high protein cherry chocolate almond granola

It’s been a while since I made granola at home. Between my traveling and not being home, granola making has fallen to the wayside around here.

I like to refer to this time in my life as “the dark days”.. or “the days without granola”. The former is better than the latter, but either way you look at it, the situation at hand is tragic.

When I make granola, I don’t go out and buy anything fancy. In fact, this is my process:

1. Look in pantry
2. Get out hodgepodge of ingredients that might be good in granola
3. Wing it

Thankfully, most of the time it works. Sometimes it doesn’t. But even when it doesn’t work, we all know about my policy on eating food that would be considered a failure in others’ books.

As of late, I have been trying to get more protein in my diet. Actually, I always try to get more protein into my diet. I say this because I don’t naturally find myself going to protein sources as much as I should. I’m not one who thinks  you need to have a bazillion grams of protein a day to be strong and healthy, but I do know protein helps to repair muscles – and mine need a lot of repair after all the strength training I have been doing over here.

So off to my pantry I went the other day, pulling out all the necessities.

• oats
• flax
• nuts
• dried fruit
• vanilla
• sweetener of choice

Then I decided I wanted something chocolatey. Cocoa powder? That would work but wouldn’t necessarily up the protein content like I wanted. So, out came the protein powder.

And you know what? It’s good. I can feel my muscles getting bigger already.

High Protein Cherry Chocolate Almond Granola (makes 18 1/4 cup servings)

• 2 cups gluten free oats
• 1/2 cup almonds, roughly chopped
• 1/2 cup dried bing cherries
• 1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
• 1 scoop chocolate Sun Warrior protein powder (or any other protein powder)
• 1 tbsp. cocoa powder
• 1 tbsp. cinnamon
• 2 tbsp flax
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 cup date syrup (or agave.. or honey.. etc.)
• 1 tbsp. maple syrup
• 1 tbsp. coconut oil
• 2 tbsp. water

Directions: Combine oats, almonds, cherries, coconut, cinnamon, salt, and flax in a large bowl. Mix until all ingredients are distributed evenly. Add the protein powder and cocoa powder and toss to coat. Pour in the wet ingredients (date syrup, maple syrup, coconut oil, and water) and mix until all of the dry ingredients are coated. Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit and spread the granola mixture on a lightly greased baking sheet. Cook for 25 minutes, flipping once. Let the granola cool completely before storing in an airtight container.

The best part about this granola is that when you pour milk on it, the milk gets all chocolatey. It’s kind of like eating cocoa puffs.. but totally not.

Oh, I just want to eat you all up.

Question: What is something you tend to “wing” in the kitchen?

Tagged as: chocolate cherry almond granola, granola, high protein granola, protein powder, recipe, special diet, sun warrior protein powder, vegan