Chocolate Nut Paleo Granola is perfect for snacking on anytime of the day or to take on a last camping/hiking trip of the season!
Have you ever noticed that when you return from vacation, you need a vacation from your vacation? We went on our first week-long camping trip (in the pimpin’ camper!!) to Vermont and I don’t want to go back to real life yet. Vacation’s been over for almost 2 weeks now, but it has taken me forever to get back into the swing of things because all I want to do is hop back in the camper and drive on down the road to a new adventure. I’ve told J that I am ready to sell everything to live and travel in the camper full-time but unfortunately, my real life does not allow me to follow my dream of being on vaca 24/7. #bummer
Before we get to the recipe, let’s talk about camping and I have this to say…camping in Vermont is amazing!!!! We stayed at the Little River State Park in Waterbury and had the most gorgeous lakefront campsite (see pic above and feel free to wish you were there right now). Let me tell you, it was not shabby waking up every morning to that view. By the way, that is campsite T51 for those of you who would like to visit.
Here’s Gracie and Nola enjoying the water view while Daddy was cooking breakfast.
And here’s breakfast! Yes, it’s a lot of food for two people but we were going hiking all day and needed to fuel up. FYI, we cooked a lot on our cast iron flat top griddle. I love using the griddle while camping and it toasts english muffins in butta like a boss!!
The town of Waterbury was so perfectly quaint and is home to the Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream factory, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, and the Alchemist microbrewery. The Alchemist produces one of the best beers in the world, Heady Topper, an unfiltered double IPA that MUST be drunk from the can. Yes, it says right on the can that it should not be poured in a glass. Weird I know, but it’s true because we tested it out…many times. Heady is highly sought after by beer geeks and is only released in limited quantities, certain days of the week, and only to selected beverage stores and gastropubs in the greater Burlington VT area (the Alchemist brewery is currently closed to the public). A little truth here, I actually planned this whole camping trip around buying some Heady Topper. I mean, if you are going to go to camping, you might as well do it in Vermont, then you might want to pick a campground close to a place that sells Heady by the case. Right? Well, that’s what we did and here’s a little look at the whole process of what it takes to get your little hands on this elusive brew:
1) Go to the beer store (we went to Beverage Warehouse, just outside of Burlington) at least 2 hours early on release days and make sure you have a well iced cooler in the car because Heady has to stay cold.
2) Stand in line. Yes, there will be people already waiting in line and you will be standing behind them. Even at 8am in the morning on a Tuesday, rain or shine, so just deal with it.
3) Doors open at release time and you follow the store guy, in a single file manner, to a huge beer cooler where you wait for your turn to be handled your share. While waiting, fingers are crossed and prayers are being sent to the beer gods that you will be lucky enough today to get a full case (there’s a rule of only one case per person per day, so don’t even think about asking for two). FYI, if you are in the back of the line and they start running low, you will probably only be able to get a 4 pack or none at all.
4) You take your case of beer to the cash register where you are grinning ear to ear and shaking with so much excitement because you can’t wait to get back to the campsite/home to drink a nice cold one (even though it’s only 10am). You try to hide your surprise and slight confusion when you find out the insane price of this case of canned beer. It’s the most you will ever pay for a case of beer in your lifetime, but it’s Heady Topper, so you pay whatever they want you to pay.
I really don’t know why or how this recipe post turned into a freaking Heady Topper post, but apparently it did. I blame my vacation brain. Or I need a beer. Guess it’s time to talk about the recipe…
This Chocolate Nut Paleo Granola is not my recipe, it was created by Paleo Leap. I’ve been using this recipe for years and love it, so I thought I should share it with you. It’s a wonderfully healthy Paleo and grain-free snacking sweet treat that will satisfy any chocolate craving. Plus it’s super convenient to throw in a bag and carry around with you hiking along a beautiful stream.
This sandwich can also be carried around hiking as well. Best. Italian. Ever. I did not make it, Jimmz Pizza in Waterbury made it. Fresh baked bread, farm fresh veggies, homemade pickles, best meat and cheese around, all doused with the loveliest tasting olive oil and balsamic vinegar in the world. I could eat one right now.
