Grandy Organics - Dark Chocolate Coconola Grain-Free Granola - Mar. 3, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Grandy Organics
Dark Chocolate Coconola Grain-Free Granola
Good ++ 
Weight: 1/4 cup (30 g.) / 9 oz. (255 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1/4 cup (1 serving)
Cost: $10.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Outdoors Theme Week, featuring granolas, trail mixes, tree-shaped chocolates, and other treats enjoyed outside. 

Today's Organic Dark Chocolate Coconola Grain-Free Granola was made by Grandy Organics (Hiram, ME) and was part of a day full of alternating rain and sun 

Aroma notes for this granola included: coconut, sweet green, subtle seeds and nuts, and chocolate.

This granola had a pleasing, satisfying crunchy, baked texture. Crunchy coconut clusters were balanced by the seeds (pumpkin, sunflower and sesame) and nuts (pecans, cashews); enriched by smooth dark chocolate chips/pieces; and seasoned with maple syrup. 

I liked the texture (crunchy, without being too hard); the addition of the sesame seeds to the seed and nut blend; the fact that it was Organic and grain-free; the dark chocolate; and that it was sweetened with sugars that were relatively lower on the glycemic* index (and more flavorful).

Ingredients: Organic Unsweetened Coconut*, Organic Coconut Nectar, Organic Pumpkin Seeds, Organic Sunflower Seeds, Organic Dark Chocolate* (Organic Cane Sugar, Organic Cocoa Liquor, Organic Cocoa Butter), Organic Sesame Seeds, Organic Pecans, Organic Cashews*, and Organic Maple Syrup. (* = Fair Trade Certified (tm) by Fair Trade USA (R); 33.9% Fair Trade Ingredients.)

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Coconut, sesame, pecans, and cashews." "Allergen Advisory: Created in a bakery that uses peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, and sesame."

*The Glycemic Index Scale (0 to 100) measures how much a food raises blood sugar. (Pure glucose is at the top of this scale with a score of 100. Sucrose (sugar) is scored at approximately 68.) Pure honey: 58. Coconut sugar: 50 - 54. Maple syrup: 54.

Nu-Trail - Cacao Nut Granola - Mar. 2, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

Nu-Trail 
Cacao Nut Granola
Good + - Good ++ 
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $10.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: The Market at Edgewood, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Outdoors Theme Week -- including granolas, trail mixes, tree-shaped chocolates, and an outdoor spring egg hot cocoa experience.

Today's (gluten-free and keto certified) Nu-Trail Cacao Nut Granola was manufactured for Snacks Generation Inc. (Miami, FL).

Aroma notes for this "no sugar added" granola included: sweet coconut, cacao and very faint (barely detectable) sweet green, botanical extracts, nuts and seeds.

Flavor notes for this crunchy granola included: coconut, nut, cacao/chocolate, seed, and nut.

Ingredients: Sunflower Seeds, Pumpkin Seeds, Coconut, Erythritol, Pecans, Almonds, Butter (Pasteurized Cream, Natural Flavor), Unsweetened Chocolate, Whey Protein Concentrate, Salt, Natural Flavors, Monkfruit Extract

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Milk, Tree Nuts (Almond, Coconut, Pecan)." "Processed in a Facility That Also Processes Dairy, Wheat, Tree Nuts, Sesame, and Soy."

The Granola Guru - Cacao Almond Butter - Mar. 1, 2024

Chocolate of the Day

The Granola Guru
Cacao Almond Butter 
Good ++
Weight: 1/4 cup (28 g.) / 10 oz. (283 g.) in total package
Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $9.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Outdoors Week--a week that includes granolas, trail mixes, tree-shaped chocolates, and an outdoor mug of spring egg hot chocolate. 

Growing up and spending a lot of time outdoors, we often made their own granolas--inspired by Muesli-style oat cereals from Europe--and trail mixes.

