This tasty chocolate buckwheat granola is low in sugar and a great topping for yogurt and smoothie bowls!
My chocolate buckwheat granola came about because I wanted something tasty, yet healthy, to add to my breakfast routine. Although I love it, granola can be a bit tricky health-wise.
Some people think they are eating extra healthy when having a breakfast of yogurt topped with granola but what they don't realize is how much added sugar they're ingesting in that meal.
Besides the sugars added to yogurt, commercial granola brands can contain well over the recommended serving of added sugar per day.
So what's a girl (or guy) to do? -> Make your own granola!
A Healthy Granola
I added the buckwheat to my granola to give me some protein, carbs, and dietary fiber. The nuts and seeds you add with also add protein while the rolled oats add fiber, carbs, and protein as well as iron.
The good thing about making your own granola is you know exactly how much sugar you're eating. My chocolate buckwheat granola recipe makes about 5 cups and only uses ¼ cup of maple syrup.
Even if you have ½ a cup at a time that's 10 divided by ¼ a cup which equals...well I tried doing the math but it started getting too small so I stopped but basically, it's not a lot of extra sugar.
Gluten-Free Granola!
Those of you that are gluten-free can enjoy this granola as well. Despite its name, buckwheat is not actually a wheat - it's more of a pseudo-grain.
To ensure this granola is gluten-free, just make sure you're using gluten-free oats (not that oats themselves contain gluten, but many facilities cannot guarantee theirs will not be contaminated with gluten unless they specifically say so on the package).
I have granola a few times a week on top of my smoothie bowls (as you may have seen on my Instagram account) or if I treat myself to some yogurt. It's also tasty as a snack on its own.
📖 Recipe
Chocolate Buckwheat Granola (gluten-free)
Email Recipe & IngredientsIngredients
- 2 cups gluten free rolled oats (or use regular if you're not gf)
- ¾ cup buckwheat
- ½ cup coconut flakes
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup walnuts
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- ⅓ cup coconut oil
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup cocoa powder
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch sea salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- Combine oats, buckwheat, nuts, seeds and coconut flakes in a large bowl. Roughly chop nuts and add them to the mix.
- Coconut oil will be hard at room temp unless its over 75 degrees. If it's not melted, heat it a small saucepan over low heat until melted and turn off heat. Add maple syrup, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and cocoa powder. Whisk until smooth.
- Pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients and coat.
- Spread mixture onto a baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes. Take it out of the oven and flip the granola a bit so it all gets toasted. Put it back in oven to bake for another 10 minutes - be sure to check it and flip it once more at the 5 min mark.
PLEASE NOTE: Nutritional information data is computer generated and only an estimate so it should be used only as a guide.
Mary Ellen Valverde MS, CNS, LDN is a Licensed Nutritionist and Certified Nutrition Specialist who empowers vegans to feel clear and confident about what is uniquely nourishing to them. Mary Ellen's recipes and nutrition information have been featured on Yahoo News, Parade, VegNews, LIVESTRONG, Dr. Axe, Greatist, LIVEKINDLY, Brit+Co, Well+Good, and more.
Claire Wright says
We only ever have granola when it's homemade in order to keep the sugar to a minimum. Our low sugar peanut butter granola is the definite favourite. I made this one for breakfast this morning but used half the amount of syrup (I used rice syrup to keep it fructose free) and added a little xylitol (stevia would probably work too). It was delicious! Really yummy! I love buckwheat and chocolate as a combination, so I knew we'd like it. 🙂 I had some activated buckwheat groats left in the freezer so it was nice to have something so yummy to make with them.
Mary Ellen says
So glad you enjoyed Claire!
HKS24 says
It's delicious! Just made it! How would you store it and how long does it last? Thanks
Mary Ellen says
Thanks so much, so glad you liked it! I keep it in a glass jar and it lasts for about 2 weeks. 🙂
Laurel Batson says
Ideas on substitutes for buckwheat, if we don't have it on hand?
Mary Ellen says
Hi Laurel, thanks for stopping by! Hmmm, I can't really think of of something that would make a perfect substitute. I think I would probably add more oats and other nuts/seeds to make up the 3/4 cup of buckwheat. Or maybe you could add puffed brown rice to the granola after baking the rest of the ingredients. I'm not sure how puffed brown rice bakes but I think it would add a nice crunch. 🙂
Julie Wunder says
Once again, this looks soooo good! Can't wait to try it. Thanks so much for linking up to #BestofBlogs
Mary Ellen says
Thanks Julie!! 🙂
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets says
This looks delicious! I've never seen a chocolate granola before but now I want to make some! I'm pinning this recipe!
