join the party. Shameless.
I can’t even have Nutella in the house these days. It’s just too tempting. Occasionally, I’ll buy it for a recipe (and then eat my oatmeal out of the empty jar and feel like I’ve died and gone to heaven), but I think it’s about time that I get to eat chocolate hazelnutty goodness for breakfast every single day. Does that not just sound like perfection?
The best part? You don’t even have to buy Nutella for this recipe, but the taste is uncanny. I took one bite after it finished cooking and quickly exclaimed “It tastes like NUTELLA!!!” Just simple granola loaded with hazelnuts with some cocoa powder added to the mix. It is not overpoweringly sweet, and it doesn’t taste like dessert. I think the sweetness is perfect, but if you want a sweeter granola, you can absolutely add some extra brown sugar, or honey, or agave.
I also discovered the secret to the biggest, fattest granola clusters–check those monsters out!! I’m always looking for the big, chunky clusters, and this time I got it right. I did not stir this granola once while it cooked. I just let it do it’s thing, flipped it around half way through, and ya know what? Everything cooked evenly, nothing burned, and I had granola clusters the size of my hand! What??? Now the problem is not eating those clusters every time I step into the pantry. It’s kind of a problem…
Simple and easy chocolate hazelnut granola tastes remarkably like Nutella! The big clusters and bold flavors are totally addicting and will have you constantly reaching back for more.
Ingredients
- 5 cups rolled oats (use gluten-free if that’s important to you)
- 2 cups hazelnuts, roughly chopped
- 1 cup slivered almonds
- heavy pinch sea salt
- 3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup honey or agave
- 2/3 cup cocoa powder (I used Hershey's special dark)
- 2 tbsp coconut oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 300. In a very large bowl, mix together the oats, nuts and salt.
- In a small saucepan, warm the applesauce, brown sugar, honey/agave, cocoa powder and coconut oil until well combined, whisking constantly. Add the applesauce mixture into the dry ingredients and toss to combine. Evenly divide granola in an even layer between two large baking sheets.
- Bake until browned and crispy, about 50 minutes-1 hour, turning half way through.
- Cool completely, then store in an airtight container at room temperature. The granola will stay fresh for at least one month. I've never made a batch last any longer than that, but it's still great a month in and probably for longer.
Notes
If you'd like, you may gently stir the granola every 20 minutes while cooking. This will lead to less clusters and a finer granola. I prefer to be able to break the clusters up myself afterwards, but if you like a finer granola, then stirring will help.
Mmm, I love the idea of homemade granola, especially if it is going to taste like Nutella! Pinning!
Oh yum. That’s all I have to say about this post 🙂
Check out those HUNKS of burning love 😉
OH MY YES! You are on a roll with recipes. Pinned and will be making asap!
seriously amazing. i want to come live in your kitchen.
Pls ship some to me 😉
I am so very glad that I’m not the only one with nutella issues. I swear I had never bought it in my life until a few weeks ago. “Oh, I’ll use this for a recipe!”….NOT! My spoon never came to join the party either. I will definitely not be purchasing it again….too tempting! This granola would be so tasty on some yogurt for a lighter dessert.
You are brilliant!! This might have to be my post-sugar detox treat… 🙂
oatmeal in a nutella jar – I do that too! It’s so good. Probably the only tim eI look forward to the end of the nutella jar. I’ve made nutella granola before – with nutella – and love it!
I’d love this for breakfast and dessert! You made your own Nutella from scratch and mixed it with Granola – genius!
Looks amazing! A great way to satisfy the sweet tooth at breakfast
Yum!! I always go for the bigger granola chunks first!
I keep seeing granola recipes today…I think it’s a sign that I need to make some granola!!! Bigger granola chunks is always a plus!!!!
I can’t have it in my house either, it’s gone in seconds! Granola+Nutella=love
MMM I love Nutella, we never buy it though! I love hazelnuts, ferrero rocher is my weakness.
I like that this doesn’t even actually use Nutella, looks delicious!
LOVE that this is so light in sugar and oil. I’m about out of my last batch of granola, this recipe is on deck!
I LOVE nutella. Like, love on the border of insanity. I’m an addict.
This granola wouldn’t stand a chance with me.
I would be eating this by the HANDFUL! Wow…so good and Nutella, cannot go wrong!
Oh my!! Can’t wait to try this – even my husband will like this! Thank you!
When you say “turn it”, do you mean turn the baking sheet or the granola itself?
What a great combination of flavors. Healthy and delicious – I love it!
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