Today's Cacao Almond Butter granola from The Granola Guru (Oakland, CA) was made with gluten-free oats. Company founder, Ayana K., has created a "dairy free, vegan-friendly...nourishing superfood snack...with no refined sugars."

Rich aroma notes for this outdoor-friendly granola included: authentic cacao; maple and brown/unrefined sugars; grains, oats, and faint malt; and nuts (almonds).

The ebony-hued granola was full of rich, authentic cacao and nut (almond) flavors. And the use of quality ingredients, oils and sweeteners created a better tasting experience. This was a dark chocolate lovers granola!

Ingredients: "Gluten Free Oats, Almonds, Maple Syrup, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Olive Oil, Almond Butter, Organic Cacao Powder, Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Coconut, Organic Cacao Nibs, Water, Organic Flaxseed Meal, Pink Himalayan Sea Salt, Vanilla Bean"

Allergen-related information: "Contains: Almond, Coconut. Manufactured in a facility that also processes: tree nuts, wheat, soybeans, peanuts, and dairy."

Back Roads - Dark Chocolate Pecan granola - Dec. 4, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Back Roads Food Company
Organic Dark Chocolate Pecan plant based granola
Good ++
Weight: 1/4 cup (27 g.) / 10 oz. (284 g.) in total package
Calories: 140 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $8.49 for 1 package
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Pecans Theme Week.

Today's Dark Chocolate Pecan plant based granola was from Back Roads Food Company (Brattleboro, VT). 

Aroma notes for this gluten free and vegan granola included: sweet oats, nuts (pecans, cashews) and seeds and very faint dark chocolate and dried fruit (raisin).

This fresh, crispy-crunchy granola cereal was full of balanced oat, fruit (raisin), nut, coconut and dark chocolate flavors. It wasn't too sweet; it had an attractive natural sweetness. The Vermont maple syrup added a little more flavor depth than other sugars.

Ingredients: Certified gluten free rolled oats, Vermont maple syrup, dark chocolate (coconut sugar and cocoa butter), coconut chips, pecans, sweetened cranberries (apple juice and sunflower oil), cashews, high oleic sunflower oil, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, shredded coconut and sesame seeds. 

Allergen-related information: Contains nuts (pecans, cashews), coconut. "Processed in a peanut free facility that processes other nuts. May contain nut shell pieces or seed hulls."

Erin Baker's - homestyle granola - Peanut Butter Chocolate - Apr. 9, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Erin Baker's 
homestyle granola - Peanut Butter Chocolate
Good +
Weight: 2.1 oz. (60 g.) / 12 oz. (340 g.) in total package
Calories: 270 calories in 1/2 cup (1 serving) (60 g.)
Cost: $2.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Peanuts Theme Week.

Today's Peanut Butter Chocolate homestyle granola was baked and distributed by Erin Baker's Wholesome Baked Goods (Bellingham, WA).

Aroma and flavor notes for this granola were as expected and included: oats, peanut butter and very faint chocolate notes.

What I liked best about this granola: The baked oat cereal had a hearty, baked crunchy texture without being uncomfortably rough (jagged) on the palette. The peanut butter flavor was authentic and not overwhelming; and the judicious amounts of sea salt and molasses seemed just right. 

Lightly sweetened with brown rice syrup, molasses and small chunks of chocolate, these satisfying oats were not overly sugared (thank you). One 1/2 cup serving contained 36 grams of carbohydrate (5 grams were fiber), and 7 grams of protein. 

The small chunks of chocolate played a smaller, supporting role; however few people enjoy the amount of chocolate I normally consume (about 1 oz.) at breakfast time.

Ingredients: Whole grain oats, peanut butter, brown rice syrup, chocolate chunks (unsweetened chocolate, sugar, dextrose, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), molasses (sugar, sugarcane molasses), expeller pressed canola oil, oat bran, peanuts, flax seed, sea salt.