Sorry, I strayed again…back to the granola…
Whenever I make the Chocolate Nut Paleo Granola, I slightly change two things from the original Paleo Leap recipe. I always finely chop up the ingredients in the food processor and I leave out the extra 2 ounces of chopped dark chocolate at the end. I’ve also made it using different nuts like raw brazil nuts and unsalted roasted pistachios, but I thought I would provide Paleo Leap’s original recipe and let others decide if they’d like to change it up.
Hope you try this recipe and please check out Paleo Leap’s site for other great recipes. Happy snacking!
Wait! Before you go, one more photo to show the gorgeous sunset we had each evening at the campsite 🙂
- 1 cup raw walnuts
- 1 cup raw almonds
- 3 Tb unsalted butter grass-fed preferred
- 1/4 cup raw honey
- 3 Tb raw cocoa powder
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch of salt
- 1/2 cup raw shredded coconut
- 2 ounces chopped dark chocolate optional
- Preheat oven to 200F.
- In a food processor, coarsely chop the walnuts and almonds. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan over low heat, melt the butter and the honey, whisking until combined. Add the cocoa powder, vanilla extract, and salt. Whisk well until all is combined.
- Pour the chocolate mixture into the food processor with the nuts. Pulse a few times or until chocolate is thoroughly mixed in with chopped nuts. Add the shredded coconut and pulse a few times more until mixture is well combined and evenly chopped up.
- Line a large baking sheet with a silicon liner or parchment paper and spread mixture into an even layer. Place in preheated oven and bake for 4 hours.
- When granola is finished baking, remove from oven and allow to cool on the baking sheet. Once completely cooled, break granola into smaller pieces and store in a covered container at room temperature. Can add the 2 ounces of chopped dark chocolate, if desired.
Your comping trip sounds so lovely, and I am so impressed by your dedication to the Heady cause!! The exclusivity of it reminds me of this specific Belgian beer ‘Westvleteren’ that they brew in a monastery and that you can ONLY get in the monastery or perhaps illegally in certain smaller beer stores. People line up to get a single crate and pay through the nose, and while I’ve never had one I can only guess that it’s delicious! haha
The chocolate nut granola sounds delicious too – our oven is broken and it is KILLING ME but as soon as that’s fixed up there are a million things I want to whip up, including granola!
Sophie, thank you and I’m glad you’re impressed. Haha! I absolutely LOVE Belgian beers and prefer them over all others. I looked up where to get Westvleteren and found a place online. It ain’t cheap!!! Might be cheaper to fly to Belgium and pick up a 6 pack at the monastery. LOL! BTW, hope your oven gets fixed ASAP
There’s something about camping that makes everything taste better! It’s a great way to recharge. These chocolate granola bites look perfect. I’m liking everything in them!
I agree Kathy! It was so awesome to disconnect and recharge (obviously because it’s taken me forever to get back to life). I eat this granola in everything and it’s super good in yogurt.
Hi Karrie, I loved reading about yor camping experience. And what beautiful pictures and scenery! Love your granola, too. It sounds sooo good!
Thank you so much Nicoletta!!
I’m a big granola fan so this is definitely a recipe for me! I love adding in dark chocolate, too, it just adds a great flavor!
Thanks for visiting Kelly and I’m a huge granola fan too, especially chocolate because I get to eat it for breakfast! You’re so right about adding the dark chocolate and I need to make one time like that
Oh man, the vacation from the vacation is so true. It’s great to leave it all behind for some time, but I always feel like I’m working double time when I get back to the real world. But the vacation looks like it was beautiful! And I need that granola in my life for when I go on vacation in 2 weeks!!
Thanks Michelle and I need to check your blog to see where you are going on vacation. Wherever you go, hope you have a wonderful time. I could travel 24/7 and never get bored of it.
I have been (not so patiently) waiting for this post, girlfriend! And you totally didn’t disappoint! OMG, your campsite was GORGEOUS! So jealous of that view (and the food and beer!!)! I’m stoked yall had a stellar time, but selfishly I am more stoked you are back!! The food blog world is a lonely place without my #bestie! This granola looks insanely delish! You know my chocolate allergy won’t allow me to eat it, but I’m willing to be Boy would gobble this up! Pinned! Cheers and welcome back!
