Mocha Nut Granola #BrunchWeek
Happy Monday! Welcome to the third annual #BrunchWeek hosted by Terri from Love and Confections and Shaina from Take A Bite Out Of Boca. We are so excited to have you join us this year! Celebrate Brunch with us this week as we prepare for Mother's Day. 30 Bloggers from around the country will showcase their best brunch dishes, from cocktails to casseroles, breakfast breads, sandwiches and salads - there is something for everyone!
Before I get into my first recipe for Brunch Week, let's talk about all of the sponsors that made Brunch Week a thousand times more delicious. They also have some awesome prizes for the Brunch Week giveaway, which are featured below...take a moment to read about them all and what you could win!
Prize #1: Bob’s Red Mill is giving one winner a Pie Plate, Gluten-Free Oats, Gluten-Free Pie Crust Mix, Gluten-Free 1-to-1 Baking Flour and a Bob's Red Mill Flour Sack Towel.
About Bob’s Red Mill: Trust, honesty and integrity. The three principles their business is built on. Their packaging is a great example of this commitment: clear bags that let you see the high quality of every one of their products. By producing the very best in whole grain foods, they are able to fulfill their commitment to help look after more and more people through better nutrition.
Prize #2: Cabot Cheese is giving one winner a Gift Box with a selection of Cabot Cheeses as well as a Cheese Board and Knife.
About Cabot Cheese: Cabot blends state-of-the-art facilities and a savvy entrepreneurial spirit, with the timeless values a personal commitment to quality that comes from being 100% owned by their farm families. Cabot is a cooperative owned and operated by their members, dairy farmers and their families throughout New England and Upstate New York. Cabot products include Cheese, Yogurt, Dips, Butter and Whipped Cream.
Prize #3: Dixie Crystals is giving one winner a Wilton Master Tip Decorating Kit along with a 4lb bag of Granulated Sugar, 2lb bag of Powdered Sugar and 2lb bag of Light Brown Sugar.
About Dixie Crystals: Since 1917, Dixie Crystals® has been the South's choice for high-quality sugar and sweeteners. Our pure cane sugar products are all natural, non-GMO and provide consistently delicious results.
Prize #4: California Walnuts is giving one winner a Classic Series 4.5-Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer in white.
About California Walnuts: The California Walnut Board was established in 1948 to represent the walnut growers and handlers of California. The board is funded by mandatory assessment of the handers and the California Walnut Commission, established in 1987 is funded by mandatory assessments of the growers. More than 99% of the walnuts in U.S. are grown in the fertile soils of California's Central Valley. Internationally, California walnuts supply three-quarters of the world's walnut trade. Sustainability is important to the California walnut industry. The California Walnut Board has supported sustainable growing practices through its production research program for over 20 years.
Prize #5: Le Creuset is giving one winner a set of their new Revolution® Bi-Material Utensils. The pliable combination of flexible silicone and rigid glass-filled nylon allows Revolution cooking utensils to conform to the edges of pots and pans, making it easy to stir, scoop and serve your favorite chili recipe to family and friends.
About Le Creuset: Respect for tradition and authenticity has been Le Creuset's guiding principle since 1925, yet our innovative designs and exceptional quality ensure that we remain relevant today. The Le Creuset signature color, Flame, was born in this first piece. With their new ability to pigment the enamel glaze, Desaegher and Aubecq modeled their first color after the intense orange hue of molten cast iron inside a cauldron (“creuset” in French). We still manufacture our cast iron in the original foundry, with each piece passing through the hands of 15 skilled artisans to ensure flawless perfection. With the consistent qualities of authenticity, originality and innovation, Le Creuset maintains a connection to both heritage and modernity.
Prize #6: KitchenAid is giving one winner a Maximum Extraction Juicer. The KitchenAid® Maximum Extraction Juicer (slow juicer) gives you more juice with less prep work, featuring a patented two-stage blade and auger system and wide chute. This juicer also comes with 3 pulp screens for low pulp, high pulp and sauces. Perfect for hard, soft or leafy fruits and vegetables.