Allergen-related information: Contains peanut, soy. Produced in a facility that processes wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, soy, and dairy. 

Raaka Chocolate - Pumpkin Swirl Unroasted Dark Chocolate 60% Cacao (bar) - Mar. 5, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Raaka Chocolate
Pumpkin Swirl Unroasted Dark Chocolate 60% Cacao (bar)
Good +
Weight: .9 oz. (25.5 g.) / 1.8 oz. (50 g.) in total bar 
Calories: 134 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $8.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Raaka, online order

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Spices Theme Weeks.

Today's Pumpkin Swirl Unroasted Dark Chocolate 60% cacao bar was made by Raaka Chocolate (Brooklyn, NY), and included Oat Haus (maple-sweetened) Granola Butter. 

Today's Pumpkin Swirl had a very subtle cacao aroma* with warm spice (maple, cinnamon, pumpkin pie and oatmeal) notes.

The dark chocolate was fully blended with the warm spice blend that was blended with a swirl white chocolate and pumpkin powder, adding even further flavor depth and complexity.

The spice-infused chocolate was sweet but the pumpkin powder, dark chocolate and perhaps some of the "butter" and spices helped balance the sweetness in the well-executed, overall blend. The pumpkin, spice and granola flavors played well together in this, and there were no off notes in this dairy-free and gluten-free bar. 

Ingredients: Organic cacao beans, organic cane sugar, organic cacao butter, organic coconut, organic Oat Haus Granola Butter** (organic, gluten-free oats; organic flaxseed, organic olive oil, organic maple syrup, organic coconut oil, organic cinnamon, salt, organic allspice, organic cardamom, organic ginger); organic pumpkin powder; organic sunflower lecithin; organic cinnamon; organic ginger; organic allspice; organic cardamom; organic nutmeg.

Allergen-related information: (Contained coconut.) Certified Organic and Kosher. Vegan, Gluten free. Soy free.

*Un-roasted cacao beans can be milder/smoother than roasted cacao(s). However, there were a lot of other flavors in today's Pumpkin Swirl chocolate, making it more difficult to discern the cacao notes from the Zoral Cacao, Dominican Republic cacao used to make this bar. The dark chocolate clearly helped anchor the sweet and spice flavors though.

Red Plate Foods - Dark Chocolate Granola - Sept. 18, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Red Plate Foods
Dark Chocolate Granola
Good +
Weight: 1/4 cup (28 g.) / 11 oz (311 g.) in total package
Calories: 110 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $4.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA 

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Breakfast Surprise Theme Week. 

Today's Dark Chocolate Granola was made by Red Plate Foods (Bend, OR). 

The company creates foods free of common allergens (gluten, dairy, peanut, tree nuts, soy, egg), and vegan offerings.

This granola had a satisfying, authentic chocolate and oaty aroma, taste and chew with a mild crunch in the texture, punctuated by bites of creamy dark chocolate chips. 

This breakfast (or anytime) cereal and snack was not overly sugared (thank you!). It was sweetened with a judicious amount of molasses, maple syrup and monk fruit. And a faint hint of vanilla added a bit of baked goods warmth often associated with chocolate cake or cookies.

Ingredients: "gluten-free oats, applesauce, Non-GMO canola oil, cane sugar (vegan), organic cocoa, chocolate chips (cane sugar (vegan), cocoa liquor, cocoa butter, vanilla), molasses, pure maple syrup, sea salt, monk fruit.

Allergen-related information: "Gluten free." "Manufactured in a facility free of gluten/wheat, dairy, egg, soy, tree nut, peanuts, fish, shellfish, sesame, celery and mustard."