Mary Ellen says
Thanks so much Janelle! Let me know if you try it!
kimmythevegan says
Oh how I love granola! Yours sounds amazing!!! I never buy granola, I always make my own, but tend to make the same recipe, I definitely need to switch it up. I was a little surprised at the amount of sugar & fat there is in the non-dairy yogurt I buy... I'm not sure why it came as a surprise actually.
I can't wait to try making this. I love the idea of having it on a smoothie too, sometimes 'ya just need a little something extra.
Mary Ellen says
I tend to make this recipe all the time but I'm loving it for now. I need to do a twist on this one. 🙂
Yes, even the vegan yogurts I buy have so much sugar and fat! I've been cutting down a bit more on them lately but love it as a treat sometimes.
Deborah Smikle-Davis (@debsmikdav1) says
I love to try new healthy recipes so I am so delighted that you shared your healthy and delicious Chocolate Buckwheat Granola with us at the Healthy Happy Green Natural Party! I’m Pinning and sharing this!
Mary Ellen says
Thanks so much Deborah!
danicaliforniacooks says
Mmmm - I love the mix of chocolate and cinnamon. I wouldn't be able to keep this around my apartment for long!
Mary Ellen says
This is my second batch in the last 3 weeks!
onesonicbite says
I love adding buckwheat groats to granola, sadly I ran out and keep forgetting to grab some more.
Mary Ellen says
I've been throwing buckwheat in everything I can lately. I'm obsessed. 🙂
Rachel says
Yes, yes, and yes!!! We are granola hounds here. I need to make this ASAP.
Mary Ellen says
Haha granola hounds! Let me know if you try it, Rachel!
awhiskandtwowands says
This looks amazing and would be perfect to top smoothie bowls with! Can't go wrong with chocolate and granola! Thank you for linking up with us for Meatless Monday!
Mary Ellen says
Thanks Sarah! I've been topping all my smoothie bowls with this lately!
Deborah @ Confessions of a mother runner says
I am really trying to watch my sugar too and I like that you have kept it lower. Thanks for linking up for Meatless Monday looks yummy!
Mary Ellen says
Thanks Deborah! I love Meatless Mondays!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt says
Oh wow!!! This looks soooooo good! I adore homemade granola.
Mary Ellen says
Thanks so much Julie! <3
kateringforveggies says
Homemade granola are always so much better! Thanks for sharing this nice version... I will give it a try!
Mary Ellen says
Let me know what you think if you try it Kate!
ModVegan says
I always make my own granola (cheap vegan and less sugar, like you said!), but I never even considered adding chocolate. What a great idea! I can't wait to try it.
Mary Ellen says
Thanks so much! Let me know if you give it a try!
Lyss says
I have never made homemade granola. I really need to soon! Especially a recipe like this- I love chocolate granola!
Mary Ellen says
Thanks Lyss, let me know if you give this one a try!
Farrah says
I have yet to try making my own granola, but I really need to soon! This looks so good!
Mary Ellen says
Thanks Farrah! I only started a few months ago and I was surprised how easy it was! Let me know if you try it!
Christine (Run Plant Based) says
This sounds wonderful, thanks! I adore healthy granola just as a simple snack and keeping a variety of it in the pantry.
Mary Ellen says
Thanks Christine! Yes, I love having different varieties of granola around but I keep coming back to this one. I need to branch out more soon!
Kyra says
I love buckwheat in granola! This sounds delicious Mary <3 I used to think granola from the grocery store was a healthy breakfast, then I realised it contained soooo much sugar 🙁 so I prefer to make my own with minimal sugars, and yours is pretty much exactly how I would make mine 🙂
Mary Ellen says
Thanks Kyra! Yes, I used to think the same exact thing! I'd eat some yogurt with a whole bunch of granola thinking I was being so good. It's not our fault, I feel like it's marketed that way. I want to get the word out that granola can be healthy if made correctly with wholesome foods. 🙂
fitfoodiemama says
Yay for granola! Yours looks pretty darn delicious too- thanks for linking up 🙂
Mary Ellen says
Thanks so much Annmarie! I'll be checking out your granola too!