About KitchenAid: In 1919 our iconic Stand Mixer was born. And from that stemmed an entire kitchen of high-performance appliances-all created with the same attention to detail, quality craftsmanship, versatile technology and timeless design. As the only appliance brand that only makes things for the kitchen, we continue to keep pushing the limits with our products so you can keep doing the same with everything you create. So, here's to you, your kitchen and the delicious world that surrounds us all.
Prize #7: Nielsen-Massey is giving one winner 2-oz bottles of their entire line of flavor extracts: Pure Almond Extract, Pure Lemon Extract, Pure Orange Extract, Pure Chocolate Extract, Pure Coffee Extract, Pure Peppermint Extract, Rose Water and Orange Blossom Water
About Nielsen-Massey: Nielsen-Massey has been crafting world-class vanillas and flavors since 1907. It is still a family owned business today and focuses on quality and its customers. Nielsen-Massey uses a cold extraction process for making its vanillas, which preserves more than 300 distinctive flavor compounds present in vanilla beans. Nielsen-Massey product can be purchased at Williams-Sonoma and all of their products are gluten-free, allergen-free, GMO-free and Kosher. Nielsen-Massey also has a line of organic vanillas available as well.
Prize #8: Pacari Premium Organic Chocolate is giving one winner a gift box which includes: 8 bars (3 Single Region Bars, 1 Raw 70% (multi-award winner), 4 Andean Flavors Collection Bars (Salt and Nibs, Lemongrass (award winner), Merken and Andean Blueberry, 2 chocolate covered boxes: 1 Banana and 1 Goldenberries (award winner), and Dry Cacao Beans.
About Pacari Chocolate: Pacari Chocolate is a line of premium organic chocolate and is the first single-origin organic chocolate entirely made in Ecuador. We carefully select the finest ingredients and work in small batches in order to bring you an unforgettable chocolate experience. All of the ingredients are 100% organic and produced according to fair and equitable standards. Each of our single-region, raw and specialty chocolate products is crafted to maintain the complex flavor profile of the Arriba Nacional cacao bean. We partner directly with over 3000 small-scale cacao growers to preserve their traditional way of farming, thereby safeguarding the biodiversity of cacao in Ecuador. We undertake a number or sustainability programs for the benefit of the cacao-growing communities with which we work. The founders and owners are a young couple that around 10 years ago started with a vision of making the best organic chocolate at the source of the best cacao in the world and paying the farmers that grow it twice market prices.
Prize #9: Stonyfield Organic is giving one winner a Shirt, $40 in coupons, Cookbook, Mason Jar and Measuring Cups.
About Stonyfield Organic: Back in 1983, our co-founders Samuel Kaymen and Gary Hirshberg were running a nonprofit organic farming school on a small New Hampshire farm. They were on a mission to help family farms survive, keep food and food production healthy, and help protect the environment. They began selling yogurt made without the use of toxic persistent pesticides or chemical fertilizers. The yogurt was a hit and Samuel and Gary realized that a successful organic company could make a bigger difference for family farms, people and the planet than their school could. Today, our organic yogurts, smoothies, soy yogurts, frozen yogurts, milk and cream are sold in supermarkets, natural food stores and colleges across the country. And we make all of it without the use of toxic persistent pesticides, artificial hormones, antibiotics or GMOs. We’re still located right here in New Hampshire—about 30 miles east of the old farm—but now our organic ingredient purchases support a huge network of food producers made up of hundreds of organic family farms, thousands of organic cows, and over 200,000 organic acres. We’ve also pioneered planet-friendly business practices—from offsetting our yogurt works’ emissions, to making yogurt cups from plants instead of petroleum, to making our own renewable energy, and much more. Our old organic farming school is just a memory. But the thought and passion that started it in the first place have only grown stronger, and we've never stopped working for healthy food, healthy people and a healthy planet.