Bear Naked - Cacao and Cashew Granola - Feb. 22, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Bear Naked Granola, Inc.
Cacao and Cashew Butter Granola with fair trade chocolate
Good + - Good ++
Weight: 1.9 oz. (54 g.) / 11 oz. (311 g.) in total package
Calories: 250 calories in 1/2 cup serving
Cost: $3.78 for 1 package
Purchased from: Walmart, Mountain View, CA (see receipt for price)

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and EFGHI Theme Week, where I'm featuring chocolates that include flavors, or foods that contain chocolate, that begin with the letters E, F, G, H and/or I. 

Today's Cacao and Cashew Butter Granola with pepitas, sea salt and fair trade chocolate was "distributed for" Bear Naked Granola, Inc. (Solana Beach, CA).

There are now many packaged granola cereals that contain bits of chocolate or cocoa. Some of these are so sweet, they taste like broken oat chocolate chip cookie pieces. Others hew closer to the 1960s take on European oat cereals (muesli + brown sugar, etc. with chocolate chunks).  And a delightful few, like today's granola, add a few new elements to arrive at something new and improved.

Today's Cocoa and Cashew granola had a traditional pleasing oat-y aroma and flavor. It also had just the right amount of crunchiness, enhanced by rice crisps. Pepitas (pumpkin seed kernels) added nutritional content (protein, vitamins and minerals), natural color and a soft crunchy chew. The cashew butter and cashew bits added a satisfying, light nutty flavor. And a faint hint of ginger added some warm spice.

And last, but not least, fair trade and semi-sweet chocolate pieces provided rich hints of dark chocolate flavor.

The added sugars were balanced by almost all the other ingredients, oats, rice, semi-sweet "dark" chocolate pieces, nuts, seeds and a touch of sea salt. The resulting sweetness level seemed just right.

I enjoyed this granola three different ways: by itself, with just a little water, and with a little  Genius Mocha Coconut beverage (instead of milk). 

Ingredients: Whole grain oats, semi-sweet chocolate (cane sugar, chocolate, cocoa butter, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), invert cane syrup, rice crisps (rice flour, cane sugar, salt), cashew butter, expeller pressed sunflower oil, cashews, pepitas, whole oat flour, brown rice syrup, cane sugar, sea salt, ginger, rosemary extract for freshness.

Sprouts Farmers Market - Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola (with honey) - June 26, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sprouts Farmers Market

Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola (with honey)

Good - Good +

Weight: 1 cup (60 g.) (2 servings) / 12 oz. (340 g.) in total package

Calories: 240 calories in 1 cup (2 servings)

Cost: $5.99 for 1 package

Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate, Bees and Trees Theme Week; and Day #1 of Chocolate and Red Fruit Theme Week. (The red fruits featured today were cherries and red plums.)

Today's Dark Chocolate Cherry Granola was made for Sprouts Farmers Market(s) (based in Phoenix, AZ).

This granola had a light, satisfying crunchy texture and was full of sweet chocolate and oat flavors, with spikes of dried cherry. This granola also was sweetened with honey. (Thank you bees.) 

I enjoyed 1 serving of this dark chocolate granola for breakfast. Later in the day I enjoyed a second serving, in the form of a tasty homemade ice cream parfait with this granola as one of three layers. 

The other two layers were: 1.) vanilla, hazelnut and chocolate fudge ice cream with a touch of whiskey, and 2.) red plums--freshly picked from a tree, washed and simmered with pine tree honey to make a red fruit sauce/topping. (Thanks Bill for sharing your plum harvest/windfall.) Bees seem to like these plum trees as well.* The fresh, cooked red plums with pine honey was a great complementary flavor and added some rich magenta red color.

Add a few blueberries and you might enjoy this red, white and blue (and chocolate) all-American dessert next week as part of the 4th of July Independence Day holiday here in the U.S.  

*Insects (including bees) and the wind pollinate many fruit trees, including cacao fruit trees and plum trees. Caca trees are primarily pollinated by midges--small insects that resemble tiny flies or mosquitos.

