Mocha Maple Granola

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There’s just something about alliteration that makes me feel all gitty inside. Mocha Maple. Say it. Go ahead. Moooooocccchhhhaaaaa Maaaaappppllleee :). One of my dear friends commented on Como Water’s Facebook page that she likes how my food has so much poetry in it. I never thought about my food like that (and truth be told haven’t written a poem in years!), but I guess creative energies do not dissipate, they only change forms. This granola is no exception. It’s got poetry in it and crunch and sweetness and a slight pick me up from the coffee. I’m also a sucker for chocolate in the morning (pain au chocolat, Cocoa Pebbles, you name it! :)) so this granola lets me have a sweet treat, with minimal guilt!

Mocha Maple Granola (Printable Recipe)

Ingredients: 

2 cups old-fashioned oats

1/3 cup melted Earth Balance (or butter/margarine)

2/3 cup chopped almonds and/or pecans

dash salt

1/4 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup brown sugar

2/3 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup coffee–brewed double strength

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Method:

*Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Add oats and almonds to large baking dish. Toast 10 minutes, stirring twice. Add to a large bowl. Set aside.

*Add sugar, maple syrup, and coffee to saucepan. Heat over medium high heat. Reduce by 1/2. Remove from heat. Whisk together melted Earth Balance and reduced coffee mixture. Stir in salt and vanilla extract. Add syrup mixture to the oats and almonds. Add coconut. Stir. Press into pan. Bake ~20 minutes. Remove from oven. Break up the granola and let cool. Add chocolate chips before serving.

 

Written by

Tiffany M. Griffin is the woman behind Como Water, Washington DC’s premiere veg-centric cuisine consulting company. Through cooking classes, demonstrations, catering, and consultations, Como Water gives people the opportunity to learn how to prepare veg-centric cuisine that boasts maximum flavor, with minimal effort. Tiffany is quickly becoming a go-to expert on the future of veg-centric cuisine, and is a regular contributor to Como Water, the blog, as well as to vegetarian and vegan sites across the Internet. For over a decade, this self-taught, entrepreneurial expert has developed a set of tried and true techniques for making simple, delicious, and sometimes decadent veg-centric dishes. Featured on the Steve Harvey Show and other leading media outlets, Tiffany was born and raised in Springfield, MA. She then earned Bachelors degrees in Psychology and Communications from Boston College and a PhD in Social Psychology from the University of Michigan. She now resides in Washington DC, where she has worked in the US Senate and at a federal agency on issues around health, food, nutrition, and international food aid/development, and of course, as the owner of Como Water. Tiffany gets culinary inspiration from the food she grew up eating, and from her travels throughout Latin America, the Caribbean, Western Europe, and Sub-Saharan Africa. She is dedicated to sharing her wealth of knowledge on veg-centric cuisine with others and to help others live by her mantra—love life, live long, and eat veg-centric cuisine!

Comments

  1. I just told my wife I think I’ll make some granola. But I am going to look for a new recipe before I do. Thanks for the new recipe.

  2. Great flavour for granola, Tiff! Buzzed.

  3. You know I love granola… and coffee! Great addition. I can’t wait to try this. I need all the caffeine I can get this time of year. 🙂

  4. I love my granola warmed with some soy milk, and this recipe would make me a very happy camper. Yumola!!

  5. wow this sounds so good! I love granola-definitely saving this to try!

  6. the coffee in the recipe is inspired! looks yummy, indeed. Theresa

  7. Chocolate for breakfast is the best kind!

  8. Tiffany, mocha maple certainly does have poetry to it and in the morning? What a sweet energy rooster!

  9. Sitting at work feeling REALLY SAD that I am not eating this right now. Especially on this dreary rainy day.

    Thanks for a great recipe!