Prize #10: Woot Froot is giving one winner a Cuisinart Griddle Panini and Sandwich Maker, a Hamilton Beach Smoothie Blender and fresh Woot Froot. Peaches, pears, nectarines and grapes are the perfect addition to almost any meal to help jazz up your routine dishes and flavors—whether it’s in a pear, ham and grilled cheese Panini, nectarine margarita or grilled peaches or just a plain old snack. But to get you cooking these kitchen appliances will help you get a head start on your dinner menus! We’ll even throw in some Woot Froot packages too! #WootWoot
About Woot Froot: The story of Woot Froot began 25 years ago, when owner Kim Gaarde (Mama Woot) was growing and selling nearly every variety of peach and nectarine to places near and far. But that all changed when 10 years ago, she wondered why no one had started selling fresh cut peaches and nectarines. After many years of research, trial and error – not to mention naysayers, Woot Froot freshly sliced peaches and nectarines was finally created! Over 500 varieties of peaches were tested for flavor and texture to ensure that you received that “bite right flavor”! In fact, many people believe the softness equates ripeness. Not true at all. We have a special formula that is just the right firmness and brix (sugar) to get great consistent flavor without getting puree in a bag. Woot Froot is a woman-owned, family business. Along with peaches and nectarines, Woot Froot also offers freshly sliced pears and de-stemmed red grapes year round! Peaches and nectarines are available June – October while in season. Woot Froot sliced peaches and nectarines will stay ready to eat for a whopping 21 days in your fridge! And even better, they use all natural ingredients and preservatives to ensure that your fruit stays flavorful and fresh from day 1 to day 18.
Prize #11: Grimmway Farms, Cal-Organic and True Juice is giving one winner a Ninja Professional Blender with food processor and single serve blender, assortment of True Organic Juice Blends, and a package of Grimmway Carrots and Cal-Organic veggies. Grimmway carrots and Cal-Organic veggies are enjoyed fresh and whole, or as part of a delicious smoothie – which is why we thought you’d love the Ninja blender to help you make some! Don’t trust your own culinary skills to make your own juices and smoothies?! We decided to throw in some of our own True Juices for you to try as well!
About Grimmway Farms, Cal-Organic & True Juice: The story of Grimmway began in 1968, when brothers Rod and Bob Grimm set up a roadside produce stand and planted the seed that would blossom into today’s Grimmway Farms. Grimmway Farms began growing carrots back in 1971! Today, Grimmway Farms has become the largest grower, producer and shipper of carrots in the world! Not only does Grimmway Farms play a part in every meal—breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks—but they also play an essential part in the health of growing children and active adults. Bringing Grimmway home to your family means bringing home the best in produce and the best for their health! Join Grimmway’s Twitter parties and conversations by following the hashtag #JustCrunchEm! Sustainability is in our DNA. From using all parts of the carrot, having a full organic line and using our own veggies to make juice, we believe taking care of the environment is part of taking care of you. Cal-Organic Farms is a large part of our farm where we grow over 40 fruits and veggies from kale and potatoes to blueberries and watermelons. True Juice is just that – juice that’s truly organic, sustainably grown, and delicious with products from our own farms. Although the flavor names might be hard to pronounce, they’re full of simple ingredients – like Bananaberry Crush with strawberries, kiwi, banana, beets, carrots and apples! Try all of our great flavors - BananaBerry Crush, Pure Carrot, Wild Berry Blend, Bunched Greens, Blended Blue and Tropical Mango.
Prize #12: Vidalia Onions is giving one winner an OXO SoftWorks Handheld Mandoline Slicer, Vidalia Sweet Onion Cookers, Vollrath 8" Stainless Steel Non-stick Fry Pan, Weber Style Grill Vegetable Basket and fresh Vidalia Onions. Since Vidalia onions are such a versatile item to cook with, we thought setting you up with a few appliances to help explore different cooking styles would be a perfect way to introduce you to Vidalia onions! Slice them, dice them, cook them, sauté them or grill them – any way is delicious! We’ll even throw in a bag of Vidalia’s for you to get cooking with!