Nature Valley - Granola Cups - Peanut Butter Chocolate - Feb. 3, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Nature Valley
Granola Cups - Peanut Butter Chocolate
Good +
Weight: 1.35 oz. (38 g.) / 6.75 oz. (191 g.) in total box of 5 pouches
Calories: 190 calories in 1 pouch of two cups
Cost: $3.00 for 1 box of 5 pouches (of two cups or pieces each)
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Peanuts Theme Week, and Day #4 of Chocolate and Oats Theme Week.

Today's Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Cups were from Nature Valley—a brand owned by General Mills, based in Minneapolis, MN.

The first Nature Valley granola bars came out way back in 1975, making them a pioneer in this market. And the product lineup expanded into a wider array of products over time that fall under the broad granola bar category, including today's offering that tasted like a sweet cross between a cookie and a bar.

If you're in a mood for an oatmeal cookie, with rich peanut butter and chocolate flavor, you're in for a treat.

Nana Joes - Granola, Chef's Blend Series - Strawberry, Coconut and Chocolate Chip - Sept. 12, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Nana Joes
Chef's Blend Series Granola - Strawberry, Coconut, Chocolate Chip
Good ++ - Good +++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total package
Calories: 170 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $12.00 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Nana Joe's table, CUESA's Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, San Francisco, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Nut Butter Theme Week.

Sometimes nut butters can take the place of other/more processed oils and fats, and we're all for that if it's done right. One example: Today's Chef's Blend Series Granola - Strawberry, Coconut and Chocolate Chip, from Nana Joes (San Francisco, CA), created using Hu Kitchen (New York, NY) chocolate chips*

This vegan and gluten free granola was flavorful, sweet and crunchy, and had a nutty texture and taste (almonds and almond butter + seeds).* The nuts and seeds were accented with micro flavor bursts of authentic, concentrated strawberry, raspberry and chocolate.

This was a great blend of high-quality ingredients, resulting in a great granola. And, unlike some granolas, it still felt relatively "light." Instead of added/processed vegetable oils, the fat content was provided by nuts, seeds, and almond butter.

This granola was sweetened with both organic maple syrup and organic coconut sugar, but contained no refined white or brown sugar.

*Ingredients: "Organic sliced almonds, organic shredded coconut, organic maple syrup, organic pecans, organic pumpkin seeds, organic almond butter, Hu Chocolate Gems (organic cacao, unrefined organic coconut sugar, organic fair-trade cocoa butter), seeds, hemp seed, hulled, dried strawberries, raspberry fruit powder, organic chia seeds, sea salt"

Nana Joes - Paleo Sunrise Series Granola, Hu Kitchen Blend - Sept. 11, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Nana Joes
Paleo Sunrise Series Granola - Hu Chocolate Blend
Good ++
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total package
Calories: 160 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $10.00 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Nana Joes table, Ferry Plaza Farmers Market, San Francisco, CA


Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Nut Butter Theme Week.

And, today, marks Chocolate Banquet's 13th anniversary. We're firing off some confetti in the background here, celebrating more than 4,740 chocolates sampled to date.

Today's Paleo Sunrise Granola with Hu Kitchen dark chocolate was made by Nana Joes (San Francisco, CA). Their Hu Kitchen blend included almond butter, pecans, coconut and dark chocolate from Hu Kitchen (New York, NY). For a full list of ingredients, see below.*

The granola had a satisfying texture and crunch and was full of nutty and chocolate flavor. The almonds and almond butter helped tie everything all together.

Ingredients: Organic almonds, organic shredded coconut, organic maple syrup, organic pecans, organic pumpkin seeds, organic almond butter, Hu Chocolate Gems (organic cacao, unrefined organic coconut sugar, organic fair trade cocoa butter), organic hemp seeds, organic cocoa powder, organic chia seeds, Jacobsen sea salt, organic maca powder 

Gracie Jones, Jessica's, Paleonola, Sunfood - Three Granolas - Mar. 27, 2019

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Gracie Jones Bake Shop
Granola

Good +

Jessica's Natural Foods, LLC
Gluten Free Chocolate Hazelnut Granola
Good +

Paleonola Granola
Chocolate Fix (Grain Free Granola)
Good

Sunfood Super Foods
Raw Organic Chocolate Rice Protein (powder)
OK+ - Good

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Starches Theme Week—a good day for a Granola fest. It was gray, rainy and sad-looking outside. Time for some upbeat music and bowlfuls of fun.