It only took 2 weeks to write! hahahaha! Thank you and I loved that campsite so much that I almost started building a house there so I would never have to leave. I didn’t think the state park officials would like it very much so I decided not to. You and your allergies! Ugh!!! Should have made it white chocolate, right? Good ol’ Boy. Can always count on him eating anything you might be allergic too.
Great Karrie. I particularly love the choc-nut and most of all…the lakefront. It’s WOW.
Keep it up my friend.
Thanks Dante. What’s better than chocolate and nuts together? Nothing! I so miss that lakefront view. Can’t wait to go back next year.
That looks delicious! You took some great shots there. I must admit, though, that breakfast looks spot on!! I’d like to have some right about now, lol!!
Thank you Dawn. That breakfast was spot on and it tasted especially awesome eating it outdoors
Girl, there is so much going on here I’m not sure where to start! Well, the beer seems to be the obvious place. I am totally on board with planning a vacation around good craft beer and will pay the outrageous prices too! That camp site is STUNNING and I do wish I was there. I LOVE your dogs! Are they boxers? I’ve got 3 boxers and a pit bull in my house. That breakfast sure looks like it would get you through a hike! I’m not sure which looks more appealing – the breakfast or the granola – I’ll take some of each!
I knew you’d appreciate the beer part of this post! Thank you about my dogs. Gracie is part Boxer and American Bulldog (and possibly some pit bull staffordshire terrier) and Nola is 100% american pit bull terrier. I love them both so much and would love to adopt many more. Your house must be so much fun with 4 dogs! I’m jealous Yeah, that breakfast was a little over the top and could have fed 6 people.
Well, it’s about damn time you wrote about my favorite pastime. I’ve been waiting patently!! And no, it’s not eating granola. Yay for camping!! Even if you pussy camp, I’m only saying that because I’m jealous! I had a nut under me (not in good way) last time I camped. I want a rv camper too, and we can sit, eating this delicious granola.
Oh Heather, you make me realize that I really should monitor my comments. Anyways, RV camping is the way to go, with a nice bed and a hot shower. You should try it some time…and I’m talking about the shower.
Wowwowowowowowowwow!!!!!! Those views!!!! Girlfriend, I do not blame you for wanting another vacation and wanting to live in the camper from here on out….with those views and that scenery – WOW! So envious of your gorgeous trip and all the AMAZING food you got to experience. Thanks so much for sharing your picks and stops with us because I will be using them all when I plan a trip to NE. Your chocolate granola looks absolutely scrumptious too – I can’t believe it’s healthy. It looks like chocolate crack that I’d go nuts for (no pun intended!) :p So glad you had a wonderful trip, deary <3
Thank you Beeta. I could live in my camper and travel around the states forever. I told my Brother I wanted to do that and he is so appalled, well probably because I called it a trailer (for extra shock value). lol! The food was pretty awesome in Vermont, lots of farm-to-table restaurants. You should visit Vermont when you plan a NE trip. Also, please contact me before you go so I can give you my phone number and we can meet up in New Hampshire or Maine
I don’t know why I’ve never put chocolate into granola, but now I have to!
Thanks for stopping by Liora! I try to put chocolate in as many breakfast foods as possible because I love eating it first thing in the morning. Super decadent
I wouldn’t be able to stop eating that, that is for sure!!!!! Granola is sooooo addictive!
It’s hard to stop eating it, fo sure! Nuts and chocolate are two things that I could eat non-stop throughout the day, every day.
Oh my….what a beautiful adventure you had! I love Vermont…for all the reasons you’ve shared! And that granola has camping and roadtripe and weekends written all over it!
Thank you Annie! I can’t wait to go back and camp in Vermont.
Those bars look absolutely awesome! Great little delicious snack. Thanks for it
Thanks Rami and thanks for visiting
Oh my, Karrie! Your camping trip looks and sounds amazing! I wouldn’t want to come back to the ‘real world’ either! I love that cast iron griddle you’re using – is that something you put over the campfire or is it like a propane kit?