About Vidalia Onions: Vidalia onions are unique to a very small region. In fact, they only grow in 13 counties in Georgia! Vidalia onions were discovered back in 1930’s, and just like back then, they are still planted, transplanted and harvested all by hand! Vidalia onions are grown during the winter months, and are only available in stores between April and September, making them a true seasonal specialty! In 1990, Vidalia onions became the official state vegetable of Georgia! Vidalia onions are a great source of Vitamin C, and are also fat free, cholesterol free and sodium free! In order to grow great tasting Vidalias, and to give them their characteristic sweetness, they must be grown in a sandy soil mixture that is low in sulfur (sulfur in soil is what gives onions their hotness). Each year, approximately 5-million, 40-pound boxes are shipped out around the country. Now that’s a lot of onions!
Whew! That's a lot of prizes! Be sure to enter in the Rafflecopter below.
Now let's get to the recipe! I love serving granola at breakfast and brunch because it's so easy to prepare ahead of time and it can be self-serve. It's also a healthier option than croissants or pastries, to go along with an egg dish. To serve the granola, you can have milk or yogurt out along with fresh fruit and just let your guests make their own parfaits. So easy!
This Mocha Nut Granola just so happens to feature a ton of Brunch Week's sponsors including gluten-free oats from Bob's Red Mill, walnuts from California Walnuts, cocoa nibs from Pacari, and vanilla paste from Nielsen-Massey.
And ohhhhh is this granola heavenly! The granola is naturally sweetened with honey and gets a hint of coffee flavor from instant coffee. At the end I threw in some Pacari cocoa nibs which are deliciously rich. Plus, how can we go wrong with coffee and chocolate to start our day? We just can't.
My favorite way to eat this granola was with plain, whole-milk Stonyfield yogurt and bananas and it was just as delicious with almond milk or straight-up by the handful.
So before you go and make yourself some tasty Mocha Nut Granola, enter the giveaway below and check out what other bloggers made for the kick off of Brunch Week!
Ingredients
- 3 cups old fashioned oats
- 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon instant coffee granules
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 3 tablespoons coconut oil melted
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- ¾ cup cocoa nibs or mini chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
- In large bowl combine oats, flaxseed, walnuts, salt, coffee, and cocoa.
- In smaller bowl, stir together melted coconut oil, honey, and vanilla.
- Pour over dry mixture and stir to combine.
- Place on baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes to make sure the edges don't get burned.
- After granola is golden brown, remove from oven.
- Let cool for about 5 minutes then stir in cocoa nibs/chocolate.
- Let cool completely.
- Serve and enjoy!
- Store in airtight container.
Take a look at what the #BrunchWeek Bloggers are creating today!
BrunchWeek Beverages:
Blueberry Sangria from Love and Confections
BrunchWeek Egg Dishes:
Caramelized Onion, Swiss Chard, Mushroom and Alpine Cheddar Croissant Strata from Taste Cook Sip
Crab Cake Eggs Benedict from The Redhead Baker
Fried Eggs with Kale and Mushrooms from Hip Foodie Mom
Chimichurri Breakfast Sandwich from Healthy Delicious
Chile Relleno Quiche from Cooking in Stilettos
Asparagus, Brie and Smoked Salmon Omelet from girlichef
Braised Leeks with Poached Eggs from Jane's Adventures in Dinner
BrunchWeek Breads, Grains and Pastries:
Savory Pancetta and Cheddar Waffles from The Little Ferraro Kitchen
Avocado Toast Bar from Sarcastic Cooking
Maple Cinnamon Scones from Pink Cake Plate
Mocha Nut Granola from greens & chocolate
Almond Poppyseed Madeleines from {i love} my disorganized life
Berry Cacao Nib Scone Cakes from The Spiffy Cookie
Spiced Pear Oatmeal from Making Miracles
Overnight Cinnamon Bread French Toast from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Nutty Chocolatey Oatmeal Muffins from A Day in the Life on the Farm
Vanilla Orange Scones from Sew You Think You Can Cook
Sour Cream and Dark Chocolate Oat Bread from Bread Booze Bacon
Cherry Vanilla Almond Granola from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
Mini Chocolate Chip Muffins from My Catholic Kitchen
BrunchWeek Main Dishes:
Breakfast Wraps from Big Bear's Wife
Brunch Charcuterie Cheese Board from Quarter Life (Crisis) Cuisine
BrunchWeek Fruits, Vegetables and Sides:
Whipped Yogurt and Ricotta with Figs and Honey from Take A Bite Out of Boca
Gluten Free Swiss Chard and Mushroom Galette from It Bakes Me Happy
BrunchWeek Desserts:
Mini Creamsicle Bundt Cake with Vanilla Bean Glaze from It's Yummi
Lemon Bars from Chelsea's Messy Apron
Chocolate Walnut Macarons with Salted Caramel from Baking a Moment
Disclaimer: Thank you to #BrunchWeek Sponsors: Bob’s Red Mill, Cabot Creamery Cooperative, California Walnuts, Dixie Crystals, Grimmway Farms/Cal-Organic/True Juice, KitchenAid, Le Creuset, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas, Pacari Chocolate, Stonyfield Organic, Vidalia Onions, and Woot Froot for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #BrunchWeek. All opinions are my own.