Today, we're celebrating three gluten-free granolas and one chocolate rice protein beverage. These three granolas each had their own flavor profile. Oats and rice provided our "starches" today.

The Granola from Gracie Jones Bake Shop (Palo Alto, CA) was fruit-forward and beautiful to look at (with golden raisins and red goji berries). It also contained diced/snipped pieces of other fruits (that looked like pears and peaches). It did not contain cacao from what I could tell, but it was too pretty to leave out of this crunchy granola sampler trio.

Chocolate Hazelnut Granola from Jessica's Natural Foods, LLC (Birmingham, MI) was naturally nutty with rich and authentic hazelnut and chocolate flavors. (You could see and taste whole hazelnuts.) Chocolate chips added extra chocolate flavor; and pumpkin seeds gave it some additional soft crunch and pleasant seed flavor.

And, the Chocolate Fix Granola from Paleonola (Pawtucket, RI) was made with a variety of nuts (almonds, pecans, walnuts, hazelnuts), seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, flax) and fruits (cranberries, apple juice). It was grain, soy and dairy free (made without oats or grains). And this honey and fruit-sweetened granola was the most chocolate-forward of the three granolas. Made with chocolate chips and a chocolate cookie like flavor with a faint coconut note.

We also tried some Raw, Organic, Vegan and Gluten-Free Chocolate Rice Protein Powder from Sunfood Super Foods (El Cajon, CA) that we mixed with water, to create a chocolate rice milk beverage to accompany these breakfast granolas.

It had an authentic rice flavor with a subtle and balanced hint of cacao and was high in protein (17 grams of protein per serving). However, don't expect this dairy/whey-free and soy-free powder to taste like the dairy milk you may be used to pouring on cereal.

Ladera Foods - Chocolate Almond Granola - March 23, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Ladera Foods
Chocolate Almond Granola
Good+
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 11 oz. (312 g.) in total package
Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $6.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Starches Theme Week.

Today's Chocolate Almond Granola was made by Ladera Foods (San Mateo, CA).

It was sweet and chocolate-y, and the oats and almonds helped balance this sweetness out. The maker claims that at 4 grams of sugar (per 1/4 cup serving), the granola contained "40% less (sugar) than leading brands." We believe it. Granolas can be very sweet.*

Note the position of the brown sugar in the ingredients list (below). It's much further down the list. Ingredients: whole grain oats, slivered almonds, maple syrup, olive oil, cocoa powder, brown sugar and salt. It had a light crunchiness and texture, and rich flavor to it.

*Today's granola was based on a family recipe; and their offering is created in the San Francisco Bay Area. Most granola cereals/snacks are oat-based.

When we grew up in the Bay Area, a family we knew had developed their own recipe they developed in 1968 for a three-ingredient granola (oats, butter and brown sugar). 

Their dad lightly stirred these three ingredients together in a frying pan on the stove. Their kitchen smelled like oatmeal cookies. Today's granola is likely healthier without the butter. However, we're also glad our first taste of granola was imbued with good memories from a friend's kitchen, where most granolas were based on homemade recipes as well.

Crazy Monkey Baking - Dark Chocolate Chip Granola Cookie Crunch - Dec. 6, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Crazy Monkey Baking, LLC
Dark Chocolate Chip - Granola Cookie Crunch
Good
Weight: 2/3 cup (60 g.) / 7.5 oz. (213 g.) in total package
Calories: 300 calories in 2 servings
Cost: $5.99 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: The Market, Indianapolis, IN

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate Snacks Theme Week.

