A healthy-ish treat that’s ready in minutes!
We’ve been told for years that eating dark chocolate is good for our health in multiple ways, so I decided to make a good thing even better by adding some heat. And guess what? Chili powder is also good for us – it can lower your body’s sugar levels and reduce the amount of insulin your body needs. The next addition: cinnamon, a powerful anti-inflammatory and antioxidant with also lowers blood sugar levels. The crowning touch for this healthy treat is granola, adding a burst of fibre, crunch and flavour to this not-too-sweet treat. I’ll be gifting a lot of this simple to prepare snack this holiday season. For other quick and delicious giftable ideas, check out my salted caramel pretzel bark and my salted caramel mocha bark.
Ingredients
- 1 9 oz (250 g) package of dark chocolate chips
- 1 teaspoon (5 mL) vegetable or coconut oil
- 1/2 teaspoon (1.3 g) ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon (1.3 g) chipotle chili powder
- 1/2 cup (55 g) granola *
- 1/2 teaspoon (2.2 g) sea salt like (fleur de sel or Maldon are ideal)
* break up any large clumps in the granola before sprinkling over melted chocolate. Add in any favourite ingredients like toasted nuts or chopped dried cranberries if you wish.
Method
- Line a small baking pan (approximately 8 x 12 inches / 20 x 30 cm) with parchment paper and set aside.
- Melt dark chocolate and oil in microwave or in the top of a double boiler, stirring every 20 seconds until melted and smooth. Stir in cinnamon and chili powder then spread onto parchment-lined tray (don’t worry if it doesn’t completely fill the tray as you will be breaking it into irregular pieces).
- Immediately scatter granola over chocolate and sprinkle with flaky sea salt.
- Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes. Break into pieces to serve.
- Can be refrigerated up to 1 month.
Makes approximately two dozen small pieces.
Constantly Cooking with Paula Roy 
Any suggestions as to where to buy flaky sea salt?
I use Maldon salt; it’s available at most gourmet food shops. You could use fleur de sel as an alternative (also widely available).
Thank you.
Is fleur the sel the same as sea salt? I have never found any fleur the sel by this name in Ontario
Maldon is from the UK and it’s structure is more flake-like than typical crystal-like salt. Fleur de sel would be a good alternative.
Paula! Did I hear you say granola?! I can not wait to try this recipe with my Westboro Granola Co. granola! It looks and sounds absolutely delicious! Not that I am here promoting Westboro Granola Co. :), but well, of course I am!
Here is the crazy, (or not so crazy!), thing though. This weekend I had planned to post you a message on your blog because it was through your blog that I first introduced Westboro Granola Co. to you earlier this year. Subsequently, from that first introduction, one of your readers sent me a message asking if I had heard of the Mind Your Own Business (MYOB) contest at Carlingwood Mall. I hadn’t. The contest is held for local entrepreneurs, small business owners or start ups with the prize being the use of one of the mall’s kiosks during the holiday season to display and sell their wares…. and you guessed it! I submitted my application on behalf of Westboro Granola Co., was interviewed, and won. As a result, I will be offering for sale, Westboro Granola Co. granola in Gift Size packages (250g), as well as a special Christmas Stocking Stuffer size, at one of the kiosks at the front doors of the mall from Sunday December 1 to Saturday December 14, inclusive! I am so excited.
Paula, I am now writing you this for THREE reasons!
One, to Thank You for this great sounding recipe, the Spicy Dark Chocolate and Granola Bark – Perfect for Westboro Granola Co. granola! Wow.
Two, to let everyone who reads your blog know about Westboro Granola Co., which sells at Produce Depot on Carling, Westboro Pharmasave, Herb & Spice (Wellington), Nu Grocery Stores (in bulk at both Wellington and Main St. locations), Hintonburg Market, Seed to Sausage General Store, and Cedars & Co. on Bank, AND at Carlingwood Mall, Dec. 1 – 14, as a perfect holiday gift and Christmas stocking stuffer, as I mentioned!
Finally, reason number Three, for my writing to you now, the most important reason of all… to Thank You Dear Paula for your inspiration which you so generously share through your Love of cooking, which has been so helpful to me and no doubt, countless others!
With Love and Gratitude!
Pam Midgley
Westboro Granola Co.
Hi Pam! So wonderful to hear from you. And I have to say that I thought of you very much while I was crafting the dark chocolate granola back recipe. I’m so excited for you about the Carlingwood kiosk – that’s awesome news! What great exposure for your product and I think it makes a fantastic gift idea. Another reason you were on my mind was because I was wondering if I could ask a favor of you. I lead a Christmas baking workshop at the Parkdale Food Centre (food bank) every year and we’re going to be making the bark as one of the recipes this year. I cannot supply granola from my home kitchen as it is not licensed and I was wondering if you might be able to donate one bag of granola for use in the baking workshop. You would be recognized/thanked on social media and I would be eternally grateful. The workshops mean so much to the participants who otherwise might not have any holiday cheer. Let me know once you have given it some thought. Xoxox
Given it some thought! Paula, are you kidding me? I would Love to donate a bag of granola! But are you sure… only one bag?! I would gladly donate more than that. We can figure out those details. Could I come to the the Parkdale Food Centre work shop? I would so Love to join in the fun and cheer. And for that I would be eternally grateful! So exciting!
Pam
You are so kind! Thank you so much! I’m not certain how many participants there will be so to be on the safe side two bags would be ideal. I just didn’t want to sound greedy. 🙂
Let me check with the coordinator and see if it’s OK for you to come and join in on the fun. They normally have a screening process for volunteers but I’m not sure if it applies to special events like this. Stay tuned!
Sounds great! Thank you so much.
Pam