Looking for a morning treat that's both healthy and a little indulgent? Chocolate Muesli with Candied Orange is an easy hearty cereal made with oats, chocolate, almonds, chia seeds, coconut, and candied orange. Eat it plain with milk, warm like oatmeal, or sprinkle it over yogurt for a delicious breakfast.
For this tasty recipe, I'm partnering with Paradise Fruit Company, America's leading brand for candied fruit. Their candied fruit selection is unmatched, and very popular around the holidays.
When it comes to candied fruit, I'm particularly fond of candied orange, a key ingredient in my panettone pizzelle. For this recipe though, I wanted to use the classic combination of chocolate and orange, while keeping it healthy (ish).
Chocolate muesli with candied orange is a simple twist on classic muesli. Unlike granola, muesli cereal is not traditionally sweet, however adding candied orange and bittersweet chocolate to the oats gives this classic breakfast cereal a sweet little pop.
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Ingredient notes
And now- a few words about our ingredients. See the substitutions and variations section for customizable options.
- Oats- Choose old-fashioned oats, not quick cooking or instant.
- Nuts- I chose sliced almonds for their mild flavor and crunch.
- Seeds- I keep chia seeds on hand for crunch and fiber.
- Cocoa powder- Unsweetened.
- Chocolate- Use bittersweet chocolate or dark chocolate with at least 70% cocoa.
- Cinnamon- Adds warm spice.
- Coconut flakes- Unsweetened.
- Candied orange- Look for candied orange peel or chopped candied orange.
See the recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Below is a quick visual of how to make chocolate muesli with candied orange. Traditionally, muesli is served raw, but I prefer to toast the ingredients to bring out their flavor and texture.
Preheat the oven to 350℉. Add the oats, chia seeds, cinnamon, and cocoa powder to a medium bowl. Toss to coat.
Spread the oat mixture out on a large baking sheet. Bake at 350℉ for 5-6 minutes.
Remove the pan, add the almonds, coconut, and chocolate, and return to the oven to bake for another 5-6 minutes. Everything should be lightly toasted and fragrant.
Remove from the oven and pour the oat mixture into a bowl. Toss to coat (the chocolate will start to melt and blend). Let cool for 10 minutes. When cool, add the candied orange and stir.
👩🍳Pro tip
Adding the candied orange at the end will ensure the fruit won't dry out from the heat.
Substitutions and variations
- Grains- Add another grain to the oats such as millet, wheat bran, quinoa flakes, or a cereal such as Grape Nuts, or shredded wheat for some variety and texture.
- Nuts- Use any nut you want! Pecans, pistachios, hazelnuts, or cashews are all great choices.
- Seeds- Swap out chia seeds for flax, pumpkin (pepitas), or sunflower seeds.
- Dried fruit- Instead of candied orange, try raisins, cranberries, apricots, or dried cherries. These pair incredibly well with chocolate.
How to serve chocolate muesli
- Cereal- Treat chocolate muesli like you would any cold cereal. Add your milk of choice, and any toppings or fruit if desired.
- Overnight oats- Prepare a ½ cup of the muesli with ½ cup or more of your milk of choice in a closed container and let stand overnight in the fridge. The next morning, give it a stir then add any additional toppings. Serve cold or warmed slightly.
- Oatmeal- Prepare as you would cooked oatmeal for a creamy hot breakfast.
- Yogurt- Sprinkle the muesli over yogurt or layer it in your favorite parfait.
Storage
This chocolate muesli can be stored in an air-tight container for up to 3 weeks at room temperature.
FAQ
Granola is a sweetened crunchy topping made with oats bound together by oil, and sweeteners such as honey, maple syrup, or molasses. It sometimes contains nuts and dried fruit. Granola is baked in the oven until it is crunchy and stuck together. Muesli is a raw cereal, traditionally made with oats and other grains, nuts, seeds, and sometimes dried fruit. It is not usually sweet and can be served like cereal or oatmeal.
Perfect pairings
Serve your chocolate muesli with one of these great recipes.
Did you make this recipe? I would love to hear about it! Please leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating with a comment right below the recipe card. If you snap a photo of your creation, don't forget to tag me on Instagram @brunchandbatter.
📖Recipe
Chocolate Muesli with Candied Orange
Equipment
- large baking sheet
Ingredients
- 3 cups old-fashioned oats avoid instant or quick-cooking oats
- 1½ tablespoon chia seeds
- 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¾ cup sliced almonds
- ⅓ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- ¼ cup bittersweet or dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa), chopped
- ½ cup Paradise candied orange peel (Holiday Fruit)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350℉. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, add the oats, chia seeds, cocoa powder, and cinnamon. Toss to coat. Spread the mixture on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 5-6 minutes.3 cups old-fashioned oats, 1½ tablespoon chia seeds, 2 tablespoon unsweetened cocoa powder, ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- After 5-6 minutes, remove the baking sheet from the oven, add the almonds, chocolate, and coconut on top, and bake for another 5-7 minutes, watching carefully so the coconut doesn't burn. You want everything to be lightly toasted and fragrant.¾ cup sliced almonds, ⅓ cup unsweetened coconut flakes, ¼ cup bittersweet or dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa), chopped
- Remove from the oven, return the cooked muesli mixture to a bowl, and stir. The chocolate will be slightly melted and start to coat the oats. Allow the oat mixture to cool for 5-10 minutes. After 5-10 minutes, add the candied orange and stir to evenly distribute. See notes for serving suggestions.½ cup Paradise candied orange peel (Holiday Fruit)
Notes
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- Cereal- Treat chocolate muesli like you would any cold cereal. Add your milk of choice, and any toppings or fruit if desired.
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- Overnight oats- Prepare a ½ cup of the muesli with ½ cup or more of your milk of choice in a closed container and let stand overnight in the fridge. The next morning, stir it and add any additional toppings. Serve cold or warmed slightly.
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- Oatmeal- Prepare as you would cooked oatmeal for a creamy hot breakfast.
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- Yogurt- Sprinkle the muesli over yogurt or layer it in your favorite parfait.
Nutrition*
*Nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. Nutrition information can vary depending on many factors, such as products used, measurements and substitutions, therefore it is recommended that you obtain nutritional calculations based on your own finished recipe.
Joyce says
This was a nice change from my granola. I added puffed quinoa and hemp hearts and it was delicious.