I'm not opposed to mixing animal characters and clever names with chocolate. So, today's Dark Chocolate Chip Granola Cookie Crunch from Crazy Monkey Baking, LLC (Ashland, OH) seemed like a natural item to feature this week.

The only downside: I keep smiling as I imagine a group of manic monkeys flying around a kitchen baking things.

The company makes a few different flavor versions of their Granola Cookie Crunch, but the Dark Chocolate Chip was the original and is, according to the company's website, still the most popular flavor.

These oat and cornmeal based cookie-granola snacks were made with 60% cacao bittersweet chocolate chips, and evoked the aroma and flavor of home-baked oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

This tasty snack was uniformly crunchy and good. Some pieces were intact cookie-shaped rounds; and the rest were smaller, more granola-like chunks.

The PocketMonkey measuring device used for scale (see photo to the right) is about 3 1/8-inches (8 cm) long.

Open Nature - Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Heaven - Mar. 4, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Open Nature
Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Heaven
Good
Weight: 2.12 oz. (60 g.) / 12 oz. (340 g.) total package
Calories: 260 calories in 2 servings (1/2 cup)
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: Safeway (missing location information)


Welcome to the second day (Day #2) of Chocolate Breakfast Cereal Week.

There are many ways to enjoy a chocolate breakfast; and granola with chocolate and nuts is certainly a category worth exploring.

Oat-based/muesli cereals were staples for centuries in Europe. Cacao beans from the Americas were first brought to Europe by the Spanish in the early 1500s, and gradually spread to other countries, primarily as drinking chocolate.

Oat cereals and chocolate eventually became available in merged form by the 1800s in Europe and elsewhere. In some cases, early commercial chocolate was diluted with cereal grains, starches or flours. Although I'm sure Europeans with access to hot chocolate might have poured some into their oat cereals earlier than the 1800s. (I think I would have.)

The Maya and Aztec peoples mixed cacao with corn/maize and cereal grains in Central and South America for centuries before Europeans arrived.

Today's Open Nature Dark Chocolate Hazelnut Heaven granola distributed by Lucerne Foods, Inc.* (Pleasanton, CA) was crunchy and surprisingly light in mouthfeel and texture. It was sweet, but slightly less so than other prepared granola cereals (thank you).

When it came to the inclusions, dark chocolate (chips) and hazelnut bits, these were also on the light side, that is they were very subtle accent flavors and not the main attraction. However, it's easy to add a few toasted hazelnuts (I did) or some dark chocolate shavings/chips (I did not) to amp up these flavors if desired.

Note: While no wheat ingredients were listed, it was not advertised as a gluten free cereal. And, as I found out later, it did contain barley malt syrup.

*Lucerne Foods, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Safeway.

Van's - Double Chocolate granola clusters - Mar. 3, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Van's International Foods
Double Chocolate soft baked whole grain granola clusters
Good
Weight: 2.12 oz. (60 g.) / 11 oz. (311 g.) total package
Calories: 240 calories in 2 servings
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

Good morning and welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate and Breakfast Cereal Week.

For a gluten-free person, breakfast cereals present a challenge. Happily, there are many more gluten free cereals on the market now, including several with chocolate.

I don't eat cereal often. We'll see if I can do so for a whole week without feeling over-sugared.

Today's Double Chocolate soft baked whole grain granola clusters from Van's International Foods (Phoenix, AZ) delivered on their promise.

Their chocolately granola was formed into pliable clumps vs. crispy chunks, with a texture more similar to a whole grain cookie bar. This recipe did not scrimp on the chocolate content. The granola clusters contained both chocolate chips with cocoa butter and cocoa powder.

My human and squirrel testers also approved of this ebony-hued, double chocolate granola, thanks in part to the bits of almonds, pecans and walnuts they contained.