  10. This sounds great. I’d eat it with a bowl of yogurt. Yummm

  11. WOW! This sounds PERFECT for the morning! What a great addition adding the coffee in there! BUZZ!
    Hey, I’m having a giveaway today, hope you stop by. And good luck!
    http://cookincowgirl.blogspot.com/2011/12/cookin-cowgirls-favorite-things.html

  12. Oh wow, mocha granola? Sounds fantastic, and like the easiest way to make me shovel the granola 😉 Wonderful combination of flavors and ingredients!

  13. A great for the day it will be with this granola and its nice to nibble too as a snack.

  14. Yes, I will be making this granola this weekend. Thanks for sharing this fabulous recipe! Looks ahhhhmazing!

  15. Bravo, I can now take the advice from my doctor on eating more grains and have some sweet indulgence at the same time. So glad I have come across this! Definitely a keeper-yum!

  16. Holy sweet granola! This looks amazing Tiffany. And plus – it’s fun to say “Mocha Maple” =)

  17. Mmmmm. moooocha maaaaple. The coconut in this sounds fab, too!

  18. This sounds delicious, Tiff. I love granola for breakfast (when I remember to even EAT breakfast lol) and it is so much better home made. Will have to give this one a try. 🙂

  19. LOVE!!

  20. What a great granola recipe! Love all the flavor there! This could be the topping for so many different things!

  21. Anything that makes it okay to have chocolate for breakfast is a winner in my book! This granola looks soo tasty, Tiffany!

  22. This looks so delicious, the perfect treat! I can just imagine eating this with some plain yogurt and banana…yum! I’m drooling!! :)) Great recipe!

  23. This looks so good. I like the flavor combination too, mocha sounds super yummy!

  24. There’s nothing quite like making your own granola. Not only is is healthier, but yummier too! I love this combination of flavours, will surely put a smile on anyone’s face in the morning.

  25. I love making my own granola and the house smells lovely. Your addition of double strength coffee seems interesting to me.

  26. Love all the flavors. Looks delicious!

  27. Mocha and Maple! That’s just perfect! Love the marriage of these flavors.

  28. Congrats on getting Top 9. This is so yummy and healthy!

  29. Love your flavor combos in this granola! You can have your coffee, chocolate, and sweet fix in one dish, and in the morning! Oh My!

    Congrats on the Top 9 today!

  30. I can’t wait to try this recipe. I love granola and it will taste awesome in the morning…

    Congrats on top 9!

  31. Congratulations!!!!!

  32. Oh my this sounds amazing! I am going to try this, this weekend! Printing recipe now! Thanks! I just love coffee and maple, so I know I will fall in love with this granola!

  33. That looks amazing, I actually never would have thought to combine Mocha and Maple!

  34. This looks great and has just about everything I love in it. Put it over ice cream and it is my dream come true! 😉

  35. Love this granola, Tiffany! Congrats on Top 9 and have a great weekend!! 🙂

  36. Oh Tiffany! I love this granola you’ve shared. I’m so making this, this weekend for sure. Good stuff.

    Have a great weekend and thanks for sharing this mocha maple granola! 🙂

  37. I LOVE making home-made granola, and this is a fabulous flavor combo. I’m also a sucker for chocolate in the morning…..chocolate cake, brownies, I don’t care! I’m definitely going to try this!

  38. Yum! This granola sounds amazing! Great flavor combo :).

  39. Fabulous granola! Love the addition of the coffee!

  40. Yum! Tiffany this sounds so good I want to go munch some granola now…except I don’t have any. Maybe I will have to make some tomorrow ;)! Congrats on the top 9!

  41. yummy yummy! it sure looks good and taste good.

  42. Poetry! That really is a great adjective for you alliterative dishes 🙂

    Mooooocha Maaaaaple! Heh. That’s fun!

    Buzzed

  43. Totally terrific Tiffany, tempting teatime treats. Even though it’s breakfast…:D

  44. Oh my goodness. I can always have a bowl of those goodies, Tiffany. Have a great week!

    ~ ray ~

  45. Glad to have a new granola recipe! Mornings are tough for me so a nice yummy breakfast always helps.

  46. With coffee?…how cool!