Best Chef Johns Chocolate Granola Recipes

CHEF JOHN'S CHOCOLATE ENERGY BARS

Steps:

• Place cashews, almonds, coconut, dates, cocoa, coconut oil, vanilla, cold coffee, cayenne and salt in the bowl of a food processor. Pulse on and off to start. Process about 1 minute; check to ensure mixture is sticky and moist enough to stick together. Add more coffee if needed. Continue to process until mixture becomes a chunky mass.
• Line a baking pan with plastic wrap. Scoop mixture into pan. Press down with a spatula until mixture is even. Place a layer of plastic wrap on the surface and smooth again with your hands.
• Refrigerate until cold and firm, 2 or 3 hours.
• Remove from the pan and unwrap. Cut into bars of your preferred size. Store in a zip top back in the refrigerator.

CHEF JOHN'S GRANOLA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner.
• Combine brown sugar, maple syrup, oil, and salt in a bowl. Add oats, almonds, pumpkin seeds, and coconut. Mix well, making sure all ingredients are coated evenly.
• Pour onto prepared baking sheet and distribute in an even layer.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour, stirring every 10 to 15 minutes lightly with the tines of a fork so mixture toasts evenly and granola is golden brown.
• Pour into a bowl and, while mixture is still hot, mix in currants. Cool. Store in an airtight container until ready to use.

GRANOLA CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In the bowl of an electric stand mixer (or using a hand mixer), beat together the brown sugar and butter until fluffy. Beat in the vanilla. Add the eggs 1 at a time, scraping the bowl after each.
• Mix together the flour, salt and baking soda in a medium bowl. Add it to the creamed mixture in 2 to 3 batches, mixing until just combined. Mix in the oats, Granola, apricots and chocolate chips until just combined.
• Use your preferred-size cookie scoop (or a regular spoon) to drop portions of dough onto lightly greased baking sheets, spacing them a couple inches apart. Bake until dark and chewy, 12 to 13 minutes. If you'd like a crispier cookie, just cook a little longer!
• Let the cookies cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer them to a plate for serving.
• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
• In a bowl, toss the oats with the oil, melted butter and salt. Spread the mixture out on 2 baking sheets and toast in the oven for 12 minutes, shaking the pans twice during the cooking time and making sure the oats don't burn. Set aside to cool a bit.
• In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, honey and molasses. Stir the mixture until combined, then heat over medium heat, stirring, until barely bubbling. Stir in the vanilla extract.
• Toss together the toasted oats, pecans, sunflower seeds and almonds in a large bowl. Pour in the sugar mixture, stirring as you pour. Toss to combine; it will be sticky!
• Thoroughly grease a baking sheet or line it with greased foil. Spread the mixture onto the baking sheet and bake until golden, about 30 minutes. Let cool, then use a fork to make clusters. Store in a jar until ready to use.

CHEF JOHN'S CLASSIC GUACAMOLE

Steps:

• Place minced peppers, 1/4 cup of the chopped cilantro, and the diced onions on a cutting board. Chop them together into very small pieces. Sprinkle with kosher salt. Using the flat side of the knife blade, smear the mixture to work it into a paste, and chop again to achieve as fine a texture as possible.
• Stem, halve, and pit the avocados. Scoop out flesh and place in a bowl. Add 1/4 cup chopped cilantro, onion and serrano mixture, salt, and fresh lime juice. Mash with a potato masher to desired texture (smooth or chunky), 5 or 6 minutes. Taste and adjust seasonings. If not serving immediately, cover and refrigerate.

CHEF JOHN'S BOSTON CREAM PIE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Spray 2 (8-inch) cake pans with cooking spray.
• Stir yellow cake mix, 3 eggs, water, and vegetable oil in a bowl until moistened. Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
• Divide cake batter between the two prepared cake pans.
• Bake in the preheated oven until cakes have risen and are lightly golden brown, 33 to 38 minutes. Check for doneness after 25 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the center of the cakes should come out clean. Allow cakes to cool for about 10 minutes before removing from the pans. Cool cakes completely, about 40 minutes.
• Whisk 3 eggs, cornstarch, and sugar in a large bowl until well mixed and lemon colored, 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside.
• Heat 1 cup heavy whipping cream, whole milk, and 1/2 tablespoon butter in a large saucepan over medium heat until it just begins to boil.
• Reduce heat to low; pour egg mixture into cream mixture and whisk until thick, about 1 minute.
• Pour egg and cream mixture through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl; discard any chunks.
• Whisk vanilla and salt into the egg and cream mixture until combined. Cover with a layer of plastic wrap pressed against the surface. Chill in refrigerator to form a pastry cream texture, 3 to 4 hours.
• Place chocolate in a large bowl. Heat 1 teaspoon butter and 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream in a saucepan over medium heat until butter is melted. Pour cream mixture over chocolate and whisk until smooth. Set aside until cooled, but still pourable, about 20 minutes.
• Place one cake layer on a plate, flat side up. Spread pastry cream to within 1-inch of the edge of cake. Place second cake layer on top, rounded side up. Press gently to push pastry cream to the edge. Pour chocolate mixture over top of the cake and spread so it drips over the edge.

GRANOLA OATMEAL COOKIES

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat (such as Silpat™) or parchment paper.
• Combine flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a bowl and whisk for 30 seconds until dry ingredients are well combined.
• Combine butter, light brown sugar, and granulated sugar in a second bowl. Cream with an electric beater until mixture is light and fluffy. Add egg and mix on high speed until well combined. Add vanilla extract and cinnamon and beat in.
• Fold in dry ingredients with a spatula just until flour disappears. Fold in granola and oats until well combined.
• Scoop out tablespoonfuls of dough onto the prepared baking sheet, leaving ample space between the dough balls as they will spread out, about 8 per baking sheet.