The dense clusters of nuts, oats and a light touch of salt helped prevent runaway sweetness. The bowl of two servings (2/3 cup) I had with milk was a bit sweet, but also quite filling and satisfying.

Van's* has been making gluten-free waffles, blueberry waffles, and pancakes for many years. They were some of the earliest gluten-free offerings I found in local grocery stores in the early 1990s.

*Van's International Foods operates as a subsidiary of Tyson Foods, Inc. This particular granola was manufactured for Van's in a facility in Vernon, CA.

Flour Craft - Walnut Raisin Nib Granola - Dec. 16, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Flour Craft Bakery
Walnut Raisin Cacao Nib Granola
Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.45 g.) / 12 oz. (340 g.) in total package/bag
Calories: 202 calories in 1.5 servings
Cost: $7.99 for 1 package
Purchased from:

Welcome to Day #2 of Chocolate and Walnut Series.

Today I enjoyed a bowl of Walnut Raisin Cacao Nib Granola from Flour Craft Bakery (San Anselmo, CA), a company that offers gluten-free* baked goods.

I added some warm, toasted hazelnuts and almonds to this certified gluten-free, vegan, and slow-roasted granola mix to make it a bit a more hearty for cold weather breakfast; however, it was perfectly fine by itself. While this granola was light on the chocolate and sugar (a plus), the nibs provided rich, cacao flavor and depth to this mix.

*The Flour Craft Bakery team made this granola in a "100% gluten-free environment."

Trader Joe's - Raises the Bar Granola Bar - Dec. 11, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Raises the Bar - Chewy Granola Bar
Good
Weight: 1.2 oz. (35 g.) / 6.2 oz. (175 g.) in total box
Calories: 140 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.79 for 1 box of 5 bars
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Alameda, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Seeds Series.

What is a seed? Grains, beans, nuts and seeds can all be considered seeds. So the distinction between grains and seeds can be a confusing one.

Today's "Raises the Bar" Chewy Granola Bar with oats, millet, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat and dark chocolate chunks from Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA), contained grains, "pseudo-cereal grains" and seeds. Regardless if some of these ingredients are more seed or "pseudo-cereal grain," than grain, this mix resulted in a bar with high fiber: "16 g. of whole grains."

This gluten free, slightly chewy granola bar was relatively lightly sweetened (tapioca syrup, cane sugar, honey, molasses). Dark chocolate pieces, while also containing sugar, helped balance the sweetness a bit.

Nothin' But - Chocolate Coconut Almond Granola Cookies - July 1, 2016

Chocolate of the Day:

Distributed by Nothin' But Premium Foods
Chocolate Coconut Almond Granola Cookies
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 7 oz. (198 g.) in total package
Calories: 140 calories in 1 serving (2 cookies)
Cost: $6.89 for 1 package
Purchased from: Mollie Stone's Markets, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate Cookies Theme Week.

It's summer, and it's a great time for a picnic. Today's Chocolate Coconut Almond Granola Cookies from Nothin' But Premium Foods (Westport, CT), would be a great addition to a picnic basket or snack bag.

Substantial and crunchy, these oat and almond based cookies were not certified gluten free, but were wheat and egg free, and contained no butter or dairy ingredients that I could see.

Ingredients: Almonds, Oats, Semi-sweet chocolate, honey, coconut, organic can sugar, olive oil, oat flour, cinnamon, vanilla, sea salt, espresso powder.

As part of a mini chocolate picnic, I also enjoyed two Double Chocolate Chip Mini Cookies from Homefree LLC (Windham, NH).

These cute, little crunchy, bite-sized chocolate rounds were very similar to Homefree's Chocolate Chocolate Chip mini cookies I had back in 2011. They shared the plate with today's featured granola cookies. Homefree makes "allergy friendly" gluten free cookies that are also free of nuts, peanuts, dairy and soy. Perfect for a doll-house picnic for kids.