Disclaimer: The #BrunchWeek giveaway is open to U.S. residents, age 18 & up only. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Twelve winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. The #BrunchWeek Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.
My fairly new favorite brunch dish is a quinoa crust mini quiche with black beans and tex mex flavors. Your granola looks wonderful! I have been making ramekin sized "cobblers" for Hubz and me using just cherries and a little water baked with a small scoop of granola on top--very easy, and the only sugars, fats, etc are whatever is in the granola. I have been on the lookout for granola recipes.
I love the idea of using granola on top of single serve cobblers, Mary Beth! Definitely going to give that a try!
You must try it! It couldn't be easier! And you get to control for sugar and flavor combinations.
Awesome recipe! And what a lot of great prizes you're giving away. I don't see the rafflecopter though ... I tried refreshing the page but it still didn't show. 🙁
Thanks for the heads up, Ann! I think it is fixed now 🙂
I wish I was starting my morning with a big bowl of this granola!
And I wish I had one of those scones you posted today!
I love egg bakes with my family. My mom's will probably stay my favorite - she uses croutons instead of bread cubes. Yummmm
I love egg bakes too! What a great idea using croutons!!
Woozah! Wowzah! Sign me up for this. <3 I love a good granola in the morning especially if mocha is involved.
My favorite brunch dish is banana pancakes. Usually I brunch with my boyfriend!
mimosas and waffles!
Homemade granola really is the best! And mocha?? Sounds delicious!! Also just a heads up - the only ingredient I can see in the list is the oats! Might just be me though!!
I just had granola for a snack and I'm really regretting that it wasn't this one! Looks delish!
YUM! Homemade granola is one of my favorite breakfast treats! Yours looks terrific.
P.S. Maybe I just need to reload the page, but I don't see any ingredients listed other than oats 🙂
i love love granola and it's always my yogurt companion. Love this mocha one! Going to make it this week as I have everything 🙂
Well I used up all my cocoa nibs but I have all the rest of the ingredients and I am definitlely trying this granola recipe.
I am obsessed with granola. But I don't make it myself nearly enough. That has got to change...and you're recipe sounds the perfect one to start with!
What a great way to use the granola and chocolate! I have some left so I may need to make this.
The rafflecopter isn't working...clicking on the link right above the granola picture takes you to a page that just keeps loading with no results.
Shoot! Let me look into it 🙂
This granola looks awesome! I'm digging the chocolate and walnut combo.
Let's see my favorite brunch item...Hmm. There are so many, but I am an Eggs Benedict type of girl and then I love french toast, but I gotta day this granola would be an eye catcher for me. I love a good bowl of granola with some milk or yogurt!! So need to try this asap! Pinned! 😉
This granola looks so good. Homemade granola is the best and what a great way to use the cocoa nibs! Thanks for joining in this year!
My MIL makes her own granola, I have shared this recipe with her - sounds delicious!
My favorite brunch is stuffed french toast, with fruit over the top.
My favorite brunch dish would probably have to be huevos rancheros.