It looks like you guys had some awesome meals on your trip – that sandwich looks ridiculously good! And the granola is perfect for snacking while on the trail. Gorgeous photos my dear
Thank you Kathleen and why can’t life just be one big vacation? I think I need to start a travel blog and get paid to vaca 24/7. lol! We used the cast iron griddle both ways camping: directly over a campfire and on a propane grill that attaches to the side of the camper. I’ve had it for so long that I don’t even know where I got it but we love it and use it quite often, even at home.
BTW, I got the idea of having hash browns for breakfast from your Oregon camping post! Delicious and easy
Karrie, your pictures camping in Vermont are breathtaking! I so want to go camping there now!!! I am so excited you were able to use your Pimped Camper! I want one so bad now I was trying to concentrate on your chocolate granola, but became distracted with that breakfast you had going on there on that cast iron pan…. Then you are taunted me with that amazing looking Italian sandwich. Never had the Heady Topper. Will have to check it out! Camping with you must be really fun. Oh, and the chocolate granola does look very tasty! I want to try that too!
Katie, thank you so much! I was we lived closer and I’ll let you and the family take the Pimp-mobile camping. Hahaha! That breakfast was out of control but in a very yummy way. And that Italian was the best tasting sandwich ever! Never wanted that to end
Oh wow! Your camping trip looks absolutely amazing and so much fun. And these paleo nut granola look way too delicious. I wish I could have 3-4 of these right away!
Thanks Anu and it was so much fun! I love camping and hiking and I miss it so much. Can’t wait until next Spring so I can go again.
Oh Karrie I’m totally with you on the vacation after a vacation thing. Or better yet, vacation as a lifestyle! We got back from holiday last week and I’m not enjoying being back at work Your trip sounds perfect and the photos are beautiful! And this granola… it’s making my mouth water. Granola is close to my heart, so I’m gonna have to try this recipe out. Maybe it will drown our post-holiday blues?!
I am heading over to your blog right now to see if you’ve posted about your vacation because I want to hear all about it! Girl, we need to turn these food blogs into travel blogs too
Quick update for you – finally got round to making this granola and you’ve ruined me I tell you! It tastes like I’m eating Ferrero Roche for breakfast! Love it – great recipe! I agree about not adding the extra choc, it didn’t really seem to need it. Thanks for sharing
Hahahaha! You’re too funny Erika and eating Ferrero Roche for breakfast is a dream!! I’m just paying you back for all your yummy dessert recipes that I’m going to get fat eating BTW, have you tried the granola in yogurt yet? It’s so good. Yeah, the extra chocolate seemed like overkill, especially for people like you and me who eat it in the morning. Although I can’t take credit for developing the recipe, I thank you so much for trying it and giving me feedback. xoxo
Hi Karrie, loveeeeee Vermont too! Glad you got away and had fun! Missing Florida yet? You are added to https:wegrazetogether.wordpress.com (Food Bloggers Unite) absolutely, delighted to have your blog join us my friend! Granola sounds delicious but then all your recipes are winners! Big Sunshine Hug to You! Cheryl
Thank you so much and you are too sweet with the compliments, Cheryl! I miss Florida every January 2, after the holidays, when I’m tired of the snow and cold
I would love to go camping in Vermont – the views just look amazing.
This sounds delicious too. I love chocolate for breakfast
Thanks Dannii Camping in Vermont and chocolate for breakfast are the best!!!
I had once camping experience in school days. Where I make a fried egg with adrak wali chai (TEA). It’s a competition between different schools, and my school got 3rd position. I wish I could do it again. I like your post so much it’s taken me to old memories thanks for that. Final words about your recipe it is very good too. Thanks, have a nice day.
Thanks for visiting Abid and for your kind compliments Loved your school camping story too. BTW, just looked up your restaurant and wish I lived in Denmark so I could eat there!
I just got back for a run and this looks and sounds like the perfect thing to eat right now!
Thank you and that’s a great idea to eat this after a run, Vineetha
I love everything about this post! Your trip sounds amazing! They view, the dogs! I mean the breakfast! and let not forget the beer!! Just something I would myself truly enjoy doing!
Thanks so much Gaila! Now that it is winter here, I’m wishing it was summer again and that I was back in Vermont camping. Here’s to warmer weather soon 🙂