Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Caramel Walnut Chocolate Chunk Granola


My friend, who I frequently talk to about food and am trying to encourage to start a food blog, was telling me about this very delicious sounding caramel walnut chocolate chunk granola in a cookbook she has (The New Whole Grain Cookbook). How could I not immediately want to make it after hearing the recipe name?? She very kindly typed it out and sent it to me. I made it, and ate it and ate it and ate it. It was very addictive. Crunchy and sweet with yummy chocolate bits. The walnuts can be replaced with your favourite nut - I might try pecans next time. I usually eat my granola with yogurt or milk but this granola I just ate out of a bowl. It's a perfect snacky type granola.

If this sounds good, you might like:
Low-Fat Winter Fruit Granola
Sunny Jungle Bars
Banana Crunch Muffins
No Fail Granola

Caramel Walnut Chocolate Chunk Granola
Adapted from The New Whole Grain Cookbook

Makes about 9 cups.

4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup walnuts, broken into large pieces
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup water
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, sliced
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 oz semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped

Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. Preheat the oven to 300F. In a large bowl, mix the oats, nuts, and salt. In a 2-quart heavy-bottomed saucepan, stir together the water and sugar. Over high heat, bring to a boil, moving the pan to keep it mixed (don't stir). Cook until the syrup turns a medium amber, then take it off the heat and add the butter carefully - it will foam and bubble. Stir in the butter with a heat-safe spatula, and then stir in the vanilla. Scrape into the oat mixture and stir immediately. The caramel mixture will start to harden and clump, but it will melt while baking and disperse.

Scrape the oat mixture onto the prepared pans, and spread it out into rough chunks. Bake for 15 minutes, then stir well. The caramel will be liquefied and soaking into the oats more evenly. Bake for 15 minutes more.

Remove to cooling racks. When cool, break the granola into chunks and mix with the chocolate chunks.

24 comments:

Pam said...

Now that's my kind of granola - it looks so decadent and delicious.

Teanna said...

Oh man I LOVE granola with chocolate in it! That looks soooo good!

Pearl said...

that granola definitely looks delicious and indulgent.

Katie said...

Dear Lord...that looks insanely good. I'm definitely making this recipe!

Anonymous said...

You've created heaven. Caramel granola! Love it.

Snooky doodle said...

oh granola is supposed to be healthy and boring. this looks mouth watering

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

Chocolate and granola, I would dive right in. Delicious mix.

jd said...

This is absurd! I can definitely see why you kept eating and eating... seriously.

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Also, I LOVE that you had the same Whole Foods/tempeh experience as me! Maybe we can get past our fears together :)

Bunny said...

I'm making this, this looks great! My hubby loves to snack on things while watching tv, I think he'd love this!

Hannah said...

Wow, now this looks like my ideal granola! I'm seriously tempted to whip up a batch of it right this minute.... !

kickpleat said...

Wow, what a snack! Looks delicious.

vibi said...

GEEZZzzz... the angel on my left shoulder is telling me it is not because it has "granola" in the title, it is healthy, nor good for the waist line... then the devil on my right shoulder is telling me... well, he isn't telling me anything actually. I simply don't care what the angel is saying, really! LOL LOL

Gotta try this and AM stealing the recipe! Thanks for sharing!

Sara said...

Eventhough there is chocolate in it...it's still healthy since it's granola, right? :)

CookiePie said...

I'm usually not a big granola fan, but that looks amazing!! I love the chocolate and nuts and oats -- yum!!

Alisa - Frugal Foodie said...

holy yum! Probably too sweet for my breakfast, but looks like an addictive afternoon treat.

grace said...

i usually eat my granola in yogurt, too, but i can see that this wouldn't need that at all. in fact, it'd just take up unnecessary room in my belly. :)

lola said...

this looks so great! i've been making my own granola for a long time now, and i'm trying to experiment with new flavors. thanks for the recipe.

Homemade Heaven said...

I think I could even get my son to eat granola with chocolate in - thanks great recipe.

Steph said...

I don't make granola because its too addicting especially after eating cups of it last time.

Anonymous said...

this sounds so good! i love the big chunks of chocolate!

Ricki said...

It does sound delicious--though more like a dessert than a breakfast!

Nicole said...

Sorry, when do we add in the chocolate?

eatme_delicious said...

Nicole: At the end, after the granola is cool.

Heidi - Apples Under My Bed said...

must....make.....this....!!!!!
:)
